The water tank that was stolen from Negril Primary School in Westmoreland is to be replaced soon.
This was disclosed by Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator Matthew Samuda.
“I have instructed the Rural Water Supply Limited (RWSL) to have that tank replaced in the coming days, and to ensure that there is no further disruption because of a lack of (a) tank,” said Samuda.
He was speaking during Wednesday’s post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House.
Samuda, who joined Prime Minister Andrew Holness in denouncing the recent theft of the tank, said “we continue… to coordinate very closely with the Ministry of Education (and Youth) to ensure that schools are indeed served when they are… in areas that are challenged.”
Meanwhile, Samuda advised that an assessment of educational institutions is to be undertaken to determine their levels of resiliency relative to water supply.
He said this is to be undertaken through RWSL, in partnership with the Education Ministry, “to make sure that they (educational institutions) are also water-resilient”.
In the meantime, Samuda urged administrators at critical institutions to work closer with the National Water Commission (NWC) to address issues relating to accessing water.
“I… encourage administrators of critical infrastructure, regardless of whether they are educational, health or otherwise, to coordinate closer with the National Water Commission and to not be premature in any decisions, as we do have the capacity to respond.
“You will have persons (taking steps) to ensure that our schools and our health centres are, indeed, able to function in the morning, once we have the information,” the minister said.
