Water to be restored to Irwin tomorrow

Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:
Water is to be restored tomorrow morning to the homes of residents of Irwin, St James, as the National Water Commission (NWC) has brokered a deal with the landowner on whose property a well and pump house are located.

The landowner, Richard Vernon, shut down the pump Monday morning cutting off the precious commodity in seven communities in the area.

He was demanding that the NWC settles its nine-year bill for using his property to access the well.

The areas affected are Irwin Dale, Irwin Heights, Chelsea, Dollar View, Timber Close, Green Park and sections of Sign Irwin.

In retaliation, the residents blocked the roads leading into Montego Bay forcing several students to miss their first day back to school.

"I am advised that the NWC technical people are at work right now," says East Central St. James Member of Parliament, Edmund Bartlett.

Bartlett said that a meeting previously scheduled for Thursday between the NWC and the residents is still on.

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com