Runaway Bay residents also endure severe water crisis

THE EDITOR, Madam:

I have noted The Gleaner’s recent column on the water woes affecting Kingston and St Andrew. However, residents in parts of St Ann are facing conditions that are arguably even more severe.

I live in Runaway Bay, where my community recently went without piped water for seven weeks. When the supply was eventually restored, it lasted only 24 hours before being cut again. Under normal circumstances, residents of communities such as Belair and Mount Edgecombe receive water only once per week and, at times, only once every two weeks. To survive, many of us are forced to purchase water from trucks at considerable expense.

Residents have long complained that water is being diverted to hotels while surrounding communities struggle to meet their most basic needs. As a result, some areas must rely on water being supplied from neighbouring parishes, like Trelawny.

There are suggestions that water from the north coast could be diverted to Kingston. If excess water is available for redistribution, I believe a legitimate question must first be asked: why can it not be directed to communities such as Runaway Bay, where residents regularly endure lengthy and recurring shortages?

P. Brown