Jamaica’s drought crisis

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Perhaps the worsening drought gripping Jamaica is no longer just an environmental warning; it is a full-blown national crisis actively threatening our food security and daily survival. In fact, I cannot remember a time as a child where droughts and water lock-offs lasted this long into the new school year.

With the National Water Commission (NWC) enforcing strict water prohibition orders across seven parishes and reservoirs like the Hermitage Dam hitting critically low capacities, every day, citizens are bearing the brunt of daily lock-offs. Even more alarming is the situation facing our farmers. In parishes like St Elizabeth, raging bushfires are systematically decimating crops and farmlands, driving up the cost of living and putting our local food supply at severe risk.

While the government’s recent allocation of $500 million for emergency water trucking is a welcome short-term plaster, it does not solve the underlying issue. As climate experts warn that these dry cycles will stretch longer and become more intense, we can no longer rely on reactionary measures.

We need a sustained, proactive national strategy. This must include aggressive investment in community water-catchment infrastructure, mandatory rainwater harvesting protocols for new developments, and a much earlier, science-driven public awareness campaign before dams run dry. If we do not adapt our infrastructure to this climate reality today, we are simply waiting for the taps to run completely dry tomorrow.

Nicalos Hutton