Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon, speaking at his weekly press conference Thursday, stated that available data shows that the dry weather conditions are likely to continue until the May/June period, when the rains are expected. He said that despite present rainfall, “which comes suspiciously close to cricket,” the plight faced by affected persons has not lessened.
According to Luncheon, demands are increasing despite interventions made by the government as he noted that the lack of potable water supply in hinterland communities has made life difficult for residents.
He said the authorities are digging shallow wells in those areas, diverting water ways and providing additional mechanical pumps among other inputs to communities.
Luncheon stated that Cabinet has approved some $300M, in addition to $258M which was allocated to El Nino interventions across the country earlier this year. According to him, monies expended thus far have been allocated to three relevant ministries, those being the Ministries of Agriculture, Housing and Water as well as the Human Services and Social Security Ministry. Luncheon stated that once the weather conditions persists, and interventions remain necessary, funding will have to be provided to fund such interventions.
