Jamaica water woes continue as drought worsens

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Friday July 18, 2014, CMC – The water crisis across Jamaica’s Corporate Area has worsened as the severe drought continues.

The National Water Commission (NWC) is reporting that levels at the two main catchment facilities in the Corporate Area have dwindled to about one month’s supply.

The NWC’s Vice-President for Potable Water and Maintenance, Mark Blair, says the situation is deteriorating daily.

“We have roughly around 30 days of storage left at the Hermitage Dam based on present usage and with the restrictions that we have placed on the distribution network and a similar amount of days the Mona Reservoir. We are operating at around 60% capacity.

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He says supplies from alternative sources have to be shared with the Corporate Area and the eastern parish of St. Thomas.

Meanwhile, with water supplies in the Corporate Area critically low, the NWC says there could be further restrictions.

“If nothing changes, we will have to make adjustments, we are making adjustments weekly as we look at the forecast. The Met Office says they expect moderate drought conditions even during September which is very frightning. We are very nervous about that and we hope that projection is wrong,” he said.

A prohibition notice took effect a week ago restricting water usage.

Persons are not allowed to water gardens, lawns, grounds and farms; and are barred from filling tanks, ponds or swimming pools.

The drought has also had an impact on farming communities, mainly in the southern parish of St Elizabeth.

On Wednesday, more farmers suffered losses after several large fires broke out in the “bread basket” parish.

The fires – triggered by drought conditions, took several hours to be extinguished, ravaged plots of farmland in the communities of Lititz, Malvern and Comma Pen.

Just over a week ago, fire destroyed over 600 acres of farmland in the parish.

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Jamaica water woes continue as drought worsens

Sugar Industry under threat as Government implements $30m drought plan

Jamaica’s multi-billion dollar sugar industry is now under major threat due to the effects of  the worsening dry spell.

The Sugar Industry Authority, SIA, says the next Crop could be in jeopardy with the forecast of  below average rainfall for the rest of  the year. According to Chairman of  the SIA, Ambassador Derrick Heaven, the scorching dry spell has coincided with replanting for the Crop and there will be serious implications.
Ambassador Heaven says the situation is cause for alarm.

And the Government will be implementing a $30m drought mitigation project for farmers across the island next week.  That’s the word from Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of  Agriculture and Fisheries, Donovan Stanberry.

The project will involve the Rural Agricultural Development Authority, the Jamaica Agricultural Society, farmers and political representatives.  Mr. Stanberry says the Government is also investing in rainwater harvesting systems, and looking to build micro dams through its climate change programme.     

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Sugar Industry under threat as Government implements $30m drought plan

Crippling drought forces Jamaica to contemplate importing produce

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KINGSTON, Jamaica, Tuesday July 15, 2014, CMC – The Portia Simpson Miller led administration will be taking steps to prevent a food shortage as the country continues to experience an extended dry spell.

Agriculture Minister, Roger Clarke says a decision will be made this week on whether permits will be issued for the importation of some agricultural products.

According to Clarke, the record decline in rainfall is taking its toll on the crucial areas of agricultural production.

He said the southern parish of St. Elizabeth – the “bread basket” of the country, is having a “severe,severe” dry spell.

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“We’re trying to ascertain where the shortages are, and then we go from there.”

He said any decision to import additional food items will be data driven, “and our people are out there,” gathering the required information.

The crippling drought has also had an impact on the multi-billion dollar sugar industry with the Sugar Industry Authority (SIA), stating that the industry is under major threat due to the lack of water.

In an effort to ease the water shortage, Clarke says J$34-million (One Jamaica dollar = US$0.004 cents) has been set aside to assist in trucking water to some affected areas.

The water is to come from facilities operated by the National Water Commission (NWC) and National Irrigation Commission stations.

But the Agriculture Minister said that the money can only assist for a few more weeks and it will be necessary to go back to the Finance Ministry for further assistance through the Contingency Fund.

