NWC amnesty recovers $769 million as utility clears nearly $2 billion in old debts

KINGSTON, Jamaica — A customer amnesty and relief drive launched by the National Water Commission (NWC) in January 2025 brought in $769.0 million for the State-owned water utility.

More than 15,000 customer applications were handled under the programme, which also cleared roughly $1.9 billion in longstanding unpaid balances. Those figures appear in the 2025 Economic and Social Survey Jamaica, issued by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ).

Alongside broader debt recovery, the amnesty offered special help to pensioners and people on the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH), aiming to restore disconnected supply, cut outstanding bills, and keep households connected to basic water service.

After the islandwide offer closed, a separate Micro, Small & Medium Enterprise amnesty ran from September through December 2025. That push collected $17.5 million and tackled an additional $18.2 million in overdue amounts.

The PIOJ characterised the overall effort as striking a balance among collecting revenue, shielding vulnerable users, and keeping the utility financially sound.