Delinquent customers owing $870 million urged to pay for water

ST ELIZABETH – Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change Robert Pickersgill is appealing to residents in St Elizabeth to bring their outstanding accounts up-to-date under the National Water Commission’s (NWC) new debt forgiveness programme.

Speaking to journalists during a tour of improvement works on the Santa Cruz Water supply System last week, Pickersgill said payments of outstanding water bills would guarantee better water supply for all persons.

“I would like to take this opportunity to remind you that it costs the NWC money to put in the necessary infrastructure to collect, treat, pump and distribute the water to you.  It is not a cheap process and so I am urging all customers in St Elizabeth who receive service from the NWC, to pay your water bills promptly,” Pickersgill stated.

He said approximately 24 000 customers/accounts from within the South East, South West, North East and North West constituencies of St Elizabeth were now outstanding, totalling $870 million.

“I remind you all that if each one pays your outstanding water bills, then we all could receive better service resulting in each of us carrying lighter burdens.  I therefore ask that you encourage your friends and neighbours to pay their bills as well, as it is the right thing to do,” the Minister said.

Improvement works are presently being carried out on the Santa Cruz Water Supply System at a cost of over $38 million, which on completion, would provide improved water supply service for an additional 23 000 residents. (JIS)