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Crippling drought forces Jamaica to contemplate importing produce

Impact of drought on agriculture not yet known

The Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) says it’s too early to determine what impact the worsening dry spell will have on the price of  ground produce.

JAS President, Senator Norman Grant, told RJR News that the Rural Agricultural Development Authority and JAS Branch Societies are carrying out assessments.

Each parish Branch Society will be asked to give a report on Wednesday during the JAS annual general meeting.

According to Grant proposals for assistance will be submitted to the Ministry of  Agriculture.

“There was a growth rate of 18% in the first quarter, we have to look at the second quarter numbers andwe can access the impact. We are saying that to mitigate against any fall off in production for the third quarter there has to be some intervention, I believe, from government,” he said.

He noted that the agricultural sector is not yet in panic mode, despite the severe decline in rainfall and the increased number of  fires affecting farms in St. Elizabeth.

The JAS President said an education campaign is needed and the age old method of  clearing land using fire will be addressed at Wednesday’s annual general meeting.

Fire personnel have attributed the fires which have razed sections of southern St. Elizabeth to the slash and burn method.

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Impact of drought on agriculture not yet known

Male golfers aiming to end Hoerman Cup drought

A strong Jamaican team of five elite players will seek to end a multi-year drought in the Hoerman Cup, symbol of male amateur golfing supremacy, when the 2013 Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships tee off at the Mahogany Run Golf Course, St Thomas, US Virgin Islands, on August 4. The tournament ends on August 10.

The male players charged with launching Jamaica back to the pinnacle of golf in the Caribbean are Paul Thompson, Jonathan Newnham, William Knibbs, Christopher Clarke, and Ian Facey, and according to chairman of the selection panel, Brian Roper, all the players are in good form, ready and raring to go.The team is being coached by experienced professional golfers Ewan Peebles and Spencer Edwards, who together have a wealth of experience at the top level. Edwards has been a Professional Golf Association player and his coaching résumé includes assisting three Ryder Cup and a number of European Professional Tour winners. Peebles is the winner of 15 PGAJ tournaments.Jamaica will be competing against teams from The Bahamas, Barbados, Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos, and the US Virgin Islands.“The players have worked really hard and are confident of doing well,” Roper noted. “We are well aware that it’s been a long time since Jamaica’s glory days in Caribbean golf, and while it will be a tall task, the team stands a good chance of challenging for the top prize.”A lot of eyes will be on Paul Thompson, who is making his return to the Hoerman Cup team this year after a hiatus of a few years. He has been in scintillating form, being the National Amateur champion and top qualifier at the national trials.His calming demeanour on the course does not outwardly show the steely determination and grit that lies inside. His desire to play well and bring home a trophy for Jamaica will help to push the men’s team to the top this year.Facey, who started playing golf at the age of eight, is making his third appearance on the senior national team, after having a stellar junior career representing Jamaica. His favourite player is Jason Dufner, because of “the way he handles himself on the golf course and doesn’t let anything bother him”.Teenage prodigy Newnham, the youngest person to play the Hoerman Cup for Jamaica at the age of 13, continues to play well in both local and overseas tournaments, completing a very successful senior year at St Andrews School in Florida. He now moves on to the men’s golf team at Mississippi State as a freshman in September.Christopher Clarke is making his debut on the national team and says he is very excited to represent the island. The local fraternity sees him as having great potential to be the star of the Jamaican team with his length off the tee and a solid putting stroke. His family continues to provide sterling support and members are often seen on the course with him.William Knibbs makes his second appearance at the Hoerman Cup this year. He was the low gross amateur for Jamaica at last year’s tournament and played a very steady and consistent four days of golf. This continued this year both on the local and overseas amateur tournaments.(L-R) NEWNHAM… the youngest person to play Hoerman Cup for Jamaica at the age of 13. KNIBBS… makes his second appearance at the Hoerman Cup this year(L-R) CLARKE… is making his debut on the national team and says he is very excited to represent the island. FACEY… started playing golf at the age of eight

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Male golfers aiming to end Hoerman Cup drought