conference magazine - Caribbean Environmental Health Institute

FIFTH BIENNIAL CARIBBEAN ENVIRONMENTAL FORUM AND EXHIBITION

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Contents 

Background 

Messages 

• Message from the Honorable Dr. Horace Chang, Minister of Water and Housing, Jamaica 

• Message from H.E. Jose Miguel Insulza, Secretary General, Organisation of American 

States 

• Message from Patricia Aquing, Executive Director, Caribbean Environmental Health 

Institute 

• Message from Vincent Sweeney, Regional Project Coordinator, GEF-funded Integrating 

Water and Coastal Areas Management (IWCAM) Project 

• Message from Dr. Sharunda Buchanan, Director, Division of Emergency and Environmental 

Services, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control 

and Prevention 

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• Message from Randy Brown, President, Clean Islands International 

• Message from Thomas Scheutzlich, Principal Advisor, CREDP-GTZ and Joseph Williams, 

Manager, CARICOM Energy Programme 

List of Organizers and Sponsors 

Exhibitors 

Agenda 

Abstracts of Technical Presentations 

CEF-5 2010 Programme Timetable 

Map of Conference and Exhibition Area 


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Background 

The Fifth Biennial Caribbean Environmental Forum and Exhibition (CEF-5) scheduled for June 21 st – 25 th , 2010 in 

Montego Bay, Jamaica, has as its theme: “Coping with Copenhagen: Water, Waste, Energy, Health...”. It recognises 

the policy and political issues emanating from the Copenhagen Accord and the consequences of these on some of the 

key environmental and sustainable development challenges facing the region. Among these, one can add Biodiversity in 

recognition of 2010 being designated the International Year of Biodiversity by the United Nations. 

The CEF-5 is organized by the Caribbean Environmental Health Institute (CEHI) together with the Ministry of Water and 

Housing of Jamaica and a number of key national, regional and international agencies, and is hosted by the Government 

of Jamaica. In 2010, CEF-5 is partnering with Clean Islands International, which will organize within the CEF-5, the 15 th 

Annual ReCaribe Wider Caribbean Waste Management Conference. The Second Caribbean Sustainable Energy Forum 

(CSEF-2), organised by the Caribbean Renewable Energy Development Programme (CREDP) and supported by the 

GTZ, CARICOM and the Austrian Development Corporation will also take place. Other CEF-5 partners are the GEFfunded 

Project on Integrating Watershed and Coastal Areas Management for Caribbean SIDS (IWCAM) which is holding 

its annual Partnership Forum, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Organisation of American 

States. For the first time, CEF-5 will have the involvement of youth through the Youth Environmental Forum (YEF), in 

recognition of the importance of young people in making a change. 

In 2002 CEHI convened the First Caribbean Environmental Forum (CEF) and Exhibition at Pigeon Island, Saint Lucia. In 

keeping with the theme of the Forum, “Partnering for the Environment”, CEF-1 was organized in conjunction with the 

11 th Annual Conference of the Caribbean Water and Waste Water Association (CWWA), Environment West Indies (EWI), 

the Water and Sewerage Company, the Solid Waste Management Authority of St. Lucia, and the Organisation of American 

States (OAS). The Forum also received support from the British High Commission and French Embassy in St. Lucia; 

the Embassy of the Netherlands in Trinidad and Tobago; the Government of Nova Scotia, Canada; the Global Water 

Partnership in Stockholm and the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council, based in Geneva. 

In 2004, CEF-2 was convened in Trinidad in partnership with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, under the theme 

“Energising Caribbean Sustainability”. CEF-2 saw the start of important initiatives such as Cleaner Production and 

Eco-efficiency for Small, Medium and Micro-enterprises (SMMEs). Other major fora included the Health & Environment 

Ministers of the Americas Partnership meeting and the Mainstreaming Adaptation to Climate Change (MACC) project 

meeting to update participants on progress in these major regional programmes. 

CEF-3 held in Antigua & Barbuda in 2006 recognized that there was an on-going need to bring together diverse and disparate 

interests in sustainable development and environment to discuss areas of common concern to the Caribbean. 

Emerging global issues such as trade, technology and communications, sectors such as agriculture, tourism and industry, 

climate, health, water, hazardous waste, energy, transportation, and transboundary issues dictated that a more coherent, 

intersectoral approach be taken in terms of development and the way forward for the region. The theme for CEF- 

3 was “Investing in the Environment - Protecting the Future” and sought to highlight the inextricable link between 

economic development and the environment, and the need to carefully consider sustainability in the context of wise use 

of the natural resource base across all sectors of development. 

CEF-4 convened in Grenada, focused on the theme of "Climate Change, Water and Sanitation: A Shared Responsibility". 

For the first time, the Caribbean Renewable Energy Development Programme (CREDP), funded by the GTZ and 

partners, organised the First Caribbean Sustainable Energy Forum (CSEF), which brought a major focus to energy issues 

facing the region at a time when oil prices on the world market were at record levels and were having a huge impact 

on the region’s economies. 

It is our hope that CEF-5 would bring together stakeholders from various backgrounds and levels to discuss key “cutting 

edge” issues and share experiences in environment and development. In fact, much needs to be done to achieve the 

cross-fertilization of ideas and to engender networking to address the sustainable development goals of the region. 


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Message from Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, M.P. 

Minister of Water and Housing, Jamaica and Honorary President of the 

Fifth Biennial Caribbean Environmental Forum and Exhibition (CEF5) 

I wish to convey my heartiest congratulations to the Caribbean Environmental Health Institute (CEHI) for once again staging 

the Caribbean Environmental Forum. This year I am particularly pleased to be the Host Minister for the fifth incarnation of 

this important biennial meeting. 

This year’s meeting has as its theme, “Coping with Copenhagen….Water, Waste, Energy, Health…” 

At the Climate Change Summit held in Copenhagen, Denmark in 2009, the 115 world leaders who attended failed to reach 

an agreement on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. 

However, as Small Island Development States, we cannot wait on the decisions of others; we must make significant steps to 

mitigate the effects of climate change in the region. This is crucial, because while the contribution of the Caribbean towards 

the underlying causes of climate change, particularly greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants, is low to negligible, no 

region is as vulnerable to the impact of global climate change as ours. 

Increased temperatures, the rise in sea levels, the increased severity and frequency of tropical storms and hurricanes, as 

well as prolonged, severe periods of drought will affect the prospects for development of Caribbean countries and our approximately 

40 million residents. 

A 2002 report by the Inter-American Development Bank entitled “Natural Disasters in Latin America and the Caribbean: An 

Overview of Risk”, noted that over the past three decades, the Caribbean region has suffered direct and indirect losses estimated 

at between US $700 million and US$3.3 billion as a result of natural disasters associated with extreme weather 

events. This is money that would have been spent towards implementing the respective economic development agendas of 

our island states. 

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Even more frightening are the projected consequences of inaction. According to the British Report “Stern Review on the 

Economics of Climate Change”, it is estimated that “any delay in mitigating climate change will lead to overall damage costs 

equivalent to losing between five and thirty percent of global gross domestic product each year, with higher losses being 

incurred by most developing countries.” 

The possibility of this occurrence calls for nothing less than a comprehensive and committed resolution backed by law, to 

reduce greenhouse gas emissions and implement mitigating programmes in a timely manner. 

In this region, CEHI is leading the charge for effective environmental policy. This fifth biennial Caribbean Environmental Forum 

is another rung in the ladder towards building awareness and capacity among countries of the region in mitigating the 

effects of climate change. 

I commend CEHI for successfully staging this Forum over the years. I have no doubt that this one will build on the success 

of previous lessons learned. It will also enable all the participants to increase their response to the economic, environmental 

and social challenges that result from significant climate change. 


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Message from H. E. Jose Miguel Insulza 

Secretary-General, Organization of American States 

The Organization of American States (OAS) is delighted to be associated with the Caribbean Environment Health 

Institute (CEHI) and other Partners in the convening of the 5th Biennial Caribbean Environment Forum (CEF 5). We 

have been impressed with the phenomenal growth and impact of this event since its inception. 

This fact, combined with the excellent organizational standards established by CEHI and the timeliness and relevance 

of the subjects that are discussed, prompted the OAS to come on as a partner for this year’s event. Finances 

permitting, we hope to be a partner in future forums. 

The Caribbean is an integral part of the OAS and the OAS General Secretariat is proud to serve the Governments 

and peoples of the Caribbean. We value this symbiotic relationship and will continue our efforts at enhancing the 

sustainable development of the Caribbean region in areas such as: water resources management, climate change 

adaptation, sustainable energy, land and biodiversity management, disaster risk management, and environmental 

policy, law and governance. 

We look forward to sharing with CEF 5 participants, the work of the OAS General Secretariat in the region over the 

past decade and the lessons learned. In addition, we hope that Conference participants will readily share their ideas 

on ways in which the OAS can strengthen its cooperation with the region. 

Please accept my best wishes for a successful event. 


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Message from Patricia Aquing 

Executive Director, Caribbean Environmental Health Institute and 

Chair, Fifth Biennial Caribbean Environmental Forum and Exhibition 

(CEF5) 

I wish to welcome you to this our 5 th Biennial Caribbean Environmental Forum and Exhibition (CEF 5) organised in 

conjunction with the Second Caribbean Sustainable Energy Forum (CSEF 2) and the 15 th Annual Wider Caribbean 

Waste Management Conference (ReCaribe 2010) here in the exciting Montego Bay, Jamaica. This year we have a 

stellar cast of high level speakers and presenters who were invited because we know that they will raise the level of 

debate and discussions on environmental matters and share their own unique perspectives with us. The year so far 

has been marked by a series of disasters, both man-made and natural: earthquakes in Haiti and Chile; the oil spill 

in the Gulf of Mexico and the volcano in Iceland. The Caribbean experienced severe drought conditions, which have 

not entirely eased in some countries. These events have served to underscore our human and environmental vulnerability. 

We therefore use this opportunity to extend our condolences and sympathy to those who lost loved ones 

or who were negatively affected. 

In selecting this year’s theme, we thought we should highlight a process and event which, for the most part, proved 

to be a major disappointment for many people in the field, but which have serious implications for the region. Most 

persons, who are not intimately involved, know only what they hear or read in the media. We felt we needed to 

open up the debate and discussions at the political and policy levels in the region; we also feel the need to examine 

impacts on some “bread and butter” aspects, hence the sub-set of theme: Water, Waste, Energy, Health.... CEF 

brings together a wide-ranging audience from various sectors and we know that the exchange of ideas and perspectives 

will lead to a better understanding of and even solutions to some of the challenges confronting the region. 

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This year, we have introduced the Youth Environmental Forum in order to broaden the exposure of young people to 

some of the environmental issues facing the region. We subscribe to the notion that change will come if the next 

generation is informed and engaged. We have been able to facilitate the participation of students and young people 

from the Montego Bay area in the event and we look forward to interacting with them. 

In closing, I would like to thank my staff, our partners, participants, exhibitors and others who continue to support 

CEF as the premier forum of its kind in the Caribbean. Our special thanks also go to the Government and people of 

Jamaica, the Honorable Bruce Golding, Prime Minister, The Honorable Dr. Horace Chang, Minister of Housing and 

Water and staff of the Ministry as well as the National Organising Committee for CEF 5. I would also like to thank 

the Mayor and people of Montego Bay for welcoming us to this beautiful city. 

I look forward to a productive and enjoyable week and to receiving you at CEF 5. 


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Message from Mr. Vincent Sweeney 

Regional Project Coordinator, GEF-funded Integrating 

Watershed and Coastal Areas Management Project 

It gives me great pleasure, both personally and professionally, to be involved in CEF-5. Many years ago I was part of the 

team that organized the first CEF, in 2002, and I am therefore pleased to know that the concept of a CEF has grown from an 

“experiment” to a sustained reality, through the hard work of CEHI and its partners. I am also pleased, on behalf of the GEF- 

IWCAM Project, to again be a part of organizing and being involved in this event. The GEF-IWCAM project has been intimately 

involved in conceptualizing each of the last three CEFs. We have integrated our programme of activities into this well 

established regional forum, as part of the project’s “Partnership Forum”, which had envisaged to bring relevant partners and 

stakeholders together to discuss issues, share ideas, and build a constituency behind the project’s efforts. 

The GEF-IWCAM project involves thirteen Caribbean SIDS (see www.iwcam.org), including Antigua and Barbuda (which 

hosted CEF-3), Grenada (which hosted CEF-4), Saint Lucia (which hosted the first CEF), and Trinidad and Tobago (which 

hosted CEF-2). 

The overall objective of the GEF-IWCAM project is to strengthen the commitment and capacity of the islands of the Caribbean 

to implement an integrated approach to the management of watersheds and coastal areas. Through the CEF, we will be sharing 

a number of the various lessons and best practices which have come out of the GEF-IWCAM project, to date. We will also 

be highlighting some of the project activities that have benefitted the participating countries and which can be replicated elsewhere, 

potentially. To date the project has conducted nine Demonstration Projects in eight of the Participating countries. 

These demonstration projects focus on thematic issues related to Water Resources Conservation & Management; Wastewater 

Treatment & Management; Land-Use Planning, Zoning & Alternative Practices; and Targeted Model IWCAM. The project 

has also focused on preparation of a relevant Legislative Toolkit, laboratory capacity assessments and strengthening and 

regional training in areas of greatest needs. Training has also been conducted in project management, waste management, 

water resources management, and communications. 

A major set of activities have involved support for regional IWRM planning. 

We are particularly interested in the theme of CEF-5, and our efforts are consistent with the international consensus on what 

is needed to improve water and coastal zone management, both of which are directly influenced by climate change. The U.N., 

through its Secretary-General, has urged the world to put the looming crisis over water shortages at the top of the global 

agenda and take action to prevent conflicts over scarce supplies. He reminded that shortages of water contribute to poverty 

and social hardship in many countries, including the Caribbean. "We need to adapt to this reality, just as we do to climate 

change," said the Secretary General. As a project we intend to continue to collaborate and support efforts to move the climate 

change and related agendas forward. 

Thank you for your presence. We look forward to a successful CEF-5. 


United States 

Centers for 

Disease Control 


Message from Dr. Sharunda Buchanan 

Director, Division of Emergency and Environmental Services, National 

Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention 

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an operating division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human 

Services, welcomes you to the Fifth Caribbean Environmental Forum (CEF 5) in Montego Bay, Jamaica. CDC has been 

working in the Caribbean region on public health issues related to the environment for many years through a partnership with 

the organizer of CEF 5, the Caribbean Environmental Health Institute (CEHI), which is based in St. Lucia. Most of this work 

has focused on pilot projects to implement Water Safety Plans, a methodology developed by the World Health Organization 

(WHO) to evaluate risks in drinking water systems from catchment to consumer. 

