Caribbean News
JAMAICA: PM Appeals For Conservation of Water
#Kingston, March 27, 2023 – Jamaicans are being encouraged to conserve on their use of water as part of efforts
to mitigate the impact of drought conditions.
“I am appealing to all Jamaicans to be conservative in the use of water. We are not yet at the point where we would declare certain orders in terms of the usage of water, but we could get there,” the Prime Minister said. Mr. Holness was speaking at a recent press conference at the Office of the Prime Minister, where he announced an additional $100 million to respond to the meteorological drought that the country is experiencing. The sum is in addition to an initial $50 million to support the response measures by the Government.
“Before we get there, I would urge consumers to, for example, reduce the number of times you wash your car; reduce the amount of water you use in watering your lawns; make sure that if you are not using the tap, you turn it off; and check your homes for leaks. If you can, start to collect whatever rainwater you can,” he implored.
Mr. Holness also encouraged them to instal water-efficient plumbing fixtures in their homes.
“These are the things we need to do as Jamaicans to become more responsive,” he said, noting that behavioural change is critical in boosting resilience and responding to the effects of climate change.
The Prime Minister explained that the country is experiencing a meteorological drought, which means that the level of rainfall is very low and is affecting the supply of water.
“This is particularly the case for communities that are dependent on catchment, for example. So, rural communities are likely to be greatly affected,” Mr. Holness said. He informed that the country has been recording reductions in rainfall from as early as October last year.
“In November, we had 62 per cent of our 30-year average for rainfall; in December, it declined to 47 per cent of our 30-year average for rainfall and we are at now in January… 32 per cent of the 30-year average. The figures for February are now being compiled, but the preliminary analysis is showing that we will probably be lower than 30 per cent; so, from a meteorological standpoint, from a rainfall standpoint, we are in a crisis,” he said.
In light of this, the Prime Minister informed that the Drought Management Committee has commenced meetings and is monitoring the situation. Eleven parishes are experiencing meteorological drought conditions, according to
the Meteorological Office. The drought response measures will be channeled through the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. The measures include, among other things, the trucking of water to communities.
KINGSTON, April 29 (JIS):
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, says the outcome of discussions arising from the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) will assist in guiding the Government’s planning for climate change.
This, he points out, is important for climate mitigation as well as building Jamaica’s resilience.
“We look forward to the discussions that will, no doubt, take place. We look forward to the basis of planning for the Government to streamline its investments to ensure you have the tools that you need to better advise us, that the WRA (Water Resources Authority) has the tools to digitise its monitoring network, and that all of the agencies that touch our planning mechanisms have the tools. But we need to know what we are facing, and we’re guided by your expertise,” Minister Samuda said.
He was addressing the opening ceremony for the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in New Kingston on Monday (April 29).
Senator Samuda said given the fact that the climate has changed and continues to do so, investments in and collaborations on building Jamaica’s predictive and scientific capacity must be prioritised.
“Ultimately, we need to be able to assess our current climatic realities if we are to better plan, if we’re to insist and ensure that our infrastructure meets the needs that we need it to. I’m very happy that this event is happening… because this is a critical issue.
“Jamaica, last year, faced its worst and most severe drought… and this year, we’re already seeing the impacts of not quite as severe a drought but, certainly, a drought with severe impacts, especially in the western part of the country,” he said.
Principal Director, Meteorological Service of Jamaica, Evan Thompson, explained that the forum aims to, among other things, establish a collaboration platform for climate services providers and users to understand risks and opportunities of past, present and future climate developments, as well as improve inter-agency coordination of policies, plans and programmes.
Among the other presenters were Ambassador, European Union to Jamaica, Her Excellency Marianne Van Steen; Chief Scientist/Climatologist, Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology, Adrian Trotman; and Head, Regional Climate Prediction Services, World Meteorological Organization, Wilfran Moufouma-Okia.
The Meteorological Service of Jamaica hosted the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) in partnership with the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology and the World Meteorological Organization.
The National Stakeholder Consultation is a governance mechanism that guides how different sectors or actors work together to create products that contribute to adaptation and resilience-building. It seeks to create a road map for the development and implementation of climate services to inform decision-making.
NCF-1 aims to bridge the gap between climate providers and users. It increases the use of science-based information in decision-making and operations with the aim of generating and delivering co-produced and co-designed products and services.
CONTACT: CHRIS PATTERSON
-
TCI News1 week agoExperience Turks and Caicos and Ministry of Tourism explore development of Cruise industry at Seatrade Global Cruise Conference
-
Latin America and Caribbean6 days agoRegional SDGs Update
-
Caribbean News1 week agoUN Security Council fears further conflict between Guyana and Venezuela
-
Crime6 days agoFollowing Court ruling, US Embassy Doubles Down on Warning: DO NOT TRAVEL TO TCI WITH GUNS, AMMO
-
Bahamas News6 days agoEnvironment State-Minister updates ‘Our Ocean’ forum on The Bahamas as SIDS leader in sustainable tourism
-
Caribbean News1 week agoU.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS SHINES AS A PREMIER DESTINATION AT THE 2024 SEATRADE CRUISE GLOBAL CONFERENCE
-
Bahamas News4 days agoPacesetting Cohort of Eleuthera Residents Graduate from Leading Light Programme
-
Caribbean News6 days agoRBC appoints new Head of Caribbean Banking