PRIME Minister Dr Andrew Holness has charged recently sworn-in minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation Matthew Samuda to further efforts to protect the environment and ensure that every Jamaican has access to potable water in their homes.

Holness noted that water is a critical pain point in today’s society, and the standard to meet is to ensure that every Jamaican has access to potable water inside their homes.

“It is not sufficient to measure the access of water by being within one mile or 100m of a water main. It’s not sufficient to say that there is a standpipe near you. It’s not sufficient to say that a water main passes your home. Everybody wants potable water in their home…and that is indeed the standard of expectation,” said the prime minister.

“Minister Samuda, that is what we have to meet for the people of Jamaica. How do we get potable water in their homes? It is a big task, because the expectations don’t always match the level of resources that are available. So the challenge is multi-dimensional, and one of the first dimensions of the problem that we have to conquer is to increase the size of the economy and the pace of growth of the economy so that we can get more revenue so that we can invest in the infrastructure,” he said.

Holness was speaking at the swearing-in ceremony for Samuda as a Cabinet minister at King’s House Wednesday morning.

The ceremony was conducted by Governor General Sir Patrick Allen, who said that Samuda’s appointment underscores the importance of skilled collaborative leadership within the Cabinet. He further noted that the minister will bring youth, respect, and dynamism to the position.

The prime minister, expressing his confidence in Samuda, further tasked him with the responsibility of being efficient with the management of the resources dedicated to improving access to water and environmental protection.

“The environment portfolio will come into play in a critical way in ensuring that we do have water for our population because, believe it or not, the land of wood of water – that the water part of it might very well become scarce. We are seeing longer and more intensive periods of drought and more unpredictable rainfall, which makes it very difficult to plan for the delivery of water, so the management of the water resource is going to be a critical element,” said Holness.

The challenge was accepted by Samuda, who expressed thanks to the prime minister for his vote of confidence.

“I am very grateful for the third time to be sworn into the Cabinet. It is not lost on me, prime minister, that you have expressed your trust and faith in me and my work three times,” said the minister.

He stated that he is committed to ensuring that Jamaica reaches its target of 30 per cent land mass protection by 2025 and that citizens islandwide have access to potable water inside their homes as quickly as possible.

Samuda also committed to ensuring that work to protect 30 per cent of the country’s marine space is completed by 2030.

“You cannot have economic development against the backdrop of environmental degradation, and you cannot have prosperity steeped in pollution,” he said.

“As a small island developing State, our aspirations, our ambitions, our development agenda is always at threat, is always at risk for factors sometimes that are outside our control. It is why — within the micro climate, within the management of our environment, within this small Jamaica, land we love — we have to be particularly careful with our development agenda, and that is what we have sought to do. I commit today to redouble our efforts to ensure that all of Jamaica is very clear that this Government holds the environment, holds the micro climate, holds your sustainable development dear to its heart,” said Samuda.

The minister further noted that while the country is happy for macroeconomic stability, they are looking for dividends in terms of service delivery, and one of those areas is access to water.

“I commit to use every waking moment to ensure that we move along the mission to peace, productivity, and prosperity,” said Samuda.