The document, approved at the 32nd annual Conference and Exhibition of the Caribbean Water and Wastewater Association, based in Guyana, underlined the commitment to renewing governance, and legal and institutional frameworks in this field, the Caribbean Media Corporation reported.

During the meeting, which concluded on Friday, Guyana’s Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, announced a strategic partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank and the Caribbean Development Bank to lead the preparation of an application for the Green Climate Fund.

In his opinion, the initiative seeks to strengthen the resilience of this sector in the geographical area, by opening funding channels to address urgent problems.

The two financial institutions committed to supporting water companies in developing plans to improve wastewater treatment coverage within seven years, while rapidly reducing unaccounted losses to optimal levels.

Croal also praised the Association’s support for capacity building in the region through its Research and Education Foundation.

The head of Public Works of Suriname, Riad Nurmohamed, highlighted the sensitivity of water for human consumption and noted that the forum was a platform for the collaborative exchange of knowledge and the identification of solutions.

Ministers and other authorities from the Bahamas, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago were also present at the meeting.

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