Urgent help needed for drought-affected St Ann residents - Hanna

People’s National Party (PNP) Member of Parliament for South East St Ann Lisa Hanna says the severity of the drought in sections of the parish is threatening life and property and that urgent action is needed by the government.

According to Hanna, the municipal corporation's tanks are out of water and the local springs, which usually supply to deep rural communities, have gone almost dry.

She says the situation is unsustainable. 

“Some people have been without water for weeks now, the spring in some places like Johnnys Spring is very, very low. I have to be contracting trucks at $25,000 per load, but this is an untenable situation.” Hanna said in a statement.

According to her, the trucks owned by the municipal corporation are currently out of service and the majority of householders cannot afford the costs for private trucks to transport water for their domestic use.

“It is difficult to service the entire constituency as the residents are depending on the trucking of water, which for many is a very expensive undertaking. Farmers are having it hard especially for those who plant cash crops, children are home from school and the lack of water is concerning. There are health considerations that cannot be taken for granted. It is critical that water is trucked into the communities. A drought mitigation plan has to be urgently effected.”

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