Water woes spark new Hanover protest
Published:Tuesday | March 1, 2022 | 12:10 AM
The National Water Commission (NWC) has made another commitment to residents of eastern Hanover that supply will be restored to their communities by March 10.
This pledge comes on the heels of a second major demonstration in five days staged by angry residents over weeks of water shortages.
Andrew Canon, corporate communications manager at the NWC, told The Gleaner that crewmen are working to address the crisis.
Canon said that workmen encountered “some unforeseen challenges”, even though the dysfunctional pump has been repaired.
Reinstallation has been delayed because of outstanding engineering work to secure the unit.
“We understand the need to have the precious commodity because we know that persons really need water, but despite our best efforts, we were unable to have the resumption of water from the pumping station at the Shettlewood facility in Hanover,” Canon said.
Water will continue to be trucked to the communities, the spokesman added.
Monday’s protest started as early as 6 a.m., with dozens of householders mounting roadblocks along the Chester Castle and Shettlewood main roads that lead from Montego Bay in St James, through Eastern Hanover, to Savanna-la-Mar in Westmoreland.
Hundreds of motorists, taxi operators, and commuters were left stranded.
The security forces eventually cleared the roadway.