The Water Safety Plan methodology promotes a preventive, rather than reactive, approach to protecting the quality of drinking 

water because it focuses on identifying risks specific to a particular system. A Water Safety Plan can encompass recommendations 

for both major infrastructure investment and operational changes to improve drinking water systems; these plans are 

flexible and can be tailored to systems of varying sizes. 

The first pilot Water Safety Plan project in the Caribbean — indeed, the first in the Western Hemisphere — was undertaken 

right here in Jamaica, in Spanish Town, in partnership with the Jamaican government, the U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA), and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Additional Water Safety Plan projects are under way in 

Guyana and St. Lucia in conjunction with CEHI and other local and international partners. The aim of these projects is to develop 

capacity within CEHI and other Caribbean partners so these partners can serve as a resource for future Water Safety 

Plan projects in the Caribbean region. In addition, the Water Safety Plan documents generated by these projects provide examples 

specific to the region. WHO and PAHO are actively promoting the Water Safety Plan methodology and the concept is 

being widely adopted in many countries. We hope that these Caribbean demonstration projects and the capacity developed 

within CEHI and other partners will be useful resources for the region. 

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CDC has also been active in the initial stages of evaluating the impacts of climate change on water and sanitation as well as 

in the broader arena of public health. The island nations of the Caribbean will potentially be some of the areas most affected 

by climatic changes and may serve as indicators of the effects that other regions can expect. In keeping with the theme of 

CEF 5, we look forward to the discussion this week on this topic and on how we can all continue to work together to improve 

public health and the quality of life in the Caribbean. 


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Message from Mr. Randy Brown 

Executive Director, Clean Islands International 

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the Fifth Biennial Caribbean Environmental Forum & Exhibition (CEF 5), the 2nd 

Caribbean Sustainable Energy Forum (CSEF), and the 15th Annual Wider Caribbean Waste Management Conference 

(ReCaribe 15). Clean Islands International is very honored to be a partner in this event with the Caribbean Environmental 

Health Institute (CEHI) and others. 

ReCaribe 2010 is the 15 th Caribbean Waste Management Conference offered by Clean Islands International (CII) in association 

with other organizations. Since CII’s 1995 Caribbean Waste Management Conference (held in Puerto Rico), in which 

ReCaribe: The Wider Caribbean Solid Waste and Recycling Alliance was established, ReCaribe has been a project of Clean 

Islands International with a focus on solid waste management, waste reduction and recycling issues in the wider Caribbean 

region. The past conferences have been held throughout the wider Caribbean region: The Bahamas (1994), Puerto Rico 

(1995), Trinidad (1997), Florida Keys (1998), Curacao (1999), Martinique (2000), St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (2001), Dominican 

Republic (2002), Tobago (2003), St. Vincent (2004), Curacao (2005), Antigua (2006), St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands 

(2007) and Grenada (2008). 

Founded in April 1992 in Abaco, The Bahamas, Clean Islands International, Inc. has an international board of directors and 

international membership consisting of professionals, advocates, environmentalists, conservationists, solid waste professionals 

and interested individuals. Clean Islands International is organized exclusively for educational, charitable and scientific 

purposes. Clean Islands International's mission is to provide educational and technical assistance to island communities for 

developing sustainable waste handling practices and cultivating environmental awareness. Our main purpose is to cultivate 

individual and community environmental awareness. 

In addition to ReCaribe, Clean Islands International has two other main projects: VIERS and the Tektite Museum. Since 1997, 

Clean Islands International has operated the Virgin Islands Environmental Resource Station (VIERS) for the University of the 

Virgin Islands, which is located on the remote south side of the Virgin Islands National Park on St. John. VIERS, established 

in 1966, is an environmental learning facility which includes a waterside marine biology laboratory, classroom, library, dining 

hall and 12 sleeping cabins for up to 78 guests. VIERS provides on-site overnight environmental education to students from 

the Virgin Islands, Caribbean and United States. VIERS actively demonstrates its use of solar electric and solar hot water 

systems, kitchen waste composting for our organic garden as well as many “green” practices in its daily activities in addition 

to hosting students studying coastal and marine ecology. By operating an environmental education facility, Clean Islands International 

is able to provide unique environment learning opportunities to over 1,000 overnight students and guests per year. 

The VIERS main facility was originally constructed in 1968 by the US Navy Seabees to support Project Tektite, an underwater 

military and academic exercise which occurred in 1969 and 1970. To continue the legacy of these historical events, the Tektite 

Underwater Habitat Museum (which is located at VIERS) was established in 2006 and in the past four years has expanded 

from a photo display to a building overflowing with artifacts and exhibits. It is now visited by over 1,000 day visitors per year. 

Clean Islands International is very honored to be able to continue to be involved with the development of technical forums 

such as this one. It is important to us to promote effective practices and to create linkages between the public and the private 

sectors which will assist in providing improved waste management in the wider Caribbean region. For more information about 

Clean Islands International’s programs, please visit our website at: www.islands.org. 

Looking forward to a successful CEF-5. 


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CARICOM 

Energy 

Programme 

Joint Message from Thomas Scheutzlich, Principal Advisor, CREDP-GTZ and Joseph Williams, Manager, CARICOM 

Energy Programme 

On behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Energy Programme and the Caribbean Renewable Energy Development 

Programme (CREDP) it is our pleasure to welcome you, the participants to the Second Caribbean Sustainable Energy Forum 

(CSEF-2), the Fifth Biennial Caribbean Environmental Forum and Exhibition (CEF-5) and the Fifteenth Annual Wider Caribbean 

Waste Management Conference (ReCaribe). 

This is the second staging of the Caribbean Sustainable Energy Forum (C-SEF). After its successful inception in 2008 in Grenada, 

we see this becoming an established bi-annual Energy Forum: one of the premier biennial sustainable energy events in 

the Region. 

The overall theme for the CEF-5 and C-SEF-2, “Coping with Copenhagen”, is quite apt given that the Copenhagen Climate 

Change Conference in 2009 did not deliver on the expectation that it would set the stage for aggressive actions to fight Climate 

Change. The outcome of the Conference was considered particularly important to the energy sector in light of the implication 

for the availability of financing for technology transfer and sustainable energy development in developing countries such as the 

countries of CARICOM. Notwithstanding, the failure of the Conference in Copenhagen, vulnerable countries like those of CARI- 

COM must maintain the call for ambitious actions on part of developed countries while seeking to migrate to a more sustainable 

energy development path. 

A careful observation will reveal that some positive sustainable energy developments are taking place in the Caribbean Region. 

Implemented photovoltaic plants in Grenada and St. Lucia, geothermal power development in Nevis and Dominica, approved 

Sustainable Energy Policies in several Member States, feed-in policies developed and implement by electric utilities like in Grenada 

and Barbados, and the extension of Wigton Wind Farm in Jamaica at are some of the notable successful renewable energy 

development in the region. 

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However, much more needs to happen and at a more expedited pace, especially in the area of energy efficiency. We feel that 

the time is due to undertake a realistic analysis of the achievements in the employment of Renewable Energies and energy efficient 

technologies on one side but also have a critical look at developments that are far behind schedule and the reasons for 

such lag. Why does it take years to develop and implement Wind Farms in some countries despite very favourable wind conditions, 

and despite financing offers from international banks? Of what nature are the specific barriers that hamper wind development 

and what can/should be done to overcome these barriers, and can they be removed at all? Similar questions arise in the 

area of hydro power development in several countries where a number of projects have been engineered right up to tender 

stage, showing technical and financial viability and but years elapse before implementation could commence. 

These and more questions have to be carefully analysed and the lessons learned be distilled in order to guide future sustainable 

energy developments in the region. For this reason, we have attempted to focus the CSEF-2 on initiatives that were implemented 

successfully despite the many challenges and barriers, so that these may serve as lessons and encourage other developments 

as we seek to “leapfrog” sustainable energy development in the Region. 

May we wish all, a successful CEF-5 and CSEF-2. 


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List of Organizers and Sponsors 

Collaborators 

• The Government of Jamaica 

• Ministry of Water and Housing 

• Ministry of Health, Sports and Youth Affairs 

• Caribbean Environmental Health Institute (CEHI) 

• Organization of American States (OAS) 

• United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

(CDC) 

• GEF-Integrating Watershed and Coastal Areas Management 

(GEF-IWCAM) Project 

• CARICOM Renewable Energy Development Programme/ 

German Agency for Technical Cooperation 

(CREDP/GTZ) 

• Clean Islands International 

Organizing Committee 

Honorary President: Dr. Horace Chang, Minister of Water and 

Housing, Ministry of Water and Housing, Jamaica 

Caribbean Environmental Health Institute 

Mrs. Patricia Aquing - Chair 

Mr. Christopher Roberts 

Dr. Christopher Cox 

Dr. Natalie Boodram 

Ms. Avril Isaac 

Mrs. Shermaine Clauzel 

Ms. Lorna Cyril 

Mr. Lesmond Magloire 

Ms. Sharon Pierre Louis 

Mrs. Alexandra DuBoulay 

GEF-IWCAM Project 

Mr. Vincent Sweeney 

Ms. Sasha Beth Gottlieb 

Mrs. Una McPherson 

Ms. Donna Spencer 

Ms. Magnalia Goldson 

CREDP/GTZ 

Mr. Thomas Scheutzlich 

Mr. Sven Homscheid 

Ms. Dania Hamilton 

Clean Islands International 

Mr. Randy Brown 

Chair of Sub-committees 

Exhibition: Dr. Christopher Cox 

Finance and Sponsorship: Mr. Christopher Roberts 

Magazine/Documentation: Ms. Avril Isaac 

Protocol and Public Relations: Mrs. Patricia Aquing 

Social Events: Mrs. Shermaine Clauzel 

Technical: Dr. Natalie Boodram 

Venue/Logistics: Mr. Christopher Roberts 

Field Trips: Local Committee 

Sponsors 

Bank of St. Lucia 

Champion Customs Brokerage 

Caribbean Water and Wastewater Association 

Global Water Partnership - Caribbean 

Magazine Printer 

STAR Publishing, St. Lucia 

Promotional Items 

STAR Publishing, St. Lucia 

Media Sales, Trinidad 

Exhibition Booths 

National Outdoor Advertising, Jamaica 

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Agilent Technologies 

Mr. D. Kirk Holladay 

2820 Regal Pine Train, Oviedo 

FL 32766, USA 

Tel: (407) 489-2156 

Fax: (321) 244-0268 

Email: kirk.holladay@varianinc.com 

Website: www.agilent.com 

Airvac Inc 

Ms. Heather Bonner 

200 Tower Dr., Ste A, 

Oldsmar, FL 34677, USA 

Tel: (813) 855-9093 

Tel: (813) 855-9093 

Email: HealthB@airvac.com 

Website: www.airvac.com 

Al-Jon Manufacturing LLC 

Mr. David Little 

15075 Al-Jon Ave, Ottumwa, 

Iowa 52501, USA 

Tel: (641) 455-5635 

Fax: (641) 682-6294 

Email: dlittle@aljon.com 

Website: www.aljon.com 

Bruker 

Ms. Cheryl Ehorn 

170 SW 52nd Street, Cape Coral, 

FL 33914, USA 

Tel: (239) 233-7272 

Fax: (305) 422-2287 

Email: cherylehorn@me.com 

Website: www.bruker.com 

Caribbean Environmental Health 

Institute 

Mrs. Patricia Aquing, Executive Director 

P.O. Box 1111, The Morne, 

Castries, SAINT LUCIA 

Tel: (758) 452-2501 

Fax: (758) 453-2721 

Email: cehi@candw.lc (general) 

Website: www.cehi.org.lc 

Exhibitors 

UNEP Caribbean Environment 

Programme 

Ms. Tess Cieux 

14-20 Port Royal Street, 

Kingston, 

JAMAICA 

Tel: (876) 922-9267 

Fax: (876) 922-9292 

Email: tkc@cep.unep.org 

Website: www.cep.unep.org 

CREDP/GTZ 

Mr. Sven Homscheid 

c/o CEHI, P.O. Box 1111 

The Morne, Castries 

SAINT LUCIA 

Tel: (758) 452-2501 

Fax: (758) 453-2721 

Email: sven.homscheid@credp-gtz.org 

Florida Aquastore 

Mr. John Whelchel 

4722 N.W. Boca Raton Blvd. 

Suite C-102, Boca Raton, 

FL 33431, USA 

Tel: (561) 994-2400 

Fax: (561) 994-2444 

Email: john@florida-aquastore.com 

GEF-IWCAM Project 

Mr. Vincent Sweeney 

c/o CEHI, P.O. Box 1111, 

The Morne, Castries 

ST. LUCIA 

Tel: (758) 452-2501 

Fax: (758) 453-2721 

Email: Vincent.Sweeney@unep.org 

Website: www.iwcam.org 

National Environment and Planning 

Agency 

Mr. Michael Myles 

10 & 11 Caledonia Avenue, Kingston 5 

JAMAICA 

Tel: (876) 754-7540 

Fax: (876) 754-9596 

Email: m.myles@nepa.gov.jm 

Website: www.nepa.gov.jm 

Ocean Earth Technologies 

Mr. Sandy Nettles 

201 Alt. 19, Palm Harbor, 

FL 34683, USA 

Tel: (727) 787-5975 

Fax: (727) 786-3577 

Email: gmjuhl@tampabay.rr.com 

Website: OceanEarthTech.com 

Organisation of Eastern Caribbean 

States 

Ms. Tecla Fontenard / Ms. Sirah Ferdinand 

Morne Fortune, Castries 

SAINT LUCIA 

Tel: (758) 455-6366; 6364 

Fax: (758) 452-1294 

Email: tfontenard@oecs.org; 

sferdinand@oecs.org 

Website: www.oecs.org 

Peninsula Equipment 

Mr. Bill Padula 

P.O. Box 7571, Columbia, 

SC 29202, USA 

Tel: (803) 926-4227 

Fax: (803) 764-4819 

Wade Salvage Inc 

Mr. Andrew Wade 

382 Jackson Road, Atco, 

NJ 08004, USA 

Tel: (856) 767-2760 

Fax: (856) 767-0698 

Email: wadeenviro@aol.com 


Monday, June 21 st 

10:00 – 16:00 Arrival of Exhibitors and Set-up, Exhibition 

Centre (Hanover Room) 

