‘A big deal’

BOUNTY HALL, St James — Approximately 3,000 residents in Trelawny are expected to benefit from a more-than-$100-million investment by the National Water Commission (NWC) to rehabilitate Belfield well and upgrade the Bounty Hall water supply system, easing long-standing water challenges in the communities. “This project is a big deal. It represents the strategic focus of the National Water Commission and its role in poverty reduction, inflation stabilisation, and in providing a better quality of life,” Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change Matthew Samuda said while hailing the projects as a major step towards improving water access for residents. Addressing the commissioning ceremony in Bounty Hall last Thursday, Samuda argued that households freed from the expense and uncertainty of trucking water would have more money available for other essential needs, including home improvements and their children’s education. He urged beneficiaries to safeguard the investment by paying their water bills promptly and avoiding illegal connections, which he warned could lead to leaks and undermine the distribution network. The minister also welcomed plans by the NWC to take customer service directly into the affected communities, making it easier for residents to register for service and obtain connections. The system serves residents of Bounty Hall, New Garden, Hampden Land, Cargen, Green Park, and Hermitage. At Belfield, the rehabilitation included the installation of a new pump and motor, supporting electrical and mechanical equipment, chlorination facilities, and associated pipe works. Approximately 300 metres of 12-inch ductile iron pipeline were also installed. The Bounty Hall component involved upgrades to the system’s power supply and pumping arrangements, including new duty and standby pumps and associated piping improvements. Member of Parliament for Trelawny Northern Tova Hamilton welcomed the commissioning as the resolution of a problem that persisted for generations, describing the occasion as particularly meaningful for residents who have endured years of unreliable water supply. “Today may just be a commissioning ceremony for some, but for the people of Bounty Hall, today is an answer to a very long wait,” Hamilton said. She noted that the community’s water challenges pre-dated her birth, with successive generations growing up without the assurance of a dependable supply. “Think about that: children grow into adults, parents became grandparents and great grandparents, and still families were waiting for something as basic as reliable water in their pipes,” she said. Hamilton said the project fulfilled a commitment she made during her election campaign to address the long-standing problem. Deputy Mayor of Falmouth Jonathan Bartley, who also represents the Bounty Hall area, passionately welcomed the improvements, recalling the challenges residents faced before the system was upgraded. He said the improved water pressure had made a noticeable difference, recounting a resident’s reaction when she first turned on her tap after the repairs. “A lady called me, and she said, ‘Mr Bartley, when I turn on the water, the water deh massage my body,’ ” the councillor recalled. He said more than 99 per cent of his division was now adequately served by the NWC, adding that the latest improvements represented significant progress for the communities. Bartley, however, appealed for assistance to repair sections of road damaged during the laying of pipes, noting that the infrastructure works had further deteriorated already poor conditions.