Preliminary figures show that approximately 2000 persons, or just over 600 per day,  have applied for the National Water Commission’s Amnesty since it came into effect under three working days ago, on January 2, 2025.

This was disclosed by Minister without Portfolio, in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Matthew Samuda, during an interview on Nationwide News Network this morning (January 7, 2024).

Minister Samuda, who has responsibility for the water portfolio, told the hosts of “Nationwide This Morning’ George Davis, and Tauna Thomas, that a better idea of the numbers will be obtained later this week.

“We will be able to have a better view of the breakdown in numbers towards the end of the week.  As it is still in its preliminary stages, we are working through, as with any programme the teething pains to make sure that it is smooth”, he noted.

Minister Samuda reiterated that persons wishing to take advantage of the amnesty, have been asked to call the NWC’s dedicated helplines to make appointments to prevent an influx of persons at the Agency’s offices.

“Thus far we are seeing persons calling and making their appointments. There are those that obviously want deeper cuts than the programme allows, so you do have some negotiations and some conversations that are taking longer.  We are working through the issues. We are assessing whether it will become necessary to look at opening for this programme on Saturdays if it creates too much pressure in-branch for any of the spaces”, he said.

The Minister further noted that the NWC is also looking at doing some community interventions for persons who are remotely located from the NWC’s offices, adding that the data received towards the end of the week will be critical to ascertaining the necessary interventions.

Minister Samuda said in all, it is expected that the Amnesty will benefit 150,000 persons by bringing those who have been disconnected back into the formal system as paying customers.

Under the Amnesty which will last up to March 31, 2025, pensioners who have been disconnected for two years, and are assessed as being in need based on the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH) beneficiary identification standards, will have their debt written off and reconnection fees waived.

The Amnesty will also benefit persons trying to transfer land Titles and customers who have been disconnected for longer than six months.

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