12:00 – 16:00 Early Registration – Conference Secretariat 

(Cornwall Room) 

18:00 – 19:30 Opening Ceremony – (Rose Hall Ballroom) 

Chair: Mrs. Patricia Aquing, Executive Director, Caribbean 

Environmental Health Institute (CEHI) and Chair of CEF-5 

• National Anthem 

• Prayer 

• Welcome Remarks: Dr. The Honourable Horace Chang, 

Minister of Water & Housing, Local Committee Chair and 

Honorary President of CEF-5 

• Remarks: 

• Senator The Honourable Ann Peters, Minister of 

Health, Grenada and Chair of the Board of CEHI 

• Mr. Allan Hunt, President of the Board, Clean Islands 

International 

• H.E. Ambassador Albert Ramdin, Assistant Secretary-General, 

Organization of American States 

• Dr. Sharunda Buchanan, Director, Division of Emergency 

and Environmental Services, National Center 

for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control 


• Ms. Angela Cropper, United Nations Assistant Secretary 

General and Deputy Executive Director, 

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) 

• H.E. Ambassador Jurgen Engel, Federal Republic of 

Germany 

• Ms. Michelle De Pass, Assistant Administrator Office 

of International Affairs, US Environmental Protection 

Agency 

• Feature Address: The Honourable Bruce Golding, Prime 

Minister of Jamaica 

• Vote of Thanks 

• Exhibition Opening and Official Tour – Exhibition Hall: The 

Honourable Bruce Golding, Prime Minister of Jamaica 

19:30 – 21:30 Welcome Reception (Ocean’s Terrace) 

Agenda 

Fifth Biennial Caribbean Environmental Forum & Exhibition (CEF-5) 

in collaboration with the 

Fifteenth Annual Wider Caribbean Waste Management Conference (ReCaribe 2010) 

the 

Second Caribbean Sustainable Energy Forum (CSEF –2) 

and 

GEF-IWCAM Partnership Forum 

Rose Hall Resort, Montego Bay, Jamaica 

June 21 st – 25 th , 2010 

Tuesday, June 22 nd 

07:30 – 09:00 Registration of participants - Conference 

Secretariat (Cornwall Room) 

09:00 – 10:30 Main Conference Plenary (Rose Hall Ballroom) 

Co-Chairs: Mrs. Patricia Aquing, Executive Director, CEHI and 

Chair of CEF-5; Mr. Peter Knight, Chief Executive Officer, National 

Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) 

Summary and implications of the United Nations Climate 

Change Conference (Copenhagen, December 2009) 

• Introduction: Mr. Cletus Springer, Director, Department of 

Sustainable Development, Organization of American 

States (OAS) 

• Keynote Address 1: The Honourable Stephenson King, 

Prime Minister of Saint Lucia and CARICOM Head responsible 

for Sustainable Development and the Environment 

• Keynote Address 2: Ms. Angela Cropper, United Nations 

Assistant Secretary General and Deputy Executive Director, 

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) 

10:30 – 11.00 Coffee Break 

11:00 – 12:30 Plenary Session Continued 

• Keynote Address 3: H.E. Ambassador Albert Ramdin, 

Assistant Secretary General, Organization of American 

States 

• Keynote Address 4: The Honourable James Robertson, 

Minister of Energy and Mining, Jamaica 

• Keynote Address 5: Dr. The Honourable Leslie 

Ramsammy, Minister of Health, Guyana 

12:30 - 14:00 Lunch 

14:00 - 16:00 (Plenary session continued) Co-Chairs: Mr. Vincent 

Sweeney, Regional Project Coordinator, GEF-funded 

Integrating Watershed and Coastal Areas Management 

Project (IWCAM) and Mr. Thomas Scheutzlich, Principal Advi- 

FIFTH BIENNIAL CARIBBEAN ENVIRONMENTAL FORUM AND EXHIBITION 

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• Climate Change-Media and Communications Perspectives: 

Mr. Wesley Gibbings, President, Association of Caribbean 

Media Workers 

• Waste Management – Mr. Edison Garraway, Waste Management 

Expert 

• Sustainable Energy – Caribbean Renewable Energy Development 

Programme (CREDP-GTZ)- Mr. Joseph Williams, 

Program Manager, CARICOM Energy Program 

• Water Resources/Watershed Management Presentation – 

Dr. Christopher Cox, Programme Director, Caribbean Environmental 

Health Institute (CEHI) 

• Climate Change - Caribbean Perspectives: Dr. Kenrick 

Leslie, Executive Director, Caribbean Community Climate 

Change Centre 

• Discussion 

16:00 - 16:30 Coffee Break 

16:30 – 18:00 Plenary: The OAS and the Caribbean: Partners 

in Sustainable Development 

• Book Launch: Sustainable Development in the Caribbean 

• Introduction by Ambassador Alfonso Quinonez, Executive 

Secretary, Secretariat for Integral Development, OAS 

• Overview of the Sustainable Development Challenges in the 

Caribbean 

• Areas of OAS Support in the Region: 

• Sustainable Energy and Climate Change Mitigation 

• Risk Management and Climate Change Adaptation 

• Integrated Water Resources Management 

• Environmental Policy, Law and Governance 

• Land Resources and Biodiversity 

• Signing of a Cooperation Agreement between the OAS and 

CEHI 

• Closing Remarks 

Post Session and Side Events 

11:00 - 16:00 Side event: NEPA/GEF-IWCAM Youth Environment 

Forum (Mount Zion Room) 

18:00 - 20:00 Post-session event -Open Forum (Negril Room) 

Wednesday, June 23 rd 

Parallel Sessions 

09:00 – 10:30 Parallel Sessions 

10:30 – 11:00 Coffee Break 

11:00 – 12:30 Parallel Sessions continue 

12:30 – 14:00 Lunch 



15:30 – 16:00 Coffee Break 


Post Session and Side Events 

11:00 - 16:00 Side event: NEPA/GEF-IWCAM Youth Environment 


18:00 - 19:00 Post- session event: United Nations Environment 

Programme (UNEP) CAR/RCU “Movie 

Night” (Negril Room) 

Thursday, June 24 th 



10:30 – 11: 00 Coffee Break 

11:00 Close of Exhibition 


12:30 – 14:00 Lunch 


19:30 CEF-5 Banquet and Awards Ceremony (Rose Hall 

Ballroom) 

Side Events 

14:00 - 16:00 NEPA/GEF-IWCAM Youth Environment 


14:00 - 17:30 Communication for Sustainable Development 

Initiative (CSDI) - Caribbean Programme and the 

Voices for Climate Change Project PANOS Working Group 

Discussion on Communication for Climate Change - Synergies 

for a Regional Strategy (Mount Salem Room) 

Friday, June 25 th 

Field Trips & Sightseeing Tours 

Titles of Parallel Sessions and Room Assignments 

Parallel Session 1: ReCaribe Meeting: Waste Management 

(Rose Hall Ballroom) 

Parallel Session 2: Centers for Disease Control (CDC)/ 

Water Safety Planning—experiences in the Caribbean 

Region (Falmouth Room) 

Parallel Session 3: Integrating Watershed and Coastal 

Areas Management (IWCAM) (Port Antonio Room) 

Parallel Session 4: Caribbean Sustainable Energy Forum 

(Trelawny room) 

Parallel Session 5: Water Resources and Coastal Zone 

Management (Negril Room) 

Parallel Session 6: Environmental Health and Water 


Quality (Falmouth Room) 

Parallel Session 7: Climate Change and Appropriate Technologies 

(Negril Room) 

Pre-conference activities: 20 th June 

09:00 - 17:00 Environmental Health Training in Emergency Response 

(EHTER) Course (Falmouth Room) 

14:00 - 17:00 First Co-ordination Meeting of Multilateral Agencies 

and Energy Sector Developmental Partners (CARICOM) 

(Trelawny Room) 

Wednesday, June 23 rd 

Parallel Session 1 - Wednesday 23 rd June, 09:00 – 17:30 


Session Title: ReCaribe 2010: 15 th Annual Wider Caribbean 

Waste Management Conference 

09.00 – 09.30 Opening: Greetings and Recognitions 

09.30 – 10.00 Allan Hunt: Green and Clean Islands, New Perspectives 

on Old Issues 

10.00 – 10.30 Garfield Murray: Roles & Functions of the National 

Solid Waste Management Authority in Jamaica 

10.30 – 11.00 Coffee 


(Falmouth Room) 

Session Title: CDC/Water Safety Planning 

09.00 – 09.30 Christopher Cox and Savitri Jetoo: Water 

Safety Planning (WSP) Demonstration Initiative for Linden 

Guyana 

09.30 – 10.00 Laverne Walker: Wetland wastewater treatment 

plants as a best practice for rural settlements on impervious 

soils in St. Lucia 

10.00 – 10.30 Ashok Sookdeo: Safe Water Initiative Project: 

Ministry of Health, Guyana 

10.30 – 11.00 Coffee 

11.00 – 12.30 Caribbean Experiences on Water Safety Development 

12.30 – 14.00 Lunch 

14.00 – 15.30 Best Practices and New Guidelines 

15.30 – 16.00 Coffee 

16.00 – 17.30 The LAC network and future directions 

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11.00 – 11.30 Hubert Urlin: Informal Waste Separation and 

Waste Diversion - The Guyana Experience 

11.30 – 12.00 Charlotte McDevitt: Sustainable Waste Management 

within the British Virgin Islands 

12.00 – 12.30 May Cornwall: Waste-to-Energy is coming to the 

United States Virgin Islands 

12.30 – 14.00 Lunch 

14.00 – 14.30 Magnus Rundquist: Integration of Energy from 

Waste (EfW) in the Caribbean 

14.30 – 15.00 Morrison Burns: A management option for landfill 

leachate 

15.00 – 15.30 Michael Dorsch: New Geosynthetic Materials 

Enhance Sustainability – from Solar and Synthetic-Turf Landfill 

Caps to Fresh Water Conservation 

15.30 – 16.00 Coffee 

16.00 – 16.30 Mylene Kerindongo-Vincento: Performance Management 

in a waste management company in Curacao 

16:30-17:00 Clarkston Trott: Hazardous Waste Management 

Practices in Bermuda 

17.00 – 17.30 Ed Nesselbeck: Hazardous Waste Roundtable 

Discussion 


(Port Antonio Room) 

Session Title: Integrated Watershed and Coastal Areas 

Management (IWCAM) CLOSED SESSION 

9.00 – 10:30 Lessons Learned 

10.30 – 11:00 Coffee 

11.00 – 12:30 Lessons Learned cont'd 

12.30 – 14:00 Lunch 


15.30 – 16:00 Coffee 




Session Title: Caribbean Sustainable Energy Forum 

09.00 – 09.30 David Ince: More than Dollars and Cents: 


18 Why Renewable Energy has been Slow to Take-off in the 


09.30 – 10.00 Duane Rowe: Feed-in-tariff schemes (FiTs) 

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10.00 – 10.30 Ales Dakic: Case study of renewable energy 

support incentives of Germany and United Kingdom and the 

applicability to the Caribbean 

10.30 – 11.00 Coffee 

11.00 – 11.30 Maxine Nestor: Energy Policy: Is there a prescribed 

recipe for energy policy formulation, implementation 

and control in CARICOM? 

11.30 – 12.00 Chinyere Nwaogwugwu: Trading Carbon Offsets- 

A Caribbean Tale 

12.00 – 12.30 Philipp Blechinger: Comparison of different 

Policy Instruments for the Power Generation Sector of Trinidad 

& Tobago regarding CO2-Emission Mitigation 

12.30 – 14.00 Lunch 

14.00 – 14.30 Benjamin Jargstoff: Are Hurricanes a Development 

Constraint for Wind Energy in the Caribbean 

14.30 – 15.00 Sven Homscheid: Hydropower development in 

the Caribbean - Lessons learned from projects in St. Vincent 

and Dominica 

15.00 – 15.30 Professor Anthony Chen: Small Scale Wind 

and Photovoltaics Feasibility 

15.30 – 16.00 Coffee 

16.00 – 16.30 Darlene Field: A cost analysis of Photovoltaic 

Technologies under Jamaica's Climatic Conditions 

16.30 – 17.00 Anthony Coleman: Building a Local Solar 

Panel: Issues and Experiences 

17.00 – 17.30 Maikel Oerbekke: Solar Cooling and Integrated 

Energy Efficiency to Increase Overall Savings 


(Negril Room) 

Session Title: Water Resources and Coastal Zone Management 

09.00 - 09.30 Jason Alexander: Doubts about droughts? Elements 

of a suitable National Drought Policy for Trinidad and 

Tobago 

09.30 – 10.00 Joanna Richards: The Development of the SPI 

and NDVI for 3 study sites in Jamaica, with an investigation 

into their use in understanding soil water during water 

stressed conditions in Jamaica 

10.00 – 10.30 Mark Barnett: The Impact of the Present 

Drought on NWC Water Supply Services to Kingston and St. 

