The kindness of one family has given hope to a district in Clarendon. Residents of New Roads, who, over the years, have been experiencing severe water problems, are now benefiting from a community water scheme courtesy of the Walters' family.

Yorkwin Walters, the eldest of the Walters clan, said the water scheme was constructed by family members in keeping with the wishes of their parents, Alfred Samuel and Rose Augustine Walters, and grand-parents, Norman and Charlotte Smith Walters.

Grandma's wishes

In an interview following the handing over of the water scheme, Yorkwin Walters gave an insight into the wishes of his grandmother.

"In the early 1930s, the then Government of Jamaica approached my grandmother to ask her to give a portion of her land for the purpose of building the proposed New Road. This road would run through the property. She agreed to give the land for the road with conditions attached," recalled Mr Walters.

Preserving water source

He added: "One of the con-ditions, as requested, was that the government would preserve one of the many springs on the property, through which the road would go, and, in so, preserving her family water source."

According to him, the Govern-ment complied with the wishes of his grandmother. He added: "I was spurred on by a newscast where the residents were seen walking and searching for water. I then consulted with my other siblings and a decision was made to harness the water from the spring on the property and make it available to the community."

He said that they then went about sinking a 50-foot well, followed by the construction of a small cistern for the storage of the water and then the laying of a single pipeline to allow residents to access the commodity.

The water scheme was recently dedicated to the memory of Norman and Charlotte Walters and christened 'The Norman and Charlotte Spring'.

Addressing the dedication ceremony, Member of Par-liament for North West Clarendon, Michael Stern, said he welcomed the news that the family was willing to discuss the further development of the scheme.

Development

"I will be making representations to Government for funds to carry out the further development that this spring can better serve the hundreds of residents of New Road," said the MP. At the same time, with plans to improve water supply to the Thompson Town community, this water supply will go a far way in assisting in the development."

Mr Stern praised the Walters family, arguing that if more families, with access to resources, would seek to assist communities in need, this would go a far way in helping to transform districts across the country.