Editorial | Photo Op downtown Kingston

Raw sewage flowing in the streets of downtown Kingston is just one of the consequences of infrastructure failure when facilities continue to be operated beyond their design life.

Experts say water, energy and transportation utilities are at risk of failure after 75 years and in any event they lack environmental compliance after several decades. These sewer mains downtown, laid more than 75 years ago, are reportedly made from asbestos. Waste water infrastructure is largely about the piping or sewer lines which connect homes and businesses to treatment facilities, but that is not all; it extends to include treatment plants, and lift, and pumping stations.

Ageing infrastructure requires continuous follow-up and maintenance. As we have come to understand Jamaica is very poor at follow-up and maintenance of most things. There are many examples of how ageing infrastructure, such as roads and bridges, have created problems of access and connectivity resulting in disruption to the country’s economic prospects and its achievement of national objectives.

It does nothing for the health of a community to wake up to the stench of effluence and this has been the condition for many months affecting people who live, work and do business in downtown Kingston.

On cue, we see images of government ministers, Desmond McKenzie and Matthew Samuda, “examining” sewage seepage in downtown Kingston recently. Were it not a serious matter, this photo opportunity could give way to sustained humour by onlookers. However, Mr. Samuda, who is responsible for water, brought good news to the member of Parliament, Mr. McKenzie that $170 million were to be spent in immediate repairs and that the prime minister had authorised that “all available resources be used to resolve the situation”. This stench has been in the air for many months.

POOR INFRASTRUCTURE

As we have often repeated in this space, poor infrastructure is one of the biggest hurdles to development in a country like Jamaica. The risk of deteriorating infrastructure ought not to be left too late. Among the big questions an administration faces is whether to refurbish or to replace infrastructure. Indeed, the National Water Commission (NWC) which operates more than 100 wastewater treatment plants around the island has laid out a plan to improve sewage service which includes building, replacing and decommissioning plants. Work has been progressing, albeit slowly on some of the areas earmarked for improvement.

Bearing in mind that with climate change and extreme weather events infrastructure will be called on to withstand greater challenges. This demands that NWC devise a cost-effective solution to mitigate potential risks.

This is a costly undertaking and the NWC, as we are painfully aware, is strapped for cash and has been in that position for many years. For instance, the much-touted Soapberry treatment plant earmarked for St. Catherine, and which would eliminate a number of small treatment plants in the Corporate Area, has taken many years to be implemented.

The process of implementing these projects can be long and laborious. From identifying the resources to settling land acquisition where necessary, the procurement process and jumping through bureaucratic hoops to identifying suitable partners, can been painstakingly drawn-out over many years.

When it comes to implementing infrastructure projects, there appears to be an urgent need for protocols that will enable project implementation within say 12 months. We see the need for speeding up the project implementation process, if such projects are to achieve the objective of solving specific problems.