Andrew 

10.30 – 11.00 Coffee 

11.00 – 11.30 Jacob Opadeyi and Paulette Bynoe: Quantitative 

Assessment of the Impact of Landuse on the Biophysical 

Characteristics of Demerara Sub-Watershed in Guyana 

11.30 – 12.00 Paulette Bynoe and Jacob Opadeyi: Development 

of a Watershed Management Plan for the Demerara Sub- 

Watershed in Guyana 

12.00 – 12.30 Joanna Richards: An investigation into the feasibility 

of using SWAT at the sub-basin level for simulating hydrologic 

conditions in Jamaica 

12.30 – 14.00 Lunch 

14.00 – 14.30 Kwame Emmanuel: Sustainable freshwater 

management and public perception: the case of Barbados 

14.30 – 15.00 Angel Gonzales: Phytoplankton as biological 

quality element in the monitoring program of Cienfuegos Bay, 

Cuba 

15.00 – 15.30 Natalie Boodram: Protecting aquatic interfaces: 

riparian conservation, restoration and buffer width recommendations 

for rivers in Trinidad 

15.30 – 16.00 Coffee 

16.00 – 16.30 Richard Huber: EcoEconomics and Management 

Effectiveness of Marine Parks and Environs in the Caribbean 

16.30 – 17.00 Anthony Mckenzie: Beach access rights and 

justice – a case for equity considerations in resource allocation 

17.00 – 17.30 María E. Castellanos González: Public Awareness 

through non-formal environmental education in coastal 

communities (Cuba) 


Parallel Session 1 - Thursday June 24 th , 09:00 – 12:30 


Session Title: ReCaribe 2010: 15 th Annual Wider Caribbean 

Waste Management Conference 

09.00 – 09.30 Karen Alleyne: PLAS-CRETE: Manufacture of 

Construction Blocks with shredded PET and HDPE 

09.30 – 10.00 Ashok Sookdeo: Biomedical Waste Management 

in Guyana 

10.00 – 10.30 Navarine Hylton: Implementation of Alternative 

(Non-Incineration) Medical Waste Treatment Technology in 

Jamaica 

10.30 – 11.00 Coffee 

11.00 – 11.30 Ed Nesselbeck: Biodryer Green Waste Systems 

11.30 – 12.00 Andy Wade: Getting the most out of E-waste 

and Florescent Lamp Recycling 


12.00 – 12.30 Randy Brown: ReCaribe Planning Discussion 

and Closing 

12.30 – 14.00 Lunch 



(Falmouth Room) 

Session Title: Environmental Health and Water Quality 

09.00 – 09.30 Shermaine Clauzel: Integrated Eco-health 

Assessment in the Americas 

09.30 – 10.00 Martin Forde: Assessing exposure to Persistent 

Organic Pollutants (POPs) in the Caribbean 

10.00 – 10.30 Nebojsa Fieskovic: Intelligent Energy Efficiency 

Control in Hospitals 

10.30 – 11.00 Coffee 

11.00 – 11.30 A.O. Al-jasser: Pipe service age effect on 

water quality during water transmission and distribution 

11.30 – 12.00 Sandy Nettles: Proper Well Construction Techniques 

and Well Field Management in the Caribbean 

12.00 – 12.30 May Cornwall: Wastewater infrastructure rehabilitation 

in the USVI 

12.30 – 14.00 Lunch 

14.00 – 14.30 Nilsia Johnson: Assessment of Wastewater 

Treatment Plants in Jamaica by the Ministry of Health 

14.30 – 15.00 Laverne Walker and Alexandra DuBoulay: 

Mainstreaming Saint Lucia’s National Plan of Action through 

a North West Coast Water Quality Demonstration Project 

15.00 – 15.30 Marlyn Rameet Samad: Analysis of the 

Nutritional Content of Duckweed and the Quality of Water 

that Supports its Growth 

15.30 – 16.00 Coffee 

16.00 – 16.30 Gurpal Toor: Connections between Land Use 

Changes and Water Quality in a Subtropical Urban Coastal 

Watershed in Florida, USA 

16.30 – 17.00 Alexandra DuBoulay: Development of Recreational 

water standards for St. Lucia 

17:00-17:30 Nadia Ferguson: The GEF-Reducing Pesticide 

Run-off to the Caribbean Sea Project (REPCar) Project 


(Port Antonio Room) 

Session Title: Integrated Watershed and Coastal Areas 

Management (IWCAM) 

09.00 – 10.30 Lessons Learned (Open) 

10.30 – 11.00 Coffee 

11.00 – 12.00 Lessons Learned (Open) 

12.00 – 12.30 Metiek Ngirchechol: Developing Integrated 

Water Resource Management in the Republic of Palau 

12.30 – 14.00 Lunch 

14.00 – 14.30 Lisa Kirkland: A Model for Sustainable Watershed 

Management: The Case of Drivers River, Portland, Jamaica 

14.30 – 15.00 Marko Tosic: Watershed Modeling in the Caribbean: 

Application of Geographic Information Systems in the 

Assessment and Management of Land-Based Sources of Marine 

Pollution 

15.00 – 15.30 Alex Ifill: Using GIS to monitor the potential 

Impact of Development on Water Supply and Coastal Zone 

Management in Barbados 

15.30 – 16.00 Coffee 

16.00 – 16.30 Trevor Thompson & Marie Claire St. Jacques: 

National Water Information Systems: A tool to support integrated 

water resources management in the Caribbean 

16.30 – 17.00 Halla Sahely: Combining sound science, legal 

action and stakeholder involvement to protect a vulnerable 

coastal aquifer on the island of St. Kitts 

17.00 – 17.30 Angel Perez: Capacity building with a new paradigm 

in environmental management: The Integrated Watershed 

and Coastal Area Management in Cienfuegos, Cuba 



Session Title: Caribbean Sustainable Energy Forum 

09.00 – 09.30 Ernie Stapleton: Renewable Energy Development 

on Nevis - Lessons Learned 

09.30 – 10.00 Herbert Samuel: Welectricity: Energy Efficiency, 

meet Social Networking: A new approach to household energy 

efficiency 

10.00 – 10.30 Bill Meade: Performance Contracting for Energy 

Services in the Caribbean Hotel Industry 

10.30 – 11.00 Coffee 

11.00 – 11.30 Elliot Edwards: Energy Efficiency in Typical 

Caribbean Office Buildings 

11.30 – 12.00 Leonard Duane: Energy Efficiency Study of 

Government Buildings 

12.00 – 12.30 To be determined 

12.30 – 14.00 Lunch 

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14.00 – 15.30 Caribbean Hotel Energy Efficiency Action Programme 

(CHENACT) ESCO Workshop Meeting (CLOSED 

SESSION) 

15.30 – 16.00 Coffee 

16.00 – 17.30 Caribbean Hotel Energy Efficiency Action Programme 

(CHENACT) Meeting (CLOSED SESSION) 


(Negril Room) 

Session Title: Climate Change/ Appropriate Technology 

09.00 – 09.30 Pisi Seluganiu: Water Variability and Climate 

Change Related Response Measures in Tuvalu 

09.30 – 10.00 Benjamin Jargstorf: What is the ‘Green Paradox’ 

and what it could mean for the Caribbean? 

10.00 – 10.30 Denise Simmons & Paulette Bynoe: Energy 

Efficiency and Carbon Emission Reduction: a review of Guyana’s 

Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) (climate 

change) 

10.30 – 11.00 Coffee 

11.00 – 11.30 Maria Protz: Communication – The Missing “C” 

in Community-based Coping with Climate Change in the Caribbean 

11.30 – 12.00 Judy Daniel: Are our laws and institutions 

ready for climate change? 

12.00 – 12.30 Pablo Rosenthal: Our Planet: Using innovation 

to highlight the need to use and manage natural resources 

efficiently in the Caribbean 

12.30 – 14.00 Lunch 

14.00 – 14.30 Marc Sandy: Sustaining the development of 

industry in Trinidad and Tobago: Renewable Energy, Energy 

Efficiency and Green Manufacturing 

14.30 – 15.00 Natalie Boodram: An Approach to Sustainable 

Consumption and Production in the Caribbean 

15.00 – 15.30 Ruben Contreras: Cellulosic Ethanol Technology 

as Waste Management tool – the Belize Potential 

15.30 – 16.00 Coffee 

16.00 – 16.30 Kevin Harris: Solar Powered Automated 

Greenhouse Irrigation System Installation 

16.30 – 17.00 Christopher Cox: Rainwater Harvesting in the 



Abstracts of Technical Presentations 

Parallel Session 1 - ReCaribe Meeting: Waste 

Informal Waste Separation and Waste Diversion - The Guyana 

Experience by Hubert Urlin 

All over the world much of the waste generated has found its way 

into landfills or open dumps and has presented major environmental 

challenges for governments. The competing priorities for land to 

accommodate housing, agriculture and industrial development have 

meant the placement of landfills further away from the communities 

they serve. Coupled with this, there has been increasing awareness 

of the value of some of the materials landfilled and the potential for 

their reuse. These factors have served to influence a movement 

towards waste diversion to aid in the improved utilization of material 

resources for industry and simultaneously provide an opportunity to 

lengthen the life of landfills. In several developed countries much 

emphasis has been given to formal waste separation systems so as 

to facilitate waste diversion from landfills and promote better material 

resource management through the promotion of waste reduction, 

reuse and recycling. In developing countries most of the waste management 

systems are still in the very primary stages of development 

and often there is no formal waste separation system. In many instances 

however because of the economic value attached to some 

waste materials due to their potential for reuse or recycling, there 

tends to be a pretty vibrant informal waste separation system. This 

informal system is however not generally given much credit for the 

impact it may be having in facilitating waste diversion from disposal 

sites. 

The experience in Georgetown Guyana has been somewhat similar 

with regards the informal separation of waste. While solid waste 

management has been an integral part of the services provided by 

the Municipality for a number of decades, a system of formal waste 

separation has not been implemented. Waste characterization studies 

show that materials in the waste streams are currently being 

informally separated in Georgetown’s collection and disposal systems 

account for about 18% of the waste generated. The impact/ 

benefits being derived from the diversion of such a significant part of 

the waste stream deserves consideration. This paper presents the 

findings of such an examination of waste generated in Georgetown, 

Guyana. 

Getting the Most out of E-Waste & Florescent Lamp Recycling 

by Andrew L. Wade 

In addition, florescent lamp recycling (while not a source of revenue 

to the generator) will also be touched on so far as how to best 

sort and package lamps for recycling purposes. E-waste and 

lamps comprise a significant potential for toxics in a landfill or 

incinerator (i.e. lead, cadmium, mercury) even though they make 

up only a small percentage of ‘disposable’ materials. By separating 

out these key items for recycling, the community and environment 

will both be better for it. 

A Management option for Landfill Leachate: an Alternative 

Energy Potential by D. Morrison Burns 

The problem of Leachate production, Leachate volume, movement, 

storage and final discharge is of great concern to landfill 

operations. There are many challenges in handling this 

“commodity”, as a solution is sought to mitigate the fallout from 

environmental concerns. 

With the rate of production of Leachate over a given year exceeding 

the rate of its removal, it is quite likely that there would be a 

significant volume build-up. At the same time, in the interim, a 

myriad of volatile organic molecules would concentrate in the solution. 

By virtue of their complexity, or their resistance to biodegradation, 

and their environmentally unfriendly nature, some of the 

accumulated molecules render the ever concentrating leachate 

solution highly toxic. Many of the dissolved and accumulated 

molecules lend themselves to ready Bio-Methanisation, to the end 

point of producing, in the right conditions, copious quantities of 

energy molecules in the form of Methane gas. 

This document proposes the exploitation of landfill leachate, expressly 

for the production of energy. Such a process has evoked 

significant attention due to its affiliate advantages, from which the 

following factual observations cannot be overstated: 

1. Today, the use of Landfill-derived fuel has cleared a pathway 

for technological change toward the commissioning of new 

machines such as hybrid vehicles. One can anticipate a 

quantification and noticeable reduction in the consumption of 

“regular” fossil fuel, which presently, is the energy source of 

almost all internal combustion engines. 

2. Direct emission of Methane, into the atmosphere, has as 

much as six times the deleterious effects of carbon dioxide 

upon the ozone layer, and hence upon global warming. 

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This presentation will focus on best practices for recycling electronic 

waste and florescent lamps. The presentation will provide a description 

and offer suggestions on the best current sorting and segregation 

practices for e-waste (computers, electronics, telephone equipment, 

etc.) and florescent lamp recycling. By sorting and separating 

according to current market demands, generators of such items may 

offer their material for proper recycling and there exists potential for 

economic recovery. Information on what the recycler of e-scrap is 

looking for and how to identify your material will be provided. 

Biomedical Waste Management in Guyana: An Assessment of 

the Current Situation by Ashok Sookdeo 

The operation of health facilities in Guyana produces approximately 

2.5 tons of medical waste per day. Until recently, the management 

of this waste has been ad hoc, with both the hazardous 

and non-hazardous components being disposed in an environmentally 

insecure manner, thereby causing a number of health 

risks to both health workers and the public. This was attributed to 

the fact that this problem was not prioritized and as such there 


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were limited financial and human resources allocated to develop 

solutions. Consequently, there was no technological remedy in 

place to adequately deal with the final waste disposal and to manage 

the waste volumes, and there was no framework in place to 

regularize, institutionalize and legalize the management of health 

care waste. However, within the past 3-4 years Guyana is undergoing 

a significant positive change. Workers from both the private 

and public health facilities in both the rural, hinterland and urban 

districts were trained in the management of sharps and sharp 

boxes were provided; several small scale DeMontforte type incinerators 

to burn sharps were constructed in rural health facilities; a 

Health Facility Licensing Bill was enacted in 2008 that mandates 

health institutions to better manage health care waste, and within 

the context of this Act, medical waste regulations and guidelines 

that outline in detail the requirements of the various components 

of the waste management process, from waste generation to disposal, 

are near completion. 

The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, with financial assistance 

from the World Bank, has procured a hydroclave, a compactor 

and a specially designed truck to transport medical waste. 

This service will be available to all the private health facilities 

within Georgetown at a cost. The construction of a modern landfill, 

to be operational by the end of 2010 will have a specially designed 

compartment to store medical and other hazardous waste. It is 

clear that medical waste management in Guyana is now being 

given the focus, priority and commitment that was previously lacking. 

Sustainable Waste Management within the British Virgin Islands 

by Charlotte McDevitt 

This paper develops recommendations for reducing waste and 

increasing resource management in the British Virgin Islands 

(BVI). It is based on a phenomenological approach using a systems 

perspective. Grounded theory is used to analyse qualitative 

and quantitative data. Data collection techniques include participant 

observation, literature reviews, interviews and a waste reduction 

questionnaire. This research study concludes that Integrated 

Waste Management (IWM) is a potentially flawed approach to 

apply to the setting of the British Virgin Islands mainly as IWM 

relies on the continued use of landfill practices. Finding suitable 

landfill space in Tortola, the main island of the BVI, is challenging 

due to the island being only 153 square kilometers of mostly hilly 

terrain. Waste reduction methods that focus solely on recycling 

pose many challenges particularly when applied to the island setting 

of the BVI. Thus a broader scope of waste reduction and resource 

management strategies is required to ensure safe and 

effective waste management in the future. The research study 

recommends that the BVI adopt a systemic approach to waste 

management with the ultimate aim of eliminating the need for 

incineration and landfill. A waste reduction and resource management 

strategy is outlined, in addition to possible tools that move 

beyond conventional recycling to include extended producer responsibility 

and green procurement. 

Hazardous Waste Round Table Discussion by Ed Nesselbeck 

This session consists of a round table discussion on the current 

state of hazardous waste generation and management in the region. 

