This is an open letter to Minister of Water Dr Horace Chang.

Dear Minister Chang,

Greetings from Diamond Road, St Andrew! I hope you had water in your pipes for the Christmas so you and your family could take a good shower and cook a great dinner. In my household, we did our best, even though we had no water in our pipes.

Just to let you know, I tried my best for my family and visitors to have water but alas, we have had no water in our pipes over the last two weeks. Over the past month, we have been receiving water once a week for a few hours. The hard-working people at the National Water Commission (NWC) don't even know where Diamond Road is because they never seem to have information as to why we don't have water.

The last time I spoke to a 'superior' at NWC named Andrea, she said neither she nor her colleagues had received or were aware of any complaints from Diamond Road. Minister, that is because after blocking roads, burning tyres and waving placards, we would have had to take a bath, so we skipped that option.

Office call

I even tried calling your office. After being transferred to your office, I told the person whom I assumed is your assistant of my problem. Minister, you do have a loyal servant in your office. I was told in no uncertain terms that I should not have called your office and maybe indeed I had no water problems. I felt so bad that I disturbed her Christmas that I hung up the phone not wanting to cause her any further inconvenience.

But Sir, it did not end so badly for us as Marvin Hamilton from the NWC came and filled our tank. It will last about four days, but at least we will have a shower for Christmas!

Incidentally, could you please pass a copy of this letter to the member of parliament, Mr Andrew Gallimore? I would be so grateful.

I am, etc.,

CHRISTINE GRIFFITHS