Civic-minded group helps out in St Andrew

Some residents in St. Andrew saddled with the perennial problem of long bouts without water got a little respite over the weekend and may soon get a permanent fix.

Thanks to the goodwill of a group of concerned citizens, Rock Hall residents were gifted some 89 cases of water and 12 gallon bottles on Saturday. While water shortages appear endemic in many rural communities, Simon Julian, who led the efforts, said he wasn’t aware of the enormity of the situation until he along with friends including Anderson Mr Impact Ward, Wolly Hewitt, Alan Springer and Bruce Robinson transported the items and distributed them on Saturday afternoon.

“I didn’t realise people up north were in such need for water. I live on the south coast and we don’t really grasp it. People up there are in a really, really bad way. . .

For me, this is the first time I have every done any thing like this, seeing the needs of the people I was truly moved. We really didn’t know how bad it was until we saw it for ourselves,” Julian told Barbados TODAY.

The water was collected through the combined efforts of the Presentation College Old Scholars Association, the Fairmont Royal Pavilion staff, executive and leaders; the Church of God of Prophecy in Pilgrim Road, Garden View Neighbourhood Watch Community Group and other friends.

Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Dr. Romel Springer, an advisor to St. Andrew Community Disaster Response team, which assisted with the weekend’s distribution, said it was a welcomed donation. According to Springer, this was especially so given the fact that some residents had no running water to their homes since November 30 last year.

“The people were very appreciative of the donation. Everybody that got it was very happy and thankful,” he said, while expressing gratitude to Julian and his team.

However, Springer revealed to Barbados TODAY that a more lasting solution could be on the way shortly. He added: “Even as we speak right now the Barbados Water Authority is here in Rock Hall laying down the new main pipes to fix the problem.

The problem is being fixed, it is just that in the meantime people are inconvenienced but the Barbados Water Authority is on the job and they are addressing the problem right now.”  Nonetheless, Julian still wants to contribute further and stated that while in the community he saw a need for several community projects.

“Forty or 50 homes benefitted. We literally did almost every house. We went up hill and dirt roads.

It was rewarding to do this. So, I would not stop here and would definitely continue the work with another drive, may not be water but something else,” he pledged.  (KC)