October 21, 2026

SBAJ urges NWC to prioritise leaking pipes before seeking 51% tariff hike

The Small Business Association of Jamaica (SBAJ) is challenging the management of the National Water Commission (NWC) to get its house in order before asking Jamaicans to shoulder a proposed 51 per cent increase in rates for water, sewerage and other services.

Speaking with IRIE FM news, SBAJ President Garnett Reid insists that the Commission should prioritise repairing leaking pipes and addressing ageing infrastructure to help improve its financial situation.

The utility company announced yesterday that it submitted a tariff increase request to the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) amidst worsening revenue challenges and a debt of $33.2 billion.

NWC Acting President, Kevin Kerr, told Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee yesterday that an interim tariff increase was last granted in 2019.

He also noted that the new request would put the company in a position to meet its expenses.

However, the small business sector is pushing back, with Mr. Reid arguing that consumers should not be expected to absorb higher water bills, while still coping with the impact of Hurricane Melissa, the ongoing drought and continued water losses through leaks in the distribution system.

Noting that the sector is experiencing one crisis after another, Mr. Reid says he fears some members may resort to protests to express their frustration.

The Commission has reported carrying out daily emergency repairs, handling between 2,000 and 3,000 repairs each month in St. Catherine alone.

The NWC has also launched structured Non-Revenue Water (NRW) and infrastructure upgrade programmes.

The Commission noted that these efforts have been expanded significantly through recent projects, including the Portmore NRW Reduction Programme and the 2026 Western Water Resilience Improvement Project.

The OUR, which has confirmed receiving the NWC’s increase request, will determine how much of an increase will be applied, if any.