Two recent Hazardous Waste Surveys conducted by the Caribbean 

Environmental Health Institute (CEHI) will be highlighted and referred 

to, although they will not be the prime focus of this discussion. They 

will provide insight to the situation as identified in Trinidad and Tobago 

and Guyana and offer guidance to further discussion on hazardous 

waste in other countries. Solid and hazardous waste managers are 

encouraged to attend and participate in the discussions. 

Roles & Functions of the National Solid Waste Management Authority 

in Jamaica by Garfield Murray 

The management of solid waste in Jamaica is the responsibility of the 

National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) a local government 

agency incorporated in April 2001 through the enactment of 

the National Solid Waste Management Act of 2001. This NSWMA Act 

empowers the NSWMA to regulate the processing and disposal of 

municipal solid waste and the recycling, storage, transportation, treatment 

and disposal of waste islandwide. The Act also gives the Authority 

the power to implement various regulations. 

The NSWMA executes its operation through four regional offices island 

wide registered as Limited Liability Companies. Each regional 

office is responsible for the management of solid waste within its respective 

wasteshed. This includes public cleansing operations such 

as street sweeping, roadside pickup and residential solid waste collection 

and disposal. Other activities such as commercial waste collection, 

special waste disposal, cleaning and maintenance of verge and 

median strips along major thoroughfares as well as the maintenance 

of public parks is also undertaken by these regional entities. Through 

its regional entities the NSWMA regulates the operations and management 

of 8 disposals sites island-wide. 

Approximately 1.2 million tonnes of municipal solid waste are generated 

across the island each year. Of this total an average of 75% is 

disposed of at the disposal sites within the four wastesheds. The remaining 

portion is either recycled, reused or ends up somewhere in 

the environment, predominantly our waterways and shoreline. The 

NSWMA, in order to curb and eradicate the illegal disposal of solid 

waste has embarked on an island wide campaign, educating the public 

on how to properly manage and dispose of their waste. It is our 

intention that at the end of this campaign that the attitude and practices 

of the populace would have changed and that the NSWMA will 

have a greater impact in contributing to preservation of public health, 

environmental aesthetics and beauty of Jamaica. 

PLAS-CRETE: Manufacture of Construction Blocks with shredded 

PET and HDPE by Karen Alleyne 

This project is based on the development, testing and evaluation of 

lightweight aggregate cementitious products utilizing shredded Polyethylene 

terephthalate (PET) and High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) 

from crushed drink bottles and crates. The innovation for this project 

is twofold. Firstly, thousands of PET and HDPE plastic materials, particularly 

plastic bottles, are improperly disposed of each day resulting 

in large volumes of plastic waste entering and remaining in the natural 

environment. This has become a solid waste management challenge 

in Guyana since it is estimated that hundreds of tonnes of PET plastic 


ottles are discarded yearly in Georgetown alone. Secondly, efficient 

means of re-using waste plastic, particularly PET and HDPE 

must be found since in developing countries it may not be economically 

viable to recycle, based on the volumes of plastic produced. 

To solve this problem, efficient means of recycling and/or re-using 

waste plastic, particularly PET and HDPE must be found. In more 

developed societies, recycling technology has been the solution of 

choice but in developing countries, like Guyana and other Caricom 

Countries, it may not be economically viable based on the relatively 

small volumes of plastic produced. Hence we need to determine 

innovative ways to re-use plastic since, presently it is not viable to 

recycle. It is for this reason the author embarked on using shredded 

PET and HDPE as aggregates in construction material. With 

the alteration of mix ratios, compressive strengths ranging from 

1000 psi to 3781psi were obtained for the blocks having been moist 

cured for 7, 14 and 28 days. 

These values indicated that the blocks can be used for moderate 

strength (1000-1200 psi) and structural light weight concrete (>2500 

psi) applications such as floors in high–rise buildings (to reduce 

support load requirements), and as thermal and sound insulation in 

walls and roof panels (Kosmatka/PCA). With the alteration of mix 

ratios and the use of a combination of different plastic types and 

sizes according to a prescribed method, higher compressive 

strengths can be obtained. 

Integration of Energy from Waste (EFW) in the Caribbean by 

Magnus Rundqwist and Peter Chromec 

The maximum environmental benefits from a new Energy from 

Waste (EFW) facility may require locating the new plant close to 

both the source of the waste and the potential energy customers. 

This paper will present design features that allow them to be located 

directly into a Caribbean environment while minimizing their 

impact on the community and often improving the quality of life of 

the surrounding communities. 

Some of the additional benefits gained by locating an EFW facility 

on location in the Caribbean are: 

• Minimizing the cost and the environmental impact of transporting 

the waste over distances by treating the waste where it is 

produced. This contributes to a reduction in number of trucks 

on the roads, a reduction in emissions from these trucks, a 

reduction in green house gas emissions with reduced transport 

fuel requirements, a reduction in the potential for odors and 

spills with shorter transport distances. 

• Providing electrical generation at the point of consumption. 

• Possible revenue from disposal fees from cruise ships. 

• Producing shore protection /concrete blocks ash handling. 

• Reducing the dependence on imported oil for electrical generation 

and for heating / cooling. 

• Providing secure and well paying jobs for member of the community. 

• Reducing the carbon foot print of the community as an EFW 

plant is considered a carbon sink and municipal waste is often 

classified as renewable energy. 

An EFW plant typically leads to higher recycling rate, both pre and 

post combustion. 

Some of the specific measures that have been considered for a 

Caribbean EFW plant environment are architectural enhancements, 

more stringent noise and odor control, significant reduction 

or even elimination of visible plumes. An applicable case study 

included in this paper will be the Tynes Bay Waste Treatment Facility, 

Bermuda. 

Waste-to-Energy is Coming to the United States Virgin Islands 

by May Cornwall 

After several attempted procurements over 20 years, the U.S. Virgin 

Islands has signed contracts for the development of two refusederived 

fuel waste-to-energy projects. This presentation will address 

the various challenges faced by island communities, and the 

U.S. Virgin Islands in particular, in developing waste-to-energy 

projects as its long-term solid waste management solution. It will 

explore how two governmental agencies, the Virgin Islands Waste 

Management Authority and the Virgin Islands Water and Power 

Authority worked hand-in-hand to overcome such challenges and 

make the projects a reality. 

Many facets of these projects are quite different from the vast majority 

of the waste-to-energy plants previously developed in the 

United States. These areas include the procurement process, the 

chosen developer, the fuel supply arrangement, the financing, the 

contract structure and the risk allocation between the parties. 

These and other unique features will be described as well as the 

reasons for them and how and why the VI government has become 

comfortable with and embraced such features. 

Finally, the presentation will examine why the development of 

these projects to the current stage has succeeded while so many 

previous attempts have failed, with the hope that municipalities and 

developers interested in developing new waste-to-energy projects 

can walk away with valuable lessons learned. 

New Geosynthetic Materials Enhance Sustainability – From 

Solar and Synthetic-Turf Landfill Caps to Fresh Water Conservation 

by Michael Dorsch 

This presentation will highlight the use of new geosynthetics and 

PV materials in several innovative liquid and waste containment 

applications that enhance sustainability. The Tessman Road Landfill 

Solar Energy Cover System which utilizes flexible photo-voltaic 

(solar) panels on an exposed-membrane landfill cap to generate 

electricity on what would normally be unutilized land will be discussed. 

The author will also highlight a project in Abu Dhabi for which a 

desalinization-derived fresh-water reservoir system was designed 

and built to include an evaporation cover to conserve the valuable 

resource as well as a synthetic-turf landfill closure system that 

reduces installation and maintenance costs, increases available 

landfill air-space and improves the quality of storm water discharge. 

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24 Implementation of Alternative (Non-Incineration) Medical 

Waste Treatment Technology in Jamaica by Navarine Natisia 

Hylton 

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In Jamaica, it is estimated that the health sector generates approximately 

1,596 tonnes of medical waste annually, of which 83% is 

produced by public health care facilities (MOH 2005). At present, 

there are no environmentally sound medical waste treatment systems 

at public (or private) healthcare facilities. Most healthcare 

facilities treat their medical waste with very old (over 20 years) and 

poorly maintained on-site incinerators or ‘burn boxes’, which are 

not fit for the treatment of medical waste (Crown Agent 2003). 

Further, on numerous occasions when the incinerators are out of 

service, medical waste is either burnt and/or dumped illegally at 

municipal controlled disposal sites, in gullies, or on vacant lands. 

The cost of the negative effects of improper handling and disposal 

practices is a burden on the public purse. Over the years, there 

have been several negative media reports and community concerns 

highlighting the problems, and placing the institutions under 

tremendous pressure to take corrective measures. 

Against this background, the Government of Jamaica is investing in 

appropriate technology for the treatment of infectious medical 

waste. Currently, the Ministry of Health is implementing a program 

aimed at improving the overall management of medical waste in 

the public health system. It includes: 

• Procurement and installation of four regional medical waste 

collection and treatment facilities with steam sterilization and 

shredding treatment technology; 

• Development of National Medical Waste Management Policy, 

Regulations, Standards, and Guidelines; 

• Standardization of waste management procedures in all 

healthcare facilities; 

• Implementation of waste segregation and minimization strategies; 

and, 

• Training of healthcare staff in proper waste management. 

The procurement and installation of the regional medical waste 

collection and treatment facilities will be implemented in two 

phases: phase 1 in the largest health region (Region 1) and phase 

2 in the other health regions. Phase 1 was successfully implemented 

in 2008 under the World Bank Funded National HIV/STI 

Programme. 

Waste Diversion and Energy Production with a Bio-Dryer by 

Ed Nesselbeck 

This presentation will focus on the beneficial uses of the in-vessel 

bio-dryer system. Bio-dryers have a long and successful history for 

generating high quality fuel derived from the green waste in a relatively 

short time duration and offer an excellent option for waste 

diversion. 

The organic fraction of municipal solid wastes (MSW) typically 

ends up either being land-filled, incinerated or composted. One of 

the most efficient methods of composting (the Wrighttech tunnels) 

has been modified to provide a superior way to handle these 

organic wastes and bio-solids. As an alternative use, the Wrighttech 

tunnels are now used to create a viable fuel product for combustion 

in a combined heat & power (CHP) boiler. 

Green waste from MSW streams, sewage sludge (bio-solids) and 

food wastes can now by diverted from the landfill and turned into a 

“Green, carbon-neutral” fuel. The on-site CHP will combust the 

fuel, generate hot water, process steam and electricity. Additionally, 

the CHP may be designed for further beneficial use such as 

combusting health care facility infectious waste. 

Another beneficial use for the bio-dryer is for the low-cost alternative 

of contaminated soil treatment and cleanup. Soils contaminated 

with petroleum products and chlorinated organics can be 

treated in the bio-dryer for complete destruction of the contaminants 

of concern through a proprietary process. 

Performance Management as Implemented in a Waste Management 

Company by Mylenne Kerindongo-Vicento 

Waste Management Companies have to perform and survive in a 

complex, competitive, fast-changing economic-social-and political 

environment. Strategic goals are effective only when a company 

can measure and monitor its progress accurately and can align the 

entire organization in the pursuit of those goals. The globalization 

trend being part of this fast changing economy is showing signals 

needing consideration in both large corporations as well as households 

in the community. Today Selikor Llc., Waste Management 

Company of the Island of Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles is facing 

ongoing changes. In an unpredictable economic environment it is 

imperative to have operations well controlled. The effective and 

efficient performance of Selikor’s operational activities is crucial to 

its overall business success. In Selikor’s business plan, the vision, 

mission and goals are well defined. The management of Selikor 

introduced a management system that can monitor and evaluate 

the day-to-day performance of the operations and can indicate 

corrective measures if necessary, in a timely manner. Selikor has 

two types of management teams to control the quality of service 

delivered by the company, the management team and the quality 

team. The management team, consisting of the CEO and the senior 

managers determines the firm’s strategic direction and reviews 

operational and financial performances. To pursue organizational 

goals, Selikor has implemented a performance management system. 

The Performance management system is a closed circuit and 

consists of the following phases: plan, select, collect, analyze, interpret, 

decide, commit, take action, and review. 

Performance management can be described as a management 

process for taking actions in response to actual performances thus 

making outcomes better than they would otherwise be. Performance 

management can also be described as conducting operations 

of a company through the critical performance indicators. By translating 

organizational strategy into the five performance objectives 

(quality, speed, dependability, flexibility and cost) and identifying 

their relative importance, operations can focus on what is important 

and as a result will function as planned. Performance management 

arrangements can help to integrate planning, review financial management 

and improvement systems to enable policy makers and 

managers to make informed decisions and improve services to 

meet client’s goals. 


Selikor has implemented this management system first as a pilot 

project in one department in 2004. In the second phase an extension 

took place to the four operational departments and in 2010 the 

staff departments have been added to the project. Daily measurements 

of performances of the services are taken. When performances 

are noted, through interventions the processes are revised, 

and changes are made for the continuous improvement. By delivering 

the most effective level of service to clients, innovative solutions 

that bring value to the client base, and a properly and timely billing 

system, the company will distinguish herself in such a positive way 

that it can survive in a complex, competitive, fast-changing economic-social-and 

political environment. 

Parallel Session 2 - Centers for Disease Control 

/ Water Safety Planning (Falmouth 

Safe Water Initiative Project: Ministry of Health, Guyana by 

Ashok Sookdeo 

Within the past decade the prevalence of acute diarrhoeal diseases 

in Guyana has increased more than triple fold. Whilst it may be argued 

that this is the result of improved surveillance by the Ministry 

of Health, the steady annual increase noted within the last ten years 

is a justified cause for concern. Moreover, the prevalence rate of 

acute diarrhoea in the interior locations of Guyana, where the Amerindians 

reside, is alarmingly higher. In most instances the prevalence 

of diarrhoea in these remote regions ranges from 50 to 234. 

These high figures are likely the result of the reliance on the creeks, 

ponds and rivers for drinking water, and poor sanitary conditions. 

The prevalence of diarrhoea is high both in the rainy and dry season 

and this can be explained by the fact that intense rainfall washes 

contaminants into water supplies. Drought conditions diminishes 

the availability of fresh water. To this end the Environmental Health 

Unit of the Ministry of Health, Guyana, has developed a multipronged 

approach that encompasses education and training, advocacy, 

social marketing and hygiene promotion to tackle the diarrhoeal 

problem. 

There are three primary activities developed in this safe water initiative 

which commenced in February 2010. Firstly, Environmental 

Health Officers, Community Health Workers and other allied health 

staff from areas where there is a higher prevalence of diarrhoea are 

being trained to assist their community develop good hygiene practices 

and to implement initiatives for household water treatment. 

