Residents of communities in St Catherine South East will soon have improved access to potable water, sewerage and irrigation services, following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the National Water Commission (NWC) and Can-Cara Development Limited (CDL).
Under the agreement, Can-Cara will provide the infrastructure needed for the conveyance of residential and commercial sewage from agreed existing and proposed NWC customers to the existing CDL sewage plant.
CDL will also provide bulk water from its well for distribution by the NWC to its customers.
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator Matthew Samuda, in his remarks at the signing ceremony held at the ministry’s Dominica Drive offices in New Kingston on Tuesday (April 18), said that the MOU will address the water supply and sewerage needs of the beneficiary communities, and irrigation water production and distribution for agricultural use.
“This arrangement includes the conversion of nine NWC plants into lift stations following the approved protocols, and other important structures, to go directly into the Can-Cara treatment facility, as well as the sale of bulk water from Can-Cara to customers,” he noted.
CDL will use treated effluent from its wastewater plant for agricultural usage within the Greater Bernard Lodge Development Area and surrounding communities.
The company also intends to develop new water supply sources, using aquifers in the space, in a bid to ensure that the base of development is strong.
Samuda said that private-sector partnership is critical in moving Jamaica closer to achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) six, which speaks to clean water and sanitation for all Jamaicans by 2030.
“That cannot be achieved in the timeframe that we have set ourselves without the engagement of all of society [particularly] the private sector,” the minister said.
For her part, Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Audrey Sewell, said that the project will be implemented in three phases, beginning with the Greater Bernard Lodge Development Area.
She said that that the MOU signing was made possible by an approval from Cabinet in 2021 to construct infrastructure, and for the provision of water and sewerage to the occupants of the development area.
