An emergency meeting is to be held next week between the water ministry and representatives from parish councils to discuss the water crisis affecting Jamaica and the delay in payment to truckers.
This as the country continues to experience drought conditions, and many citizens are left without water because some private water suppliers are hesitant to truck water for parish councils, until they are paid up for previous jobs.
Irie FM News understands that when independent water suppliers are contracted by the parish councils, the process for payment to the truckers can take as long as three months.
The parish councils have to send invoices to the water ministry which processes the requests for payment through the finance ministry and then sends the money back to the parish council for disbursement.
Some councillors have complained that this procedure is complicated and archaic, and needs to be changed.
It is expected that at Monday’s meeting, mayors, town clerks and secretary managers from all parish councils and municipalities will outline the challenges they face with having water trucked to affected areas.
The meeting is scheduled for next Monday May 18, at 11:00 a.m., at the ministry’s headquarters in Kingston, and will be led by Junior Minister Ian Hayles.
The water issue was brought up during several monthly parish council meetings across the island Thursday.
At the St. Ann parish council meeting, several councillors cited the dire need for water in their divisions.
The councillors complained that because the truck owned by the council was out of operation they had to contract private water suppliers, many of whom are reportedly reluctant to do the job, due to outstanding payments for water trucking or late payment.
The councillors called for payment of drivers in a timelier manner.
Chairman of the St. Ann parish council Mayor Desmond Gilmore said he and the secretary manager will attend the emergency meeting next Monday, at the water ministry to discuss timely payments to the independent truck drivers and other assistance the ministry can provide.
In the meantime, Irie FM News has learnt that the water ministry has asked all parish councils to submit all current invoices for water trucking services, by no later than today.