The Pedro Plains Irrigation Project is well on its way, and once complete, it will bring water to nearly 50% of Jamaica’s farmable lands. For decades, farmers in places like southern St. Elizabeth have had to depend on mulching and rainfall to survive. Now, with reliable irrigation from the Black River through pipes and systems, farmers can plan ahead, grow more, and do better. This means more local produce in supermarkets, Coronation Market, and markets across Jamaica, and more importantly, more stable food prices. So yes, this benefits every Jamaican, not just the farmers. Part of the high cost of living we face is due to low agricultural productivity. When we grow more food locally, prices go down. Unfortunately, these kinds of major investments are not always celebrated by voters. This project started in 2019 and will not finish in just one election cycle, but it’s the kind of long-term, real solution we need. Too often, people fall for quick promises that sound good but do not fix the real problems. Let not allow ourselves to be fooled by sweet talk and dangerous and unrealistic promises especially given the uncertainty in the global landscape.