By Delicia Janneire, November 4, 2024
During the opening of the CARICOM-Japan Friendship Year 2024 event, Japan’s longstanding contribution to Guyana’s water sustainability efforts was celebrated.
The one-day conference brought together CARICOM member states and Japan to discuss current and future challenges in the water sector, alongside potential solutions to address these issues.
Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal highlighted Japan’s continuous support of Guyana’s water sector over the past 50 years and emphasized the importance of future collaborations.
He specifically noted that Japan, in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), is currently working on a project to construct a water treatment plant at Diamond on the East Bank of Demerara.
Once completed, this project will help reduce the country’s dependency on other water sources and provide a more reliable water supply to East Bank residents.
Dr. Carla Barnett, the CARICOM Secretary General, also acknowledged Japan’s support to the wider Caribbean, particularly through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
She praised JICA’s training programs for 2024, which offer valuable insights into urban water supply systems, water supply management, and ecological purification systems.
Additionally, the conference showcased discussions on advancements in water-saving technologies, including eco-friendly infrastructure and digital monitoring tools, led by the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI).
The Japan-CARICOM Friendship Year 2024 was launched in March this year in Tokyo, with a high-level meeting of government heads scheduled for December in Tokyo to further strengthen bilateral ties.