PM announces $150 million in emergency funding for drought-affected areas
Published:Tuesday | April 9, 2024 | 5:44 PM
Prime Minister Andrew Holness today announced that the Government has allocated $150 million in emergency funding to truck water to areas in Jamaica affected by drought conditions.
The money will also be used to assist in providing additional water tanks where necessary.
The focus will be on worst affected parishes and constituencies affected by the current drought.
Speaking in parliament this afternoon, Holness said the drought has impacted several National Water Commission (NWC) storage facilities across the island.
“The Heritage Dam and the Mona Reservoir are currently at 79.1 per cent and 77 per cent (capacity) respectively. During last year's historic drought at this time both were 40 percent and 54 percent respectively.
At the other end of the island, however, the Logwood water supply system that serves Negril and environs in both Hanover and Westmoreland is currently receiving only about 50 per cent of its normal yield, much worse than last year,” Holness said.
A breakdown of the systems shows the parishes and the number of systems affected: St Andrew 12, St Thomas 6, St Mary 11, Portland 4, St Ann 6, St Catherine 1, Clarendon 7, St James 6, Trelawny 5, Manchester 2, Hanover 3, Westmoreland 1, for a total of 64 systems.
The water systems in some of these areas have been reduced to as low as 20 per cent of capacity.
“That is why the government is implementing a range of measures to support our farmers during these challenging times. This includes the emergency funding in the amount of $150 million from the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service to facilitate the trucking of water and procurement and distribution of polyethylene water tanks to areas that are experiencing water challenges due to drought conditions,” Holness told Parliament.
An allocation of $1.5 million will be made to 50 constituencies, amounting to $75 million.
Additional allocations will be made to Clarendon, St Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Hanover, and St Ann.
- Carl Gilchrist
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