Desilt dams before rains

The Editor, Sir:

I read The Gleaner online daily in order to keep abreast of what is happening in the country and am most concerned about the vexed question of 'no water' that has been in the news regularly. Over the years, successive governments have not made any tangible efforts to address this situation.

When I was a teenager (in the 1960s), the then government was considering the construction of a new dam to address the water shortage that was being faced by the country at that time. Now, we are in the 21st century and the country is still being plagued by water woes. We cannot continue like this! Jamaica is the land of wood and water, but where is the water?

Has anyone thought of desilting the Hermitage Dam and the Mona Reservoir? Why not call on citizens to assist the Government in removing even one truckload of silt, under the supervision of the National Water Commission or whichever agency deals with this? It is time for the citizens to be brought into the 'running of things'.

Patriotism needed

Government cannot supply everything and we as citizens need to be more patriotic. This lack of patriotism can be seen in why we don't dispose of garbage properly, believe that we can always avoid paying taxes, treat the workplace with impunity and are uncivil to each other.

Citizen involvement is by no means exhaustive, but please, will someone think of a solution before the rains come? Too often, we see pictures in the newspapers and on television of the Hermitage Dam overflowing when the rain comes. We don't need to go through this again!

Maybe desilting the dam and reservoir is far-fetched, but it is a glorious opportunity for us to band together as a nation and leave the politics behind.

I am, etc.,

WINSOME SLATER AZAN

orchid_azan@hotmail.com

Kingston 10