SALT MARSH, Trelawny — The National Water Commission (NWC) has promised residents of this rural community, who protested Monday after six months without water in their pipes, their supply will be restored by May 15. Until then, water will be trucked to the community, according to a release from NWC.

The update came after a roadblock mounted by scores of frustrated residents. It resulted in a very low turnout of students at Salt Marsh Primary and Infant School which, like the rest of the area, has been without piped water since an NWC pipeline was dislocated during the passage of Hurricane Melissa on October 28 of last year.

Shortly after 5:00 am Monday, large boulders were placed on the road, blocking motorists who travel between Salt Marsh Square and the adjoining Davis Pen community. The obstruction brought vehicular traffic to a halt, leaving commuters, including students and workers, stranded.

The frustrated demonstrators threatened to continue the protest until the issue is resolved.

Acting principal of Salt Marsh Primary and Infant School Venesha Brown Gordon expressed concern over the disruption, noting that it is affecting learning – particularly for students preparing for the 2026 Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examinations later this month.

“I am hoping that the issue will be addressed by the necessary persons in authority because I really want my students back out. We know that grade-six students have their upcoming PEP exams on April 29 and 30th. I really want my students out because learning must take place. We have internal exams too. The children are the ones that are being affected in their learning, and we know that we were out for a long period because of Hurricane Melissa. I am imploring the relevant authorities to do whatever must be done to ensure that the residents of this community have water so that we can get back to teaching and learning,” Brown Gordon told reporters.

“The protest has significantly affected our attendance this morning as we currently have less than 20 per cent of our students at school,” she added.

The educational institution has not been immune to the challenges with accessing water. According to Brown Gordon, since the Category 5 storm, the school has relied on water stored in tanks at both the primary and infant departments.

“We have to call to have water delivered by NWC on a weekly basis,” she said.

On Monday angry residents, who hoisted placards inscribed with the word “Wata”, said the area from Salt Marsh Square to the adjoining Davis Pen community has been without piped water for nearly six months, though they have repeatedly contacted NWC for relief. They said although an NWC team briefly worked in the area over three weekends, there has been no further help in the past five to six weeks, leaving them without the precious commodity. As a result, residents have been forced to buy water regularly — but this costly fix is becoming increasingly difficult. They are urgently appealing to the relevant authorities to intervene and restore their water supply.

“This protest is going to last as long as it takes to get some redress or some solution to the problem here. It’s been this way since the hurricane. We had good water supply until the hurricane came and disrupted the pipeline from Davis Pen down to Salt Marsh. We have been given promises. The [National] Water Commission personnel did come and started to work but, all of a sudden, they disappeared,” said irate resident, Renford Jackson.

“As we speak, there’s no water in the pipelines. A day without water is terrible, compared to six months without water! If this is what we have to do to get some attention, we’re going to be doing it for as long as it’s necessary,” he added.

One female protester chimed in, “And we are still getting water bills!”

In a show of solidarity with residents before the NWC’s update, Councillor Roydel Hamilton (Peoples National Party, Martha Brae Division), called for Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness, Member of Parliament for Trelawny Northern Tova Hamilton, and Water Minister Matthew Samuda to resolve the issue.

“This has been going on from last year, and the last time I went to council meeting last month, I was told by the representative of the National Water Commission that in one month the work will be finished. As you can see, the work has not reached [even] halfway as yet. It cannot continue like this,” the councillor told reporters on the scene of the protest.

In its release, the NWC assured residents that restoration of the damaged pipeline network in Salt Marsh is progressing steadily. It said approximately three kilometres of pipeline was significantly affected by recent weather impacts, and work is now about 30 per cent complete.

According to the NWC, while much of the Martha Brae–Salt Marsh system has been restored, some sections still require extensive rehabilitation. Efforts include replacing damaged pipes and strengthening the network for long-term reliability.

Testing and sterilisation will be done before phased water restoration on May 15. In addition to water being trucked to the area, the NWC has also indicated billing concerns are being investigated.

Placard-hoisting residents protest the lack of piped water in Salt Marsh,Trelawny on Monday.(Photo: Horace Hines)

Acting principal of Salt Marsh Primary and Infant School Venesha Brown Gordon speaking with reporters on Monday. (Photo: Horace Hines)

Stranded commuters walking across a blocked section of Salt Marsh road as residents staged a peaceful demonstration for piped water in the community on Monday. (Photo: Horace Hines)