GEORGETOWN, Guyana – Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary General, Dr. Carla Barnett says climate change is profoundly impacting all aspects of life in the region including the water supply.
CARICOM Secretary General, Dr. Carla Barnett“Sources of freshwater are under threat from climate variability contributing to an increase in both floods and droughts, while sea level rise is accelerating saltwater intrusion into underground aquifers,” Barnett said as she addressed the CARICOM-Japan Friendship Year Event being held under the theme “Highlighting Past and Future Cooperation of the Caribbean Water Sector to CARICOM”.
She told the ceremony that since establishing formal diplomatic relations in 1993, the region and Japan have endured a strong partnership rooted in mutual respect and shared values, that has flourished over the years.
Barnett said that this Friendship Year also marks the 30th anniversary of the First CARICOM-Japan Consultation and now provides “an opportune time for us to reflect on our collaborative successes and future cooperation, especially, on this occasion, focusing on the development of the Caribbean water sector”.
Barnett said that water is a critical resource for life, noting that “some, not all, of our CARICOM member states have been blessed with an abundance of freshwater resources such as rivers, waterfalls and lakes”
She said increasingly, natural disasters, primarily hurricanes, also lead to floods, biodiversity and ecosystem loss and damage to infrastructure.
“These impacts are compounded when debt burdens worsen with global external shocks as we experience from time to time,” Barnett said, adding that water management challenges in the Caribbean are therefore significant.
“Firstly, across the region we are faced with ageing physical infrastructure with many parts of our distribution systems that were built back to deep in the colonial era resulting today in high levels of what we euphemistically call “non-revenue” water, whether through leakage or informal connections.
“This weakens our ability to meaningfully strengthen water governance and regulation of the water sector. This, at the same time that population growth, rapid urbanisation, and economic development challenges are leading to increased demand for water.”
Barnett said that failure to address the challenges to the water sector would further jeopardise the region’s hard-fought progress on food and nutrition security, poverty reduction targets, and sustainable development.
“Since effective water management relies on solid policy frameworks and water governance structures, a holistic and participatory approach to water resource management is best likely to maximize positive results,” she added.
She commended the government of Japan and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for their longstanding support of the water sector, and for developing the Joint JICA-IDB financed initiative being launched here in Guyana.
She said through the institutional support and development financing provided by these respective agencies, it is anticipated that the region will benefit from innovative solutions, strategic financing, expert guidance and capacity building.
”Several CARICOM member states have already been implementing comprehensive water management plans, and have prioritised sustainability, equity, and resilience. They are seeking to secure a sustainable water future by leveraging technology solutions, fostering collaborative partnerships, engaging communities, and implementing effective governance practices.”
The CARICOM Secretary General said that the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). training programmes for this year have provided member states opportunities in operating and maintaining urban water supply systems for water distribution and service; waste management towards control of marine litter, water environment administration and water supply management and ecological purification systems.
“These demonstrate that the region’s water sector development needs align with JICA’s stated priority areas for the Caribbean. We look forward to seeing the impact and benefits of these knowledge sharing and capacity building efforts on the region’s water sector.”
