Water restored in ‘great part’ following meeting at Labour Ministry – Samuda
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Water has been restored in “great part” following Tuesday’s strike action by employees of the state-owned National Water Commission (NWC).
This update was given Tuesday afternoon by the Minister of Labour and Social Security, Karl Samuda, who was speaking on the motion for adjournment during the sitting of the House of Representatives.
Specifically, Samuda was responding to questions from the Member of Parliament for St Catherine South, Fitz Jackson, about whether the matter had been resolved.
“We convened a meeting and we discussed, with the unions, the matter and with the key players at the Water Commission with a view to resolving the problem,” Samuda began.
He disclosed that it will require further consultations before the matter is fully resolved because there are still differences that will have to be worked out. He also promised to “keep the people of Jamaica apprised of the progress or the challenges that are being faced at this time”.
The labour and social security minister expressed sympathies to all who were denied water supply and said “we will do everything in our power to try to resolve the issue”. He was careful to point out that it has implications for the Ministry of Finance.
“As soon as we are able to put together a position that is acceptable I will advise this honourable House and the people of Jamaica,” Samuda stated.
Questioned by Jackson about whether the lock-offs were continuing until the matter was fully resolved, Samuda said the situation could not have continued on a protracted basis.
“And I am very pleased to advise that in great part…water has been restored,” he said.
“We will, during the course of the negotiations ensure that everything is done to have that flow of water on a continuous basis while we discuss the matter,” he added.
An outstanding reclassification exercise and the ongoing public sector review process are at the heart of the industrial action taken by the NWC’s approximately 2,000 employees and which left many Jamaicans without the lifesaving commodity.
