Over $1.4 billion written off under NWC amnesty – Minister Matthew Samuda

Over $1.4 billion written off under NWC amnesty – Minister Matthew Samuda

Over $1.4 billion written off under NWC amnesty – Minister Matthew Samuda

Minister with responsibility for water, Matthew Samuda, says the National Water Commission (NWC) has written off over $1.4 billion while collecting more than $547 million under its ongoing amnesty programme.

The programme, which was first announced by Prime Minister Andrew Holness at the Jamaica Labour Party’s Annual Conference last November, aims to reconnect delinquent customers who have been disconnected from the system for over six months.

Samuda, who was speaking in the Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, said over 34,000 customers of the water utility have engaged the process and are seeking to benefit from the amnesty.

Speaking about the debt that has been written off, Samuda said the NWC was “restoring the supply of water and returning dignity to households”.

“This amnesty has benefitted pensioners, Path recipients, and members of the disabled community with up to a 100 per cent reprieve, and up to 50 per cent for other categories of customers,” he said.

Total reconnections so far stand at 7,901. Regarding the more than half-a-billion dollars collected by the commission so far, Samuda noted that it is revenue that “would’ve been uncollectible otherwise”.

https://www.loopnews.com/content/over-1-4-billion-written-off-under-nwc-amnesty-minister-matthew-samuda/