Outdated infrastructure hindering region’s water security advancements – CARICOM SG

Despite several strategic investments being made towards advancing water security in the Caribbean, CARICOM Secretary General (SG) Dr Carla Barnett has explained that the abundance of outdated infrastructure throughout member states poses a significant challenge to the region’s water security goals.
The SG of CARICOM, Dr Carla Barnett made this point on Monday during the Japan-CARICOM Friendship year event, which was held at the Marriott hotel Georgetown. The high-level engagement saw officials from CARICOM, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) among others, engaging in crucial discussions on Sustainable water management. During her presentation at the event, Dr Barnett highlighted the unique challenges the region faces in regards to water security.

“Climate change, however, is profoundly impacting all aspects of life in our region, including our water supply. Sources of freshwater are under threat from climate variability, contributing to an increase in both floods and droughts while sea level rise is accelerating and salt water intrusion into underground aquifers. Increasingly, natural disasters, primarily hurricanes also lead to floods, biodiversity and ecosystem loss and damage to infrastructure is also severe. These impacts are compounded when the burdens worsen with every global external shock that we experience from time to time.”
On this point, the SG noted that the presence of outdated infrastructure within the region stymies water security efforts.
“With many parts of our distribution systems having been built deep in the colonial era, resulting today in high levels of what we euphemistically refer to as non-revenue water, whether through leakage or through informal connections. This weakens our ability to meaningfully strengthen water governance and regulation of the sector.”
Dr Barnett added that failure to address this issue in the region will have a domino effect, compromising the regions progression in areas such as poverty reduction. Moreover, the CARICOM representative commended stakeholders at the forum for their collective approach towards the issue.

“Failure to address the challenges in the water sector would further jeopardise the region’s hard-fought progress on nutrition, food and nutrition security, poverty reduction targets, and water quality. Since effective water management relies on solid policy frameworks and water governance structures, a holistic and participatory approach to water management is best likely to maximise positive results.”
Also present at the ceremony was Japan’s Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago Matsubara Yutaka who delved into the work Japan has been executing in the region over the years. He noted that through several investments, Japan has significantly improved the region’s water security.

“In recent years we have committed to securing clean and safe drinking water, as well as flood mitigation in the Caribbean region. We consider numerous examples of cooperation on wastewater treatment, flood control, and ensuring a consistent water supply. It becomes clear that our efforts in this field are essential and may I remind you all that every time we investing in sustainable water management, we are investing in resilient communities.”
Additionally, Yutaka also reaffirmed Japan’s commitment towards working with organisations locally and within the region in an effort towards achieving water security.
“Despite the current climate change, where everyone enjoys universal access to clean and safe water, I would like to reaffirm the Government’s and Japan’s dedication to collaborating with essential organisations like the Ministry of Housing and Water, CARICOM, JICA and the IDB. We understand that the solution of a shared challenge must be innovative and supported by a positive infrastructure. And this goal can only be realised through strong partnership at every level.”
The year 2024 marks the 30th anniversary of the start of the Japan-CARICOM Consultations, as well as the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Jamaica, and Japan and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. To commemorate these events, the year 2024 has been designated as the “Japan-CARICOM Friendship Year 2024” and commemorative projects will be implemented in Japan and CARICOM countries with the aim of deepening exchanges between Japan and CARICOM countries.