Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda told the UN 2023 Water Conference that Jamaica has made significant investments over the last seven years in strengthening the country’s water infrastructure.

Speaking today (March 23, 2022) at the Conference in New York, Minister Samuda stated that several critical infrastructure projects are being undertaken by the Government, which upon completion will improve water supply services across the island and increase the country’s resilience to climate change.

“The National Water Commission (NWC) is replacing aged transmission lines and infrastructure across several service areas in the country, which will improve the delivery of water supply,” Minister Samuda said.

Minister Samuda further advised the UN conference of several key projects implemented by the Government in the water and climate sectors:

• The implementation of the Non-Revenue Water Programme which is improving service delivery to its customers, enhancing the operational efficiency of the NWC, improving water distribution as well as facilitating huge energy and water savings.
• The implementation of Jamaica’s Systemic Risk Assessment Tool, which accesses climate risk to all infrastructure including water. This tool was developed by CCRI and the University of Oxford, with funding from the Green Climate Fund.
• Jamaica’s push to install a Floating Photovoltaic Renewable Energy Plant at the Mona Reservoir. The project involves the installation of a 45 Megawatt-peak (MWp) Direct Current (DC) Floating Photovoltaic Renewable Energy Plant with a 25 Megawatt-hour (MW/h) DC Battery Storage Facility.
• The commencement of the biggest investment in Jamaica’s history in irrigation, with some US$250 million invested into the Essex Valley Irrigation Scheme and Pedro Plains Irrigation Project.

Minister Samuda noted that these projects are a national priority to improve food security.

-30-