Rough waters

Long-standing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) councillor John Myers on Tuesday criticised the People’s National Party (PNP) caucus’ resolution calling for potable water in Kingston and St Andrew. Myers claimed that the resolution was politically motivated and aimed at embarrassing the Andrew Holness administration.

The motion, introduced by Jesse James Clarke, councillor for the Trafalgar division and PNP deputy spokesman on health and wellness, was passed after considerable debate.

Clarke, who is also chairman of the Public Health & Sanitation Committee of the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC), had recently raised concerns about water quality in Kingston and St Andrew, particularly in rural areas, claiming that some water distributed for domestic use contained faecal matter.

At Tuesday’s monthly general meeting of the KSAMC, 18 councillors from the PNP caucus supported the motion, while six members of the JLP caucus abstained and three opposed it.

Myers, the councillor for the Lawrence Tavern division, did not stick around to register his vote, storming out of the meeting after raising a point of order, which was dismissed by Mayor Andrew Swaby.

“I’m not sitting here and listen to a resolution like this. This resolution is a political resolution … . Twenty years unno never fix no water. Unno never fix anything … . I’m a Labourite and a part of the Government. Unno want to destroy the credibility of my Government. You never know seh water is life? Now you coming to bring a resolution to embarrass the Government,” Myers shouted, exiting the Marcus Garvey Council Chambers.

Clarke’s motion recommended that water failing to meet microbiological or chemical standards should not be supplied to National Water Commission (NWC) customers, as it posed a significant health risk.

Clarke explained that the KSAMC’s Public Health & Sanitation Committee meets monthly with key stakeholders responsible for public health in the city, including the NWC, the KSA Health Department, and the National Solid Waste Management Authority. He said the committee’s concerns about water quality led members of the bipartisan committee to conduct site visits at water treatment plants.

“November 2024, we visited the Constant Spring and Seaview treatment plants and the NWC laboratory at Marescaux Road,” Clarke said.

He said the only concerns during the first tour by committee members was the physical state of the Seaview plant and the poor working conditions for staff.

“So the rural [areas] have consistently been above what it (level of contaminants) is suppose to be. This is really, really high numbers … . Sewage that is treated by NWC before it goes out into the environment has better results than what you are seeing for some of these rural area,” Clarke said, adding he was putting in context, source and distribution results from February.

The JLP last month called for Clarke’s resignation, accusing him of making false and dangerous comments about the country’s water supply.

Clarke, however, demanded an apology on Tuesday, stating that the attacks on him had led him to consider reporting the matter to the police. He also urged the media to objectively assess the water supply across the country.

Yesterday, in response to the public concerns, the Ministry of Health & Wellness confirmed that some water samples from NWC systems had tested positive for E. coli, but assured the public that there was no immediate health risk and no boil water advisory was necessary. The ministry explained that such occurrences, especially during droughts or following pipe breaks, were not unusual. They also clarified that boil water advisories are issued by the medical officer of health only when there is an imminent risk of waterborne diseases.

The ministry said it continues to monitor the situation closely, emphasising its commitment to ensuring public safety and well-being.

andre.williams@gleanerjm.com