The trucks were defective.

That response came from Water Minister Matthew Samuda as he countered comments made by his opposition counterpart Ian Hayles about the Rapid Response Unit.

Hayles had criticised the Jamaica Labour Party for dismantling the unit, resulting in its fleet of trucks being left to rot on a property in St. James.

The spokesman had called for the unit to be reactivated as part of measures to mitigate the impact of the severe drought.

Speaking in the upper house yesterday, Senator Samuda pointed out that the vehicles were not fit for purpose. 

He added that the rapid response system was fraught with challenges.