Samuda lashes Warmington and Knight for water woes in Old Harbour North

Samuda did not hold back any punches while addressing supporters at the People’s National Party (PNP) Old Harbour North Divisional Conference held at Davis Primary School on June 12.

“There is a lot that is not going well for the people in Old Harbour North Division.

“There is really a lot to address, a lot needs to change to make lives in the division better.

“We have some of the nicest communities in the division. We have youth with bright future.

“What is missing is a visionary councillor, a councillor who cares and a councillor who genuinely want a great division with people achieving greatness,” said Samuda, who is the party’s standard bearer in the division whenever the next Local Government Election is called.

Most pressing of all concerns, Samuda contends is the decades-old water crisis in the division, the largest in terms of geographical size in the constituency of St Catherine South Western. While constituents who dwell at the foothills of the division have access to potable water, those in the hills have to rely on rainwater, or purchase the commodity from trucks at exorbitant rates. And it is the lack of potable water that is stunting the growth and development of the division, said Samuda.

“Our communities can be far more developed and in demand if there was running water.

“It’s a matter that must be taken seriously by the current member of parliament and councillor. The residents in sections of Old Harbour North Division is really suffering.

“I will be the voice. Water matters. The residents deserve better,” said the popular businessman who is head honcho of the Kaluga Group of Companies. 

“The MP of SW St Catherine needs to give strong representation in Parliament for his people. He is known to be a man with a strong voice when he is ready. We need to hear him speak up right now for his people,” he continues.

“Too many of our people are suffering from water deprivation.

“Yesterday a resident up Planters said to me, not even water she has to cook breakfast. That hurts me. It is not fair to the people.

“The cost of water will go up due to increase on oil and gas. How will our people afford it?”

Samuda who grew up in the community of Bannister in the division said he’s committed to transforming the landscape of the entire area. He envisioned communities like Planters Hall and Bois Content becoming the Cherry Gardens of Old Harbour but this dream is impossible to achieve without access to potable water.

At the same he called on supporters to make the sacrifice and invest in their education to break the cycle of poverty.

“Someone in the family must seriously sacrifice to break generational poverty. It is possible,” he said.

Also addressing the conference were Mayor Norman Scott, vice president; Mikhail Phillips, the guest speaker; Damion Crawford, former vice president; Dr Kurt Waul, chairman, St Catherine South West, and Obryan Leighton, councillor candidate, Old Harbour Central Division.