Samuda Dismisses Opposition Claims That Water Projects Follow Political Lines

Water Minister Matthew Samuda has pushed back against opposition suggestions that party politics is influencing how water-related projects are being carried out across Jamaica.

Speaking at Wednesday's Post Cabinet media briefing at Jamaica House, Samuda responded to comments from the opposition's spokesman on water, Ian Hayles, who told Parliament that political considerations may be shaping the distribution of water investments islandwide.

Samuda said Hayles's charge falls well short of the mark, describing the allegation as outright nonsense. He insisted the administration's water infrastructure programme is guided by need, not by which political side represents an area.

Samuda said, "The first is the western resilience project which was a source of much discussion. That project, you'll recall, will see a pipeline run from Martha Brae all the way to the opposition spokesperson's constituency in western Westmoreland. The last time I looked at the map, that pipeline will run through eastern Hanover, western Hanover and western Westmoreland. I can't imagine how such a ludicrous statement could be made when $11 billion is being spent, and three of the constituencies that will benefit the most are indeed held by the opposition."

The minister was defending the government's multi-billion-dollar Western Resilience Water Project after the opposition called for a review of the initiative.

Samuda said, "But at the beginning of the presentation, it was said that what Jamaica needed was a integrated set of water systems, not systems set up individually. This project actually does that. So, I'm happy to see that he actually supports what we're trying to achieve. He called for exactly what we are doing. But he left out in mentioning the Roaring River supply – that a subset of this project which is phase two will see the development of a water treatment plant in Roaring River which will supply Savanna La Mar and we'll see from the southwest end of the island the interconnection and you're starting to build your ring road of sorts of pipes coming around the tip of the island."

Minister Samuda also rejected Hayles's proposal to merge the National Water Commission, the Water Resources Authority, and other water agencies.

He urged anyone reporting on the matter to review the legislation governing the National Water Commission and the Water Resources Authority.

Samuda said, "I am at pains to understand how a regulator could merge with a utility. If you figure it out, I would be happy to have a discussion with you because it is simply not possible from my understanding."