Prime Minister Holness salutes NWC long-service staff at 2026 excellence gala

Prime Minister Andrew Holness used his keynote address at the National Water Commission’s 2026 Service Excellence Award Gala to honour hundreds of public servants whose careers have underpinned Jamaica’s water and sewerage systems for decades.

The evening, themed “Timeless Treasures,” recognised 969 employees with at least 15 years of service. Staff reaching 30 years and above were presented on stage, while others in lower milestone groups received plaques earlier in the programme.

Acting NWC President Kevin Carr, who joined the commission on 5 February 2005, told the gathering that many awardees had built full lives of service inside the organisation. Vice President of Corporate Services Andrea Edwards said the workers formed the backbone of efforts to deliver safe, reliable water across the country.

Board Chairman Michael Shaw noted that nearly half the workforce met the 15-year threshold, a level of staff retention he said few institutions could match. Opposition representative Councillor Louise Nuuland, speaking for Opposition Leader Mark Golding, also congratulated the commission and praised employees for sustaining an essential national resource.

Water Minister Matthew Samuda said the NWC’s 46-year history rested on staff sacrifice, including holiday work on leaks and failing sewage lines in downtown Kingston. He pointed to progress on industrial relations, the largest salary restructuring agreement in the commission’s recent history, and a pledge to resolve outstanding pension matters with union partners. Samuda said more than J$15 billion would be invested in the water network this financial year, up sharply from roughly J$1.5 billion to J$1.8 billion in 2015, though he warned Jamaica still faces a multi-billion-US-dollar infrastructure gap.

In his address, Holness said water remained central to national development and thanked NWC teams for restoring service after Hurricane Melissa. He said more than half of the commission’s more than 2,600 employees had served at least 15 years, and he met staff with up to 41 years on the job.

Holness acknowledged that much of the NWC’s pipe network exceeds 70 years of age and has passed its engineered useful life. He said the government is pursuing major capital works, including phase one of the Northwestern Water Supply Project at about US$170 million, a broader northwestern programme approaching US$500 million, a public-private scheme to take water from the Rio Cobre River to Kingston, Spanish Town and Portmore, upgrades to downtown Kingston’s sewage network, and improvements at the Hermitage facility including a new dam.

He also cited improved financial management at the NWC, saying the entity had moved close to break-even, reduced its debt burden on central government, and was now better placed to replace ageing equipment. Holness told workers their years of service were valued and would be rewarded as the organisation continued to strengthen.