At last! Cassava Pond residents get water

LLUIDAS VALE, St Catherine:

After more than a decade of having to buy trucked water, residents of Cassava Pond district in Lluidas Vale, St Catherine now have the commodity back in their pipes.

The change came recently when Minister of Water Robert Pickersgill commissioned the Cassava Pond Water Supply System.

The minister who is also the member of parliament, implored the residents to take care of the $9 million project.

He also reminded them that paying their bills would be critical to the success of the project.

"I am very glad for this project, the only ones that may be more thankful are the residents who are benefiting directly," Pickersgill said.

The residents were also very pleased of the development.

"It is a long time since we have piped water as the 30,000 gallon steel tank got damaged more than 10 years ago. This is something very good for the overall development of the area," Michelle Barton, a resident said.

Her views were echoed by other residents who pledged to take care of their new gift.

Meanwhile, Norman Scott, Rural Water Supply member said it was very good gesture to make the lives of the residents better.

"The water situation was challenging for the residents I know things will be better for them now," Scott said.

The water system will benefit more than 1,000 residents from Cassava Pond and Purang Hill district.

It will be managed by the National Water Commission.rural@gleanerjm.com