The National Water Commission, NWC, requires nearly JM$800 billion or US$5 billion, to bring its system up to the required standards.
That’s according to acting-president, Kevin Kerr.
He outlined the figure while addressing Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, PAC, on Tuesday.
It comes as the NWC seeks a rate increase of 51 per cent from the Office of Utilities Regulation, OUR.
Chevon Campbell tells us more.
According to NWC’s acting-president, the commission is far behind what is reasonably required to deliver a modern service.
Kevin Kerr says a study commissioned from the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank puts the cost of bringing Jamaica’s water infrastructure up to standard at US$5 billion. That’s nearly JM$800 billion Jamaican.
Kerr told the PAC that the NWC is not in a position to address its ageing system properly. He says this would require significant resources, upwards of $30 billion a year.
The figures come as the NWC asks the OUR to approve its proposed 51 per cent rate increase, a request already being questioned by the Opposition, hoteliers and some business leaders. But, there’s a silver lining.
The NWC is seeking assistance from both multilateral and private-sector partners to share the burden.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Water is to present a cabinet submission aimed an engineering a turnaround at NWC. That’s according to permanent secretary, Wayne Robertson.
PS Robertson says the ministry is working hard to promote climate based investments.
Wayne Robertson, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Water, Environment and Climate Change.
He was also addressing Tuesday’s sitting of the PAC.
And the corporate public relations manager at NWC, Delano Williams, says the commission has been racking up losses, even as it has been taking on more projects and serving more customers over the years.
Williams says the application for a tariff increase follows several years of operational reviews.
Delano Williams, corporate public relations manager of the NWC. He was speaking during Nationwide at Five on Wednesday.
Robian Williams contributed to this report.
