

Water Woes Jamaica


Water Woes Jamaica
The Issue
There are communities in Jamaica that goes without water for months. There are also those where the water is only turned on once per week but the pipes are usually dry even then. Two of the communities I'm very familiar with. They are Hopeflats in St Andrew and Esher in St Mary. This extreme water rationing is deliberate and has been happening for decades. These are among the poorer communities of Jamaica. Some of these homes do not have plumbing. This is no reason for people to not have access to water. It is a basic necessity and human right. Not everyone is able to afford to buy water tanks or trucked water. The people should not have to be able to afford it to have access to it. Water will be turned on just for a couple of hours at the standpipe in Hopeflats sometimes late at night or in the wee hours of the morning. I witnessed first hand someone begging for water to cook something to eat. It was heartbreaking to see. The persons put in charge of turning the water on are not reliable. If they do not like the people the water is not turned on. This should not be. Jamaica does not lack water. There's enough for the entire Island. We need proper infrastructure in these communities. They have been ignored for far too long. They can also get their own water catchment systems if those who are able to care enough to help. Thanks in advance to any person or group who decide to do something to help these residents.



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The Issue
There are communities in Jamaica that goes without water for months. There are also those where the water is only turned on once per week but the pipes are usually dry even then. Two of the communities I'm very familiar with. They are Hopeflats in St Andrew and Esher in St Mary. This extreme water rationing is deliberate and has been happening for decades. These are among the poorer communities of Jamaica. Some of these homes do not have plumbing. This is no reason for people to not have access to water. It is a basic necessity and human right. Not everyone is able to afford to buy water tanks or trucked water. The people should not have to be able to afford it to have access to it. Water will be turned on just for a couple of hours at the standpipe in Hopeflats sometimes late at night or in the wee hours of the morning. I witnessed first hand someone begging for water to cook something to eat. It was heartbreaking to see. The persons put in charge of turning the water on are not reliable. If they do not like the people the water is not turned on. This should not be. Jamaica does not lack water. There's enough for the entire Island. We need proper infrastructure in these communities. They have been ignored for far too long. They can also get their own water catchment systems if those who are able to care enough to help. Thanks in advance to any person or group who decide to do something to help these residents.



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Petition created on June 8, 2026