Secondly, nine thousand bottles of Chlorosol, a user friendly chlorine 

solution developed in Guyana for the treatment of non-turbid 

waters, and one million sachets of PuR for the treatment of turbid 

waters are being distributed to vulnerable households. The distribution 

of PuR is mostly in the interior regions where there is a greater 

reliance on river, creek and pond water. Five gallon bottles, funnels, 

buckets and cotton cloth which are accessories needed for the use 

of PuR are also being distributed. Thirdly, to promote the use of the 

water treatment products Chlorosol and PuR and the techniques to 

improve the consumption of safe water a public awareness campaign 

utilizing television, radio, the press, pamphlets, posters and 

community meetings are being conducted. The mass media campaign 

is also geared to market Chlorosol as an excellent product for 

treating pipe and rain water. Questionnaires will be administered to 

households that are provided with both PuR and Chlorosol to assess 

the effectiveness of the various components of the safe water 

initiative. 

Water Safety Planning (WSP) Demonstration Initiative for 

Linden, Guyana by Christopher Cox and Savitri Jetoo 

Water safety planning (WSP) is a risk assessment and risk management 

approach recommended under Chapter 4 of the World 

Health Organisation (WHO) Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality 

3 rd Edition (2004) that seeks to enhance the management of processes 

that impact the quality of water supply along all steps in the 

supply chain; from catchment to consumer. The WSP approach is 

now being piloted and implemented within water supply systems in 

many parts of the world, and work has been initiated in some Caribbean 

countries through the support of regional and international 

development partners. This paper describes the project development 

methodology and plans for the implementation of a WSP initiative 

in Guyana that was led by the Government of Guyana and 

the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), with support from the United 

States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National 

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Caribbean 

Environmental Health Institute (CEHI) and the Pan-American 

Health Organization (PAHO). 

The project sought to demonstrate implementation of a holistic approach 

aimed at addressing the key issues of water source protection 

and its linkage to drinking water and ambient water quality, and 

demonstration of the design of a system-wide water safety plan 

(WSP) for water supply and distribution. Guyana’s second-largest 

city, Linden, was selected as the pilot community for the project. 

The water source protection component of this pilot initiative was 

formulated within the framework of the Global Programme of Action 

(GPA) for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land- 

Based Sources (LBS) of Pollution, a global agreement committed to 

by governments worldwide to improve the health of coastal and 

marine waters. Watersheds that drain the areas within and around 

Linden constituted the geographic study area for development of a 

local-level National Plan of Action (NPA) to minimize pollution into 

the ambient environment, with specific emphasis on protection of 

source waters used for drinking water supply to the Linden community. 

The joint Water Safety Planning (WSP) and National Plan of Action 

(NPA) framework for water source protection demonstrated in Guyana 

will be of value to other Caribbean SIDS in the development of 

management approaches to improve quality of water supply systems. 

Waste Water Treatment Plants as a Best Practice for Rural Settlements 

on Impervious Soils by LaVerne Walker and Cornelius 

Isaac 

The Fond d’Or watershed is the second largest in Saint Lucia comprising 

10,230 acres. The absence of adequate forest cover, along 

with poor waste, land-use, and soil management practices adopted 

by resource users, are the main causes of the environmental degradation 

and resultant acute water problems experienced in this wa- 

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Parallel Session 3 - Integrated Watershed 

and Coastal Areas Management (Port An- 

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tershed. The community of Au Leon, located within the Fond d’Or Nevis. The potable water extracted from this aquifer represents over 

Watershed, is a dense residential area that sits on a hillside. Due 40% of the total water supply for St. Kitts. The area is subject to urban 

to the topography, geology, and poor land and soil management 

practices in the area, much of the surface consist of exposed bedrock. 

encroachment, inappropriate land use and threats from pollution. 

A project was devised and implemented using an integrated approach 

As a consequence of this situation, few household septic to help government and communities take practical actions to protect 

tank systems are associated with effective ‘soakaways’; a system 

where wastewater filters through soil. Instead, most wastewater 

this vulnerable aquifer by demonstrating proper management and 

protection. The project is supported by the Global Environment Facility 

(GEF) as part of the Integrating Watershed and Coastal Areas 

(black and grey) is discharged directly into waterways such as 

gutters and gullies, and ultimately the river, impacting negatively 

on water quality in the area. 

Management (IWCAM) project for Caribbean Small Island States. The 

two major outcomes of the project are a water resources management 

plan and establishment of a National Park in the well-field area. 

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To address this aspect of poor waste water management within the 

community, a number of studies were undertaken including an 

assessment of pollutants within the community, as well as a baseline 

survey on sewage management in the community of Au Leon. 

Four demonstration waste water treatment wetlands were constructed 

to treat black water from septic tanks. Their design takes 

into account the topography of the area, as well as the use of locally 

available materials. 

This paper discusses the activities undertaken as part of this pilot 

project, including the major role of the community in the implementation 

of the project, as well as the key lessons learnt. 

Using GIS to monitor the potential impact of development on 

water supply and coastal zone management in Barbados by 

Alex Ifill 

Between 1990 and 2009, forty one thousand building lots have 

been submitted for development in Barbados. Given the “waterscare” 

nature of the country, the already high population density 

and potential impact on both fresh and marine water resources, 

the environmental impact of such development must be closely 

monitored. 

Given the water scarce status of the country there could be significant 

challenges in responding to drought as the island approaches 

its limit of renewable water resources. Secondly, recent studies 

have shown increasing nitrates in the groundwater. This trend 

mirrors the increasing population density as one moves towards 

the coast. This is of significant importance to the management of 

the marine environment. 

A comprehensive hydrogeologic evaluation of the aquifer was undertaken. 

Traditional methods and novel techniques were utilized to better 

understand and characterize the aquifer. The paper will highlight 

the main findings of the study including hydrogeologic interpretations, 

water quality analysis and modelling of contaminant transport and 

pumping regimes under various scenarios. Multi-electrode electrical 

resistivity (MER), a novel surface geophysical technique, was used to 

delineate the thickness and distribution of sediments throughout the 

aquifer, zones of increased porosity, zones of possible contamination 

and the fresh/salt water interface. 

At present, the majority of the Basseterre Valley watershed is vegetated 

land with over 30% representing disused government-owned 

sugar cane fields. As a result, there is a lot of pressure to develop 

these lands. The transformation of the landscape has brought with it 

associated pollution threats. In addition, a review of environmental 

laws and policies revealed a fragmented approach to water issues 

exacerbated by weak enforcement. An action plan with various time 

horizons was devised to cope with these issues and will be discussed 

in this paper. 

The cornerstone of the project was the establishment of a National 

Park around the sensitive well-field area. A park management plan 

was also devised. This final component serves to unify the scientific 

data uncovered as part of the water resources assessment, the legal 

actions taken to update water legislation and to declare the protected 

area and the involvement of key stakeholders, all of which are key 

ingredients for success. This project is novel and multi-faceted in its 

approach to protect a vulnerable coastal aquifer. 

Capacity building with a new paradigm in environmental management: 

the Integrated Watershed and Coastal Area Management in 

Cienfuegos, Cuba by Ángel R. León Pérez, María E. Castellanos 

González and Dra. Clara E. Miranda Vera 

A GIS package based on ArcView 3.2 was developed to analyse 

the potential impact of the development over the period 1990 to 

2009 on the water supply and groundwater quality. 

Combining sound science, legal action and stakeholder involvement 

to protect a vulnerable coastal aquifer on the island 

of St. Kitts by Halla Sahely, Sandy Nettles, Ravidya Burrowes 

and Glenn Haas 

The unconfined coastal aquifer underlying the Basseterre Valley is 

a significant economic and social asset for the people of St. Kitts- 

The application of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) is 

necessary for the sustainable development in Cuba. However, for 

successful environmental management of these areas, it is necessary 

to merge the conceptual frame of the ICZM with that of Integrated 

Watershed and Coastal Area Management (IWCAM) in addition to 

incorporating an environmental and social perspective. 

This paradigm shift has been incorporated within the ICZM Capacity 

Building Programme of Cienfuegos University, the Centre of Environment 

Research of Cienfuegos (CEAC) and other universities since 

2002. The initiative has been sponsored by University Partnerships in 

Cooperation and Development and the Canadian International Development 

Agency. The objectives of the present paper are: 1) to argue 


the importance of the vision of IWCAM for the formal education 

(through the ICZM masters programme) of specialists, functionaries 

and decision-makers; making them more conscious of the environment-society 

relationship and educating them for active participation 

in the decision-making process and 2) - to define how this process 

was executed through modifications to the original ICZM Masters 

Programme. The IWCAM vision and approach has also spread 

to the Villa Clara and Matanzas provinces. The success of the 

masters programme paved the way for an IWCAM diploma course 

in 2008 catering to specialists and functionaries of Cienfuegos province. 

The was implemented in CEAC with the graduation of 26 students 

from 12 different enterprises, 7 of these graduated are now 

pursuing the Master’s in ICZM. 

A Model for Sustainable Watershed Management: The Case of 

Drivers River, Portland, Jamaica by Lisa Kirkland 

Jamaica is divided into twenty-six Watershed Management Units 

(WMUs). Over the years it has been a challenge to sustainably 

manage these watersheds. A Watershed Model was developed 

under the Global Environment Facility funded Project, “Integrating 

Watershed and Coastal Areas Management (GEF - IWCAM), implemented 

by National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), 

using an integrated approach in the Drivers River Watershed Management 

Unit of Portland. The aim of the model is to provide watershed 

practitioners, government agencies, NGOs, funding agencies 

and the ordinary citizens a simple, practical and flexible method of 

achieving sustainable watershed management using lessons 

learned from previous projects as well as other local and regional 

watershed initiatives. Hence, the Model is intrinsically Caribbean in 

nature. 

It is envisioned that this Model will be implemented on a wide scale, 

as it calls for the involvement of all stakeholders “pooling” together 

their limited resources to bring about the much needed rehabilitation 

of watersheds and this is definitely needed in these trying economic 

times. The strength of the model therefore lies in the ability 

of state agencies and communities to collaborate and deliver improvement 

in watersheds as seen in the case of the Drivers Watershed. 

It also provides a means of replication which eliminates overlapping 

or duplication of efforts. Further the Model is practical allowing 

an implementer to deliver initiatives on a phased basis until 

resources are available to implement the Model in its entirety. 

This paper outlines and examines the ten components of the GEF- 

IWCAM/NEPA Watershed Model which are as follows: 

1. Engaging the Community 

2. Governance Approach 

3. Reconnaissance of Resources 

4. Capacity Building through Training 

5. Established Indicators for Assessment and Evaluation 

6. Environmental Monitoring, Mitigation and Evaluation 

7. Capacity Building to Access External Funds for 

Community Project 

8. Developing Sustainable Livelihoods 

9. Capturing Lessons Learnt 

10. Broadcasting the Experience 

The mechanism by which the Model is to be implemented is by the 

use of a memorandum of understanding (MOU). The Secretariat 

for the Model would be the NEPA and the progress and use of the 

Model will be tracked and made available to all partner agencies 

as well as other interested parties. To date after the engagement 

of twelve (12) agencies, ten (10) have signed the MOU. 

Watershed Modeling in the Caribbean: Application of Geographic 

Information Systems in the Assessment and Management 

of Land-Based Sources of Marine Pollution by Marko 

Tosic 

Considerable documentation has been produced showing the 

degradation of marine environments caused by land-based 

sources (LBS) of pollution, the mitigation of which constitutes the 

mandate of the LBS Protocol of the Cartagena Convention. Effective 

management of these pollutants requires assessment of the 

various terrestrial sources of pollution and the overall loads of 

pollutants discharged to the marine environment. However, estimating 

pollutant loads may present a significant challenge without 

sufficient technical and financial resources, which is commonly the 

case in the Wider Caribbean Region (WCR). The application of 

geographic information systems (GIS) presents an efficient and 

cost-effective means for both managing an inventory of LBS of 

pollution and calculating estimates of effluent pollutant loads. GISbased 

watershed models allow users to predict the discharge of 

surface water runoff and the pollutants carried with it based on 

hydrological monitoring data and a GIS database of watershed 

characteristics. This paper reviews examples of watershed 

modeling done in the WCR and compares the models, data, and 

resources needed in the case of each example. This paper also 

presents the past and future GIS capacity building efforts of the 

Assessment and Management of Environmental Pollution (AMEP) 

Sub-Programme of the UNEP’s Caribbean Environment Programme 

and its GEF-funded Integrating Watershed and Coastal 

Areas Management in Caribbean Small Island Developing States 

(IWCAM) Project. 

Developing Integrated Water Resource Management in the 

Republic of Palau by Metiek Kimie Ngirchechol and Lynna Thomas 

Watershed management in the Republic of Palau has been constrained 

by the lack of effective mechanisms to integrate the diverse 

range of community interests in decision making. This is 

largely due to overlapping and fragmented efforts from numerous 

government agencies with responsibilities for land and water management. 

A burgeoning coastal tourism sector, overloaded wastewater 

and treatment infrastructure, and coastal water quality problems 

are driving demand for more streamlined delivery of water 

related services in Palau. This paper outlines initiatives to address 

this need through the adoption of Integrated Water Resources 

Management approaches in Palau which focus on “ridge to reef” 

and “community to cabinet” principles. The first step in this process 

has involved actions aimed at establishing effective crosssectorial 

collaboration at the national level, and the creation of 

efficient inter-linkages and feed back loops between national and 

community priorities and actions. These include the review and 

design of the policy and legal settings to facilitate 

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“horizontal” (inter-sectorial) and “vertical” (national-community governance) 

interactions and networking between stakeholders. It is 

envisaged that a National Apex Water Body will be established to 

carry out necessary institutional reforms and to reconcile both sectoral 

and national interests and priorities for water. 

These broader policy reforms are being complemented by a national 

IWRM demonstration project which focuses on sustainable water 

management using “ridge to reef” principles. This Global Environment 

Facility (GEF) funded initiative is aimed at restoring the 

Ngerikiil watershed to improve surface water quality. This demonstration 

project is designed to act as a catalyst for replication and 

scaling-up approaches to improve water resource management and 

to inform broader policy and legal reforms in Palau. 

