(Caribbean Community Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration in developing resilient water systems in the Caribbean was the focus of a CARICOM-Japan Friendship Year 2024 event, highlighting the past and future cooperation of the Caribbean water sector.
Held on Monday 4 November in Georgetown, Guyana at the Guyana Marriot Hotel, the forum provided insights on efforts to establish sustainable water resources, enhance the sector’s resilience against climate change and opportunities for the efficient delivery of water services in the Region. It was hosted by Guyana’s Ministry of Housing and Water, the Inter-American Development Bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) with support from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat.
Minister of Housing and Water, the Hon. Collin Croal; CARICOM Secretary-General, Dr. Carla Barnett;; Japan’s Ambassador to CARICOM, H.E. Matsubara Yutaka; IDB’s Country Representative for the Guyana Office, Ms Lorena Solórzano-Salazar; and Senior Vice President of JICA, Ms. Imoto Sachiko, were among the high-level officials at the forum.
In her remarks, CARICOM Secretary-General warned that failure to address the challenges in the water sector would further jeopardise the Region’s hard-fought progress on food and nutrition security, poverty reduction targets, and sustainable development.
CARICOM Secretary-General, Dr. Carla Barnett Delivering remarks
Dr Barnett said that the CARICOM-Japan Friendship Year 2024 which marks the Thirtieth Anniversary of the First CARICOM-Japan Consultation, is an opportune time to reflect on the collaborative successes and future cooperation, and on this occasion, on the development of the Caribbean water sector.
The Secretary-General commended Joint JICA-IDB for the initiative which offers opportunities to establish innovative solutions, strategic financing, expert guidance and capacity building for the water sector.
Dr Barnett also acknowledged the training opportunities JICA has set out for 2024 targeting capacity building in operating and maintaining urban supply systems for water distribution and service.
In his remarks, Guyana’s Minister of Housing and Water, the Hon. Collin Croal said CARICOM countries have prioritised water sector resilience against climate variability including prolonged droughts, but true progress is strengthened through collaboration. The Minister noted the support Guyana is receiving from Japan and the IDB to establish a water treatment plant at Diamond on the East Bank of Demerara, to reduce the dependency on water resources and provide a more reliable supply of water for communities on that area.
Guyana’s Minister of Housing and Water, Hon. Colin Croal delivering remarks
With climate forecasts predicting that water security will become “an even more pressing challenge,” Minister Croal said Guyana is optimistic that Japan will continue to share its advancements in water saving technologies, developing eco-friendly infrastructure and digital monitoring tools.
Japan’s Ambassador to CARICOM, H.E. Matsubara Yutaka said Japan’s support to the water sector in CARICOM includes securing clean and safe drinking water, drought mitigation, reducing the impact of flooding on water resources, wastewater treatment, and freshwater protection.
Japan’s Ambassador to CARICOM, H.E. Matsubara Yutaka delivering remarks
“Every time we invest in sustainable water management, we are investing in resilient communities,” the Japanese Ambassador stated.
As Japan and CARICOM look ahead, the Japanese diplomat expressed his excitement to host the Japan-CARICOM Ministerial Meeting in Tokyo in December 2024 which will serve as an important platform to further strengthen bilateral relations in disaster prevention, climate change, and regional security.
Senior Vice President of JICA, Ms. Imoto Sachiko noted that Japan-CARICOM friendship is built on core values including respect for fundamental human rights, the rule of law and democracy.
She highlighted JICA’s collaboration with CARICOM through the dispatch of JICA experts and the implementation of programmes across numerous sectors including the technical cooperation in Jamaica, ODA grants in for the construction of water treatment plants in Guyana, and knowledge cooperation programmes for capacity development in water and sanitation sector. Resilience to climate change, environmental protection and disaster risk management were other areas mentioned
IDB’s Country Representative for the Guyana Office, Ms Lorena Solórzano-Salazar acknowledged the significant achievements through the IDB Group’s collaboration with JICA and other regional partners. She said that the long-standing partnership between the IDB Group and JICA was renewed in January 2024 with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to increase the co-financing and sharing of expertise until 2028 for sectors including water in the Latin America and Caribbean Region.
The IDB is fully committed to supporting sustainable water and sanitation, solid waste management, and to working close with organisations across the Region to advance progress with innovative tools, Ms Solórzano-Salazar stated.
