KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC):
CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES have vowed to adopt a unified approach to dealing with challenges facing the region's water, wastewater and solid waste sectors.
Jamaica's Minister of Water and Housing, Donald Buchanan, said that the commitment was given during last month's 14th annual Caribbean Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA) Conference and Exhibition held in Barbados.
"At this meeting, the ministers and other senior officials engaged in the water sector met and discussed how we could have greater collaboration in our approach to the solutions to the challenges of water supplies across the Caribbean," Buchanan said.
FOCUS ON TECHNICAL ASPECTS
The participants at the CWWA conference focused on technical aspects of the water and wastewater sector. Some of the major themes discussed at the two-day conference included trends and challenges in water and waste management; institutional strengthening for disaster management of utilities and accessible technologies for the Caribbean.
Mr. Buchanan said there were a few countries that have actually developed a clear legislative framework that governs the water sector.
"Jamaica is one of them, and the others are going to be looking at the model and seeking also to utilise that as far as is practicable within their situation," he said.
The minister said the inaugural ministerial meeting that coincided with the CWWA gathering had laid the foundation for further meetings.
"We are also going to be exchanging technical information as it relates to what solutions are being applied in each country, so that we can do a cross-reference and a cross-check," he added.
