Hayles Says Blackout Shows Need for Solar-Powered NWC Water Systems

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Opposition People’s National Party says Friday night’s nationwide electricity failure again exposed how vulnerable National Water Commission treatment facilities are because of their reliance on the Jamaica Public Service network, with thousands of Jamaicans losing water supply across the island.

Ian Hayles, the party’s spokesman on water, said in a statement that many households were left dry because the Government had not moved decisively toward solar energy for key water infrastructure.

Hayles said Western Jamaica faced similar disruption during Hurricane Melissa, but argued that the minister’s budget presentation still brought no fresh solution. He said the country remained almost fully tied to the electricity grid and that ordinary Jamaicans were bearing the consequences.

The Westmoreland Western member of parliament described the delay in adopting renewable systems as more than a simple lapse, saying it amounted to a governance failure with implications for public health, tourism and daily life in densely populated communities.

He called on the Government to urgently shift critical NWC assets to solar and other advanced renewable technologies, warning against leaving the country exposed to one failure point.

Hayles also urged the deployment of generators to priority locations, including tourism corridors, major population centres and residential areas. He further demanded that the Government present a full energy resilience plan for the water sector during the current parliamentary session.