GEORGE HENRY, STAR Writer

Residents of Morant near Spaldings in Clarendon are calling on the relevant authorities to take the necessary steps in assisting them to get potable water in their community.

The residents reported that it has been more than three years since former Member of Parliament for North West Clarendon Michael Stern promised to help them, but with his defeat by current Member of Parliament Richard Azan that promise was not been fulfilled.

One resident, who opted for anonymity, told THE STAR that she has been living at Morant for 33 years and has never seen piped water there. She said as a result several residents have been forced to either purchase water at high costs or use water for domestic purposes from an untreated source.

"I have to buy water from a truck. The truck full my 650-gallon black tank for $2,000, and that is very expensive for a poor woman like me who cannot even make ends meet," she said.

The resident said people who have been using water from the untreated source have been developing ringworm, and have been forced to stop using the water to bathe. They, however, continue to use that water to wash clothing.

not adequate

When contacted, Azan told THE STAR that he is aware of the problem the residents have been experiencing for decades. Azan said, however, that some amount of politics is at play in the community.

"Prior to the by-election between Stern and me, he (Stern) went ahead and laid pipes in the area, with the intention to get water from Patterson Spring to supply the residents. That source is not able to supply that area because it is not adequate. So that was a waste of resources," revealed Azan.

He said there has to be a proper source identified before the residents can be given potable water. Stern said he had a community meeting with representatives from the National Water Commission at Sanguinetti, a neighbouring community, where the former MP had planned to take the water from to supply the Morant residents. At that meeting, Azan said the NWC representatives made it clear that they were not aware of any pipe laying.

"The NWC representatives said they knew nothing about the pipes which were laid because the source from which the former MP was planning to take the water is insufficient to supply residents it currently supplies and to take on additional ones," shared Azan.

He said not much can be done at this time to help the resident because the area is suffering from a severe dry spell. He, however, said he plans to meet with the residents, but they will have to desist from playing politics.

Last week, residents staged a massive demonstration in the community blocking the roads with huge trees to register their disgust against the lack of water. This move seems to have upset Azan, who said the residents need to desist from such unnecessary actions.