Forgotten community in a forgotten parish

THE EDITOR, Sir:

I have lived in Stewartfield district all my life, and I am in my mid-20s. For this period, and even before this, we the citizens have been experiencing severe water problems. We do not have running water in our homes and have to depend on the rain and the river for water.

A water truck used to supply us at least once every two weeks, but we haven't received water for the past five months or more.

In these civilised times, we the citizens are living in uncivilised conditions, as we have to depend on the river and rain. When there is no rain, we suffer tremendously. Has James Robertson, our MP, forgotten us? Is Stewartfield the forgotten community in a parish that seems to be forgotten? Is it only when it is near an election that our concerns as citizens seem to be addressed? It is a shame!

We would like Prime Minister Andrew Holness to look into this matter as urgently as possible, because we are tired of living like this. I am sure your pets - if you have any - are living better than us because they have the luxury of running water.

Sir, I do not mean to be disrespectful, but for a party that stresses the people as important to them, you are showing us gross disregard. It is only common courtesy for our MP to, at least, visit the constituents and find out how he can assist. We desperately need running water.

This is the 21st century, yet we are living as if we are still in the 18th century.

In rectifying this problem, we would prefer not to have water brought to us by trucks, as it is not safe for drinking but only for other domestic purposes. We have to walk at least half a mile to catch drinking water. Is it because we are law-abiding citizens who are not blocking roads why we are overlooked? Can you tell us what we have to do to get this rectified?

Please look into this matter urgently. We are tired of carrying water on our heads. We are also tired of waiting for the rain to fall to get water.

I addressed a letter to Mr Robertson four to five months ago concerning this matter, and am yet to get any response from him. I personally took the letter to Mr Robertson's office, so I am sure that he received it.

DEMAR STEWART,