John Myers Jr., Staff Reporter
This standpipe along Marcus Garvey Drive in Kingston is among many said to be abused by residents, which has prompted the National Water Commission to launch a lock-off campaign. - NORMAN GRINDLEY/DEPUTY CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
THE NATIONAL Water Commission (NWC) is still awaiting word from the Ministry of Local Government on when it will be paid the more than $100 million owed for water supplied to communities through standpipes across the island.
Charles Buchanan, corporate communications manager at the NWC, told The Gleaner yesterday that the Local Government Ministry indicated, in a meeting, that it would be willing to pay off the debt in two tranches. However, this would be subjected to the approval of the Ministry of Finance, which will be providing the funds.
"We are awaiting a final payment commitment, and until such is received, the position of the commission essentially remains the same," Mr. Buchanan said.
Representatives of the Local Government Ministry and the NWC were forced to arrange a meeting yesterday to work out a suitable payment plan after the utility company got tough and disconnected 285 of the 2,653 standpipes across the island for non-payment of bills.
According to Mr. Buchanan, "Those that have already been disconnected will not be reconnected until we have some firm commitment and agreement as to the payment schedule."
He said the outstanding sum was allowed to accrue over a one-year period, despite several notices to the Ministry. But Lorraine Robinson, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, told The Gleaner on Friday that she had no idea that the NWC was owed so much money.
CHARLES' ULTIMATUM
Meanwhile, Pearnel Charles, Member of Parliament for North Central Clarendon and former Minister of Local Government, chastised the NWC for disconnecting the standpipes. He said he would personally undertake to reconnect the pipes in his constituency if the NWC did not do so by tomorrow.
But Mr. Buchanan warned yesterday that "the NWC wishes to remind the general public that to attempt to connect to the water supply system is an illegal offence under the law, it is an illegal act with punishment under the law." He said such action would constitute "a threat to the integrity of the NWC's water supply network."
