Water supply plan need cited as dry spell continues

Concern is being raised about the absence of  a water supply plan as the country continues to reel from the effects of  the protracted dry spell.

William Mahfood, President of  the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ), appearing on a special edition of TVJ's All Angles, on Wednesday night, said if  a national plan is not developed to address the water situation, Jamaica stands to continue losing billions annually.

Mahfood said last year the dry spell cost an estimated J$20 billion, or one per cent of  GDP – and the figure could be higher this year .

“If we don’t have that sort of integrated national plan  whichis bipartisan and looking out for the long term needs, on an island-wide basis …. we are going to be in a serious problem."

It  was suggested that the Partnership for Jamaica should push for the development of a national water plan.

Linnette Vassell, a Board member of  the Women's Resource and Outreach Centre, who was also on the programme, said this national plan should involve all sectors of  the society.

She said, with many groups included in the Partnership for Jamaica, this would be ideal to further the discussion.

“We are a few days away from Independence (celebrations) and we are a young country; we really need to give ourselves a change. That kind of a gifting that pulls resources together needs to come from a higher level It is a position that civil society and the PDOJ can take to the Partnership for Trnasformation …” she said. 

However, Basil Fernandez, Managing Director of  the Water Resources Authority, said the Ministry of  Water should be leading the process for the development of  a spatial and national water supply plan.