National Water Information Systems: a Tool to Support Integrated 

Water Resources Management in the Caribbean by 

Trevor Thompson, Marie-Claire St-Jacques, Adrian Trotman, Andreas 

Haiduk, Catherine Senecal and Chandra A. Madramootoo 

National Water Information Systems (NWIS) are powerful tools to 

contribute to the strengthening of Integrated Water Resources Management 

(IWRM) in the Caribbean and to address the problems of 

compartmentalized data, lack of central storage, and limited access 

to data for decision-making in water management. This paper reviews 

the development process of the NWIS in two Caribbean countries, 

Jamaica and Grenada, outlines their main outcomes to date 

along with the challenges encountered and lessons learnt, and provides 

an overview of their potential for the wider Caribbean region. 

NWIS serve as the official repository for hydrologic, climate, land, 

watershed, infrastructure and water-related data. They are extremely 

powerful quantitative and qualitative tools which allow not 

only the archiving of data, but also display information in a very 

comprehensive and visual manner to give a snapshot of the water 

resources at any time and geographical scale. The Grenada NWIS 

has significantly expanded on the capabilities of the earlier Jamaican 

version through (i) the introduction of a user-friendly system 

administration interface that readily facilitates the inclusion of new 

parameters into the database and (ii) links to Google Earth imagery. 

Since their implementation, the systems have brought together data 

previously scattered across different agencies, providing timely information 

to decision-makers and planners freely and remotely 

through internet access. On a regional scale, the Grenada NWIS 

offers a starting point for the modernization and standardization of 

data management led by the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology 

and Hydrology (CIMH). 

Parallel Session 4 - Caribbean Sustainable 

Performance Contracting for Energy Services in the Caribbean 

Hotel Industry by Bill Meade 

Despite high energy costs and associated utility bills, Caribbean 

hotels have not invested in energy efficiency beyond low-cost, rapid 

payback period options. As new technologies become available, 

and governments are introducing policies to reduce their dependence 

on imported oil and greenhouse gas emissions, the Caribbean 

hotel industry is taking a harder look at investments in energy efficiency 

and renewable energy. 

At the same time, Caribbean hoteliers are facing financial challenges 

due to the soft leisure travel market. While investments in 

energy efficiency and renewable energy can yield attractive returns, 

there is skepticism of the advertised performance (e.g., energy 

savings) of new, imported technologies. Hoteliers are unlikely to 

pursue high capital cost and long payback period (greater than 2 

years) investments. 

Companies offering energy-efficiency related and other valueadded 

services under some form of performance contracting 

(ESCOs) offer Caribbean hoteliers an option for capitalizing on 

energy improvements (savings). The ESCO arranges the financing, 

and guarantees a level of performance, overcoming two major 

hurdles. This paper will review the opportunities and challenges 

facing ESCOs operating in the Caribbean hotel market. It will present 

the results of a ESCO industry survey conducted under the 

Caribbean Hotel Energy Efficiency Action (CHENACT) Program. 

Hydropower development in the Caribbean - Lessons learned 

from projects in St. Vincent and Dominica by Sven Homscheid 

In 2009 and early 2010 CREDP studied three hydropower projects 

in St. Vincent (two rehabilitations of existing plants and one new 

development) and one hydropower project in Dominica (new development 

at an existing pipeline). For all three projects feasibility 

studies including environmental and social impact assessments 

were carried out. The paper describes the approach taken towards 

the development, the projects, challenges encountered, lessons 

learned and technical details of the projects. The logical sequence 

of steps of the project development are described, including related 

studies that were needed beforehand or simultaneous to the feasibility 

studies. The outcomes of the feasibility studies are presented 

and discussed, and the suggested approach for further implementation 

is outlined. In the case of the three hydropower projects in St. 

Vincent, the electricity utility is the developer while in the case of 

the project in Dominica the water utility is the developer. The different 

project evaluation criteria resulting from the different nature of 

investors are described. All projects are intended to be implemented 

and the different tendering approaches are discussed. 

Project financing was identified as the major barrier and solutions 

are offered in this paper to overcome this problem. The issue of 

preparing investment opportunities in the hydropower sector in 

Caribbean territories and the role of governments and other players 

will also be addressed. 

Appropriate Technologies and Systems in Response to Climate 

Change Small Scale Wind and Photovoltaics Feasibility 

by Anthony Chen and Anthony Hill 

Alternative sources of non-hydrocarbon energy were first given 

serious consideration during the fuel crisis of the late 70’s. However 

support for research in this area declined as soon as the cost 

of oil declined in the 80’s. Renewed interest in alternative sources 

has been sparked by the fuel crisis of 2008 and sustained by the 


concerns of global warming. Alternative sources of energy are 

the major appropriate technologies and systems to respond to 

climate change. On the promises of these sources depends the 

much sought after global agreement to reduce GHG emissions to 

levels such that temperature rises would be limited to 1.5°C 

above pre-industrial levels. But these sources must compete 

economically with fossil fuel if the requisite investments are to be 

made in good time. The economic feasibility of two of the more 

readily available renewable energy sources, wind and photovoltaics, 

applied on a domestic scale to the situation in Jamaica will 

be explored. The methodology will involve the comparison of the 

present cost of producing energy using renewable energy 

sources compared with the cost of fossil fuel energy over the 

lifetime of the renewable energy source in terms of constant dollars. 

In areas of strong wind regimes, the use of wind is shown to 

be more economical than fossil fuel and photovoltaics. The prospects 

for photovoltaics are much improved when net metering is 

allowed. 

Trading Carbon Offsets - A Caribbean Tale by Chinyere 

Nwaogwugwu 

Carbon Trading is a relatively new instrument that can be used to 

encourage clean technologies in developing countries. Originating 

out of the determination to mitigate climate change world 

wide, the instrument has become a driving force for renewable 

energy development, design and usage. Developing nations 

such as India, Brazil and China are developing carbon emission 

offset projects in great numbers. This industry development has 

been a boon for these countries. However, currently, there are 

very few Caribbean entities involved in the field although those 

that have pioneered the instrument have met largely with success. 

The paper will begin with the history of carbon trading to present 

and will include the many ways that interested organizations can 

use the facility. The paper will highlight those in the Caribbean 

that have participated in the trading of carbon offsets and provide 

details on the projects developed and the mechanisms used. The 

challenges as well as the potential benefits for developers will be 

highlighted as well as the projects with the strongest potential in 

the Caribbean would be analyzed and discussed. A vision of a 

Caribbean that is clean and green driving core industries such as 

tourism and agriculture with carbon offset capital would also be 

outlined. Carbon trading has tremendous possibilities for the 

Caribbean and can be the catalyst to reduce fossil fuel consumption 

and drive renewable energy and energy efficient technologies 

in the region. Although there are few Caribbean organizations 

involved in carbon trading, lessons have been learned that 

can be shared to develop the industry for a sustainable future. 

Building a Local Solar Panel: Issues and Experiences by 

Anthony Coleman, Rayon Smith and Darron Fraser 

One of the constraints of the wide scale implementation of solar 

systems is its set up cost. Two of the most costly components of 

a solar system are the solar panels and the batteries. Presently 

the cost of a 50 watt panel is approximately US$400 without the 

cost of shipping and other duties. The cost of the panels for domestic 

use can run into thousands of dollars. 

The project pursued looks at the experience of assembling a 50 watt 

panel locally, using imported solar cells and other local material. It 

documents the problems and success achieved with assembling 

such a panel. The behavior of the local panel, when compared with 

an imported panel under similar conditions, shows similar performance. 

The behaviour, at different temperatures and different levels of 

solar insolation, is the same for both panels. The panel is much 

cheaper than imported version. The assembly of the local panel 

costs 40% of the cost of the imported version. The assembly of a 

panel is relatively simple for persons with electrical knowledge and 

can form the basis of a local industry 

A Cost Analysis of Photovoltaic Technologies under Jamaica’s 

Climatic Conditions by Darlene Field and Claude McNamarah 

Since the oil price spike of 2008, at least ten of the governments 

within the Commonwealth Caribbean have drafted new energy plans 

and policies to increase the percentage of renewable energy within 

their countries’ energy mix and help reduce their dependence on 

imported fossil fuels. Because of the relatively high irradiance of the 

region it is generally hoped that photovoltaic technologies will be 

able to make a significant contribution to reducing electricity costs. 

But that can only be realised when photovoltaics have at least met 

grid parity. 

Manufacturers are implementing various techniques and materials to 

reduce the price per kilowatt-hour delivered from photovoltaics. 

However their quoted specifications are that of performance parameters 

measured under STC of 25 o C, 1.5 Air Mass and irradiance of 

1000W/m 2 . These conditions are not realised during operation of the 

modules and since efficiency is known to be especially susceptible 

to increased temperatures, the energy delivered from a module must 

be measured under local conditions to determine proximity to grid 

parity. 

We measured the energy delivered from eight PV technologies under 

conditions in Jamaica. The modules were mounted south facing 

with elevation equal to the latitude (18 o ) and data of voltage, insolation, 

back of module temperature and ambient temperature were 

measured over a 4 month period. Interpolating into historic data was 

used to determine the amount of energy each module would deliver 

given the climatic condition over an entire year. Hence the technology 

that performed best i.e. the one with lowest price per delivered 

kilowatt-hour was determined. The proximity to grid parity, with reasonable 

cost estimates of the balance of the system included, was 

ascertained. Several scenarios for obtaining grid parity and hence 

making it cost effective for the Jamaican consumer to invest in PV 

were created. Payback times were determined in each case. 

More than Dollars and Cents: Why Renewable Energy has been 

Slow to Take-off in the Caribbean by David Ince and Harrie Vredenburg 

Renewable energy which includes solar, wind, hydro and geothermalhas 

for many years been considered as part of the answer to the 

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Caribbean’s sustainability problems. The potential of these technologies 

to reduce overall carbon dioxide emissions and associated 

climate change impacts has been a significant driver. From 

an economic standpoint, use of indigenous renewable energy 

sources can reduce foreign exchange in many countries where 

petroleum products make up a sizeable proportion of countries’ 

imports. In terms of energy security, a more diverse energy supply 

will reduce the overall vulnerability of the sector. 

There have been a number of initiatives by governments in the 

Caribbean as well as regional organizations to promote the use of 

renewable energy. However, although there have been some 

isolated success stories, progress in implementing renewable 

energy projects has been limited. It is clear that access to capital 

is a barrier to development, but aspects of organizational and 

institutional structure also constitute impediments. These more 

tacit variables tend to be ignored or dismissed in designing energy 

programs or formulating policy. 

This paper considers some of these organizational and institutional 

challenges posed to developing renewable energy technologies 

in the Caribbean. We investigate institutional aspects 

both from the perspective of the formal; which is defined by aspects 

such as legislation, regulation and written policies; and the 

informal created by norms, local culture and the impact of individual 

champions or entrepreneurs. 

In determining the best way for policy and organizational sector 

arrangements to be set up at regional and national levels, we 

apply aspects of institutional theory. 

The data for this study was collected via analysis of government 

and electricity utility documents, participant observation and exploratory 

semi- structured interviews with officials in Caribbean 

states. 

Feed-in-tariffs (FiT) – An attractive renewable energy policy 

support mechanism for the Caribbean by Duane Rowe 

Feed-in-tariff schemes (FiTs) are applied extensively over the 

world – particularly in Europe – and have in general achieved 

significant success (most notable in Germany and Spain) – 

though the level of success, which depends on the particular 

design of the FiT and other exogenous factors, varies widely. 

A well designed FiT can provide an effective policy framework 

that delivers transparent and long term certainty to investors 

which, consequently, would spur investments in renewable electricity 

(RES-E) generation. In addition, practice has shown welldesigned 

FiTs to be superior to other renewable energy incentive 

schemes in terms of effectiveness and cost-efficiency. In other 

words, FiTs have been demonstrated to achieve larger deployment 

at lower costs. 

Based on the foregoing, the author is proposing that FiTs be seriously 

examined as an attractive policy incentive scheme for adaptation 

in the Caribbean. In the presentation, the author will: establish 

the key objectives of any renewable energy incentive 

scheme; establish the key characteristics of successful FiTs and 

outline their comparative benefits to other RES-E support mechanisms; 

examine the key design features of FiTs; and show how the 

particular design of FiTs can affect their effectiveness. In delivering 

the presentation, the author will use case studies of five countries 

(including Germany and Spain) to present his arguments and will 

draw on his experience of establishing the qualitative design framework 

for the feed-in-tariff scheme that was recently instituted in Great 

Britain. 

Renewable Energy Development on Nevis - Lessons Learned by 

Ernie Stapleton 

The Nevis Island Administration (NIA) signed a Wind Resource Contract 

with Windwatt Inc., a locally established or incorporated company. 

In addition the Nevis Electricity Company (Nevlec) also signed 

a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). These agreements were executed 

in July 2009. The objectives are that the company will develop 

a wind farm with a capacity of 2.2 MW on government leased land 

and supply 1.1 MW of wind energy to the Nevlec grid. Currently eight 

(8) 275 KWh wind turbines are being constructed at the selected site 

on the island of Nevis with commissioning expected by July 2010. 

In April 2009 the NIA signed a Geothermal Resource Contract with 

WIP for the production of geothermal power for the island of Nevis. 

On the same date Nevlec also signed a PPA with WIP to supply 10 

MW power to the company. WIP has to prove that it can produce an 

economically developable resource by the end of December 2010. 

However because of several setbacks including securing finance, 

WIP requested an extension and was given until 30 June 2011 to 

produce electricity and to obtain the necessary concessions from the 

government. Hence the focus of the project now is to supply Nevis 

with 10 MW and St. Kitts with 30 MW thereafter. 

The threats to the islands from climate change, the uncertainty in the 

movement in the price of oil, the need for energy independence, energy 

security, and the need to diversify the economy and seek other 

economic/development opportunities are all factors which should 

cause all governments to remain focused and steadfast in the quest 

to develop and implement renewable energy projects and sustainable 

development in general. The paper will explore lessons learned from 

these initiatives. 

Policy achievements and perspectives for RE electricity generation 

in the Caribbean by Detlef Loy 

Electricity Generation from Renewable Energy Sources has received 

growing attention in the Caribbean in recent years, due to the high 

dependency on oil imports, rising petroleum prices with subsequent 

consequences for electricity tariffs at consumer level and a continuously 

more competitive RE cost regime, in particular for technologies 

using wind and solar energy. This process has been accompanied in 

various countries by new national strategies and targets for the use of 

RE, including changes within the legal and regulatory framework that 

open the power generation market for new innovative players and 

investors. 

The presentation will report on how island states such as Jamaica, 

Dominica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia and Grenada 

have dealt so far with replacing the traditional fossil-fuel based elec- 

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tricity generation by RE based power production, using political 

mechanisms and various incentives to achieve such targets. It 

will further be highlighted and explained which barriers still set 

limitations to a faster and substantial expansion of RE electricity 

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and how political, financial, technical and administrative hurdles 

can be overcome, in particular in countries with small power 

markets and limited experiences with intermittent energy 

sources. The Caribbean examples will be compared with the 

success (and failure) of political measures and instruments that 

have been put in place in other developing and emerging countries, 

such as setting of quota systems, introducing long-term 

feed-in tariffs and using net-metering for small-scale auto-supply 

from RE sources. 

The presentation will further present perspectives on how the 

electricity supply in the Caribbean could be increasingly made 

independent from fossil fuels, while the importance of RE 

sources will continuously grow. 

Solar Cooling, 5 Years of Caribbean Project Development 

and Lessons Learned by Maikel Oerbekke 

The Caribbean region has been identified by SOLID GmbH, a 

Solar Technology Company, as one of the world’s most important 

markets for solar cooling and industrial process heating 

because of high energy prices and excellent year round solar 

yield. For the past 5 years SOLID with the help of local representation 

has been developing projects in Jamaica and the other 

Caribbean countries and has identified many projects with exceptional 

applications and payback time. In spite of that SOLID 

has not implemented a single project in the region. 

This presentation examines stumbling blocks to project implementation 

and identifies how other export markets for SOLID 

across the world overcame these stumbling blocks. The presentation 

will detail the emotional and investment climate in the Caribbean, 

the lack of supportive legislation and proper incentives 

needed to properly kick start the investment into renewable energy 

systems. The power of the politicians in the region to drive 

or stop RE development will be explored, by comparing different 

achievements in various countries. The presentation will analyse 

the need for the right type of financing and look at the role that 

international donor agencies play to create, for example, lighthouse 

projects and to stimulate the development and usage of 

energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions. Last but not 

least the presentation will analyse what will happen if the region 

does not adopt the proper usage of RE and keeps on being dependent 

on fossil fuels. 

Welectricity. Energy Efficiency, meets Social Networking : 

A new approach to household energy efficiency by Herbert A 

Samuel 

We present Welectricity, an online social network for household 

energy efficiency. Households consume a large proportion of 

total electricity in Latin America and the Caribbean – in some 

countries as much as 60 percent – and a growing body of research 

suggests that a significant proportion of the electricity 

consumed in households is due to behavior. It is also observed 

that despite remarkable improvements in the energy efficiency of the 

devices and appliances we use, a commensurate reduction in our 

energy consumption has not occurred. This apparent paradox is due 

to the rebound effect; a behavioral response to a reduction in the cost 

of an energy service due to efficiency improvements. 

Welectricity is a free, web-based application which harnesses the 

behavioral factors that influence the outcomes of energy conservation 

efforts in households. Users sign up online, create profiles that relate 

to their household energy consumption and can compare their own 

electricity consumption data with that of similar users, all within a customised 

social networking environment. By so doing, users are exposed 

to the energy conservation influence factors information, feedback, 

goal-setting and social proof, which together offset the rebound 

effect and promote positive energy conservation outcomes. 

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Energy Efficiency Study of Government 

Buildings by Leonard Deane 

St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) is a multi-island state comprising 

the main island of St. Vincent and seven smaller inhabited islands 

with about 30 uninhabited islets and cays constituting the Grenadines. 

SVG is heavily dependent on imported petroleum products for electricity 

generation, transportation, and other energy requirements. SVG 

has an energy mix with more than 96% petroleum base and about 3% 

hydro power. All islands except St. Vincent depend entirely on diesel 

generation for their electricity supply. The high cost of fossil fuels on 

the world market has resulted in high prices for electricity in SVG. The 

cost of this fuel is passed on to all electricity consumers in the form of 

a fuel surcharge. Based on this trend in electricity rates, Government/ 

Public buildings consumed an estimated US $4M in electric energy 

per annum. In 2008, the energy bill soared to over US $5M. 

As a consequence, the Government spends large amounts of money 

on energy for buildings/offices to house its various agencies and ministries. 

These public institutions have a particular responsibility therefore 

to use the least amount of energy and reduce spending for energy 

to the lowest possible level. 

The Government has therefore embarked on a comprehensive energy 

study of the Country’s highest energy consuming Government buildings 

to effectively analyze the manner in which energy is used in its 

buildings/institutions and evaluate the cost effectiveness of implementing 

suitable energy saving and renewable energy technologies, 

along with improving end-user behaviour attitudes. 

To this end, the Government of SVG, with funding from the European 

Union’s Special Framework of Assistance (SFA) 2006, commissioned 

an Energy Efficiency Study of seventy-five public buildings throughout 

the State. The main purpose of this energy study, among other things, 

is to demonstrate the benefits of energy-saving technologies and 

practices in the Government buildings. The study will also examine 

the suitability of each building for incorporating energy supplies from 

renewable energy sources such as solar photovoltaic and thermal, 

and possibly small wind regimes. 


Parallel Session 5 - Water Resources and 

Doubts about Droughts? Elements of a Suitable National 

Drought Policy for Trinidad and Tobago by Jason Alexander 

A historical review of the occurrences of droughts in the Caribbean 

Region would yield country examples such as Haiti, Cuba 

and Jamaica (EM-DAT Database). However, for the period ending 

the last quarter of 2009 to the first quarter of 2010, Trinidad and 

Tobago and many other islands of the Caribbean Basin (including 

Barbados, St. Lucia and Guyana) have been characterised with 

what appears to be serious drought-like conditions. 

Although Trinidad and Tobago has never had a drought of the 

magnitude to be considered a natural disaster, the above conditions 

now mandate the need for a National Drought Policy that 

forms part of the country’s overall disaster risk reduction strategy. 

This paper provides a historical overview of drought conditions in 

the Caribbean and examines the incidence of these and other 

natural disasters as they relate to Trinidad and Tobago. Additionally, 

a review of (1) the literature on the socio-economic impacts of 

droughts; (2) selected drought-prone country case studies; and (3) 

suitable elements of the national drought policies of a few countries 

is undertaken herein. The main objective of the paper is to 

use the aforementioned as a framework to inform the establishment 

of an appropriate National Drought Policy for the twinislands 

of Trinidad and Tobago. 

Phytoplankton as biological quality element in the monitoring 

program of Cienfuegos Bay, Cuba by Ángel R. Moreira González, 

Mabel Seisdedo Losa, Alain Muñoz Caravaca, Carlos M. 

Alonso Hernández, Augusto Comas González 

Data on phytoplankton composition, abundance and biomass in 

Cienfuegos Bay in Cuba were collected during 2009 at sixteen 

representative stations within the bay. Phytoplankton samples 

were collected every three months including samples from subsurface 

water and benthic macroalgal turfs. Physico-chemical data 

were also gathered and analysed with respect to the diversity and 

abundance of phytoplankton collected. 

In general, based on the analysis of plankton chlorophyll a concentration, 

dissolved oxygen and phytoplankton composition, 

eutrophication and harmful algal blooms appeared be of minimal 

significance within Cienfuegos Bay. However high chlorophyll a, 

toxic blooms and large biomass of epiphytic macroalgae were 

encountered within urban wastewater discharge zones especially 

during the late dry period and early rainy period, when the flushing 

potential was low and when water temperature started increasing 

in the ecosystem. Blooms of toxic dinoflagellates observed in 

these zones were linked to a small fish kill episode. 

Additionally, moderate abundance of potentially ciguatotoxic and 

ichthyotoxic epibenthic microalgae were registered on blooms of 

filamentous macroalgae. Twenty-six species known to be toxic 

and/or harmful belonging to the genera Gymnodinium, Alexandrium, 

Dinophysis, Prorocentrum, Ostreopsis, Heterocapsa, Am- 

phidinium, Cochlodinium, Gonyaulax, Pseudo-nitzschia, Microcystis, 

Oscillatoria, Anabaena, Pseudoanabaena, Planktothrix and Lyngbya 

were identified in the bay. During the rainy season, higher chlorophyll 

a concentration in spatial coverage was registered, corresponding 

with a medium level of eutrophic conditions. In this period, an increase 

of phytoplankton species richness was observed and potentially toxic 

species were replaced by beneficial diatoms. 

Beach access rights and justice – a case for equity considerations 

in resource allocation by Anthony McKenzie 

The enjoyment of the beach and beach facilities is an integral part of 

the life of the inhabitants of a small island like Jamaica. The steady 

withdrawal of these facilities due to developmental activities can make 

an unwholesome contribution to social disaffection which could easily 

be expressed in anti social behavior. 

In many of the islands once under British control as is the case in 

Jamaica, private ownership of coastal lands extends to the high water 

mark. And while there is no legislative definition of a beach in Jamaican 

Law, by virtue of the Beach Control Act (1956), the foreshore and 

the floor of the sea is vested in the crown. 

In an effort to address to the various competing demands of bathing, 

fishing and resort development, the government of Jamaica embarked 

on a policy of issuing licenses to beach property owners. While the 

intention of this approach at the time was considered reasonable the 

experience over the last fifty (50) years has demonstrated that increasingly, 

large tracts of beach lands are being licensed for commercial 

use with less being made available for public access and use. 

A survey instrument administered to three hundred and twenty nine 

(329) beach goers at twenty four (24) public beaches across the island 

during the period November 2008 to April 2009 provides empirical 

data on beach access and availability. The information generation 

has provided the basis for the drafting of policy recommendations that 

should serve to balance public and private interests in beach resource 

allocation. 

Development of a Watershed Management Plan for the Demerara 

Sub-Watershed in Guyana by Paulette Bynoe and Jacob Opadeyi 

The need for Watershed Management Plans in Guyana is derived 

from two principal factors: global climate change threats to water security; 

and conflicting objectives of various land-uses which already 

exist within the watershed: for example, mining, tourism and logging. 

Thus, a Watershed Management Plan provides a comprehensive plan 

for protecting and improving the watershed conditions of the delineated 

area, while recognising the importance of involving stakeholders. 

The purpose of this paper is to present a Watershed Management 

Plan for a pilot study area in the Demerara Sub-Watershed in Guyana. 

The process of developing the Plan comprised several inter-related 

steps, including a situational analysis of the institutional framework for 

water resources and watershed management in Guyana; a computer 

aided assessment of the water quantity and water quality of Demerara 

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sub-watershed, and stakeholders’ engagement by means of 

interviews and workshops. Specifically, the paper will address 

the following components of the Plan: 

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• The Institutional Framework for Water Resources and Watershed 

Management in Guyana; 

• Current watershed conditions; 

• Watershed improvement goals and objectives; 

• Strategies, actions and priority areas to improve conditions 

in the watershed and; 

• A Watershed Management System. 

The paper will conclude with recommendations for creating the 

enabling framework to guarantee successful implementation of 

the Watershed Management Plan. 

Quantitative Assessment of the Impact of Landuse on the 

Biophysical Characteristics of Demerara Sub-Watershed in 

Guyana by Jacob Opadeyi and Paulette Bynoe 

Land degradation in Guyana has been increasingly occurring 

and the potential exists for it to expand. Change in land use 

has been due to a rapid upsurge in economic activities over the 

last ten years, in particular the sectors of forestry, mining, agriculture 

with the expansion in state land leases for agriculture 

and commercial activities. Guyana’s principal vulnerabilities 

stem from the low-lying nature of its populated seacoast which 

makes it vulnerable to flooding from sea level rise, intense precipitation 

and breaches of the sea defences. 

This paper provides an assessment of the Demerara Subwatershed 

with specific reference to the physical and ecological 

setting of the watershed and the effects of land use practices 

and other human influences over time. The assessment of the 

Demerara sub-watershed and its basins was undertaken using 

the SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) model developed 

by the Agricultural Research Service and the Texas Agricultural 

Experiment Station, in Temple, Texas. In particular, the 

AVSWAT-2000 an ArcView extension with a graphical user 

interface for the SWAT was used. SWAT is a river basin, or 

watershed, scale model developed to predict the impact of land 

management practices on water, sediment, and agricultural 

chemical yields in large, complex watersheds with varying soils, 

land use, and management conditions over long periods. The 

model is physically based and computationally efficient, uses 

readily available inputs, and enables users to study long-term 

impacts. 

The following parameters for the sub-watershed were quantified: 

Water Percolation, Water Yield, Sediment Yield, Sediment 

Flow, Organic Nitrogen, Organic Phosphorus, and Nitrate Flow. 

The assessment of the water quantity and water quality of Demerara 

sub-watershed has produced some very interesting results 

as detailed in the paper. Whereas the majority of the watershed 

has very little human interaction, the significant sediment 

flow in some of the watershed should be of concern. 

The results of this assessment were used to develop a Watershed 

Management Plan for the Demerara sub watershed, management 

goals, targets and action plans. 

An investigation into the feasibility of using SWAT at the subbasin 

level for simulating hydrologic conditions in Jamaica by 

Johanna Richards and Chandra A. Madramootoo 

The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (ArcSWAT 2005) was used in 

order to simulate the hydrological characteristics of the Rio-Nuevo 

sub-basin, located in the parish of St. Mary, Jamaica. Historical climatic 

data (precipitation and temperature) were obtained for the 

watershed, while streamflow data were obtained from the Rio 

Nuevo, which drains the watershed. The model was calibrated over 

the period 2002-2004, and validated from the period 2005-2007. 

Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) coefficients of performance of 0.8 

and 0.5 were obtained for calibration and validation respectively for 

streamflow. It has been determined that SWAT can effectively be 

used to simulate surface water hydrology in this region, and there is 

much potential for further use of SWAT for both surface water and 

water quality modelling throughout the rest of Jamaica. This paper 

outlines the development of SWAT for the Rio Nuevo watershed, 

and describes the potential for use in the wider Jamaican context for 

use in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). 

The Development of the SPI and NDVI for 3 study sites in Jamaica, 

with an investigation into their use in understanding soil 

water during water stressed conditions in Jamaica by Johanna 

Richards, Chandra A. Madramootoo, Adrian Trotman 

Agricultural production is an important contributor to the Jamaican 

economy. However, drought is a serious issue in Jamaica, with the 

potential to cause millions of dollars in crop losses. In fact, there 

were crop losses amounting to 6 million USD in the 1999/2000 

drought. Therefore, drought index information is essential to the 

better planning for drought impacts and will allow for the introduction 

of mitigation measures by the agricultural sector. The objective of 

this paper is therefore to describe the suitability of both the Standardized 

Precipitation Index (SPI), as well as the Normalized Difference 

Vