War over water - Thugs threaten property owner for use of commodity

The police were called to a property in Frome, Westmoreland, recently after residents who gained access illegally were taking water from a broken main.

The property owner, a Chinese national who gave his name as Moo Young, told THE WEEKEND STAR that he and his wife have been having difficulties accessing water inside their home because residents are tapping into his main pipe.

"We were inside the house and discovered that no water was there, so we came out to investigate and discovered that they had cut away the main leading to our premises, and was using it to channel water to themselves," he said. "I was forced to call the police because when I called out to them, they threatened to kill me and my wife, and said they would drop big stones in our heads."

By the time the police arrived, he said those men had left, but residents who said that they have been desperate for water, were still pleading.

Tyrone Guthrie, People's National Party councillor caretaker for the Friendship Division, was among the residents. He stated that residents have been suffering from lack of water for some time because of damage to the Bull Stud Pumping station which supplies that section of western Westmoreland.

Chinese owner

"This is a neighbouring community which is Frome, and we are now trying to gain access to some potable water from this property. Apparently some members of the community were having an uproar with the Chinese owner for the property, so I am now trying my best to talk to the Chinese to see how best I can resolve the situation, and get some water," Guthrie said. "But for now, we have been out of water for quite some time, and, as you know, we are all faced with the COVID-19 pandemic. We need water in order to survive because everyone has to sanitise and we have a large amount of older folks in the community, and they also need water."

Moo Young said that some time ago, he channeled water from his property to a neighbouring church, but residents have now cut away that section of the pipe and are using it as a public catchment. He also said that he has formally reported the threat to the police. However, on the day in question, under the watchful eyes of the lawmen, he allowed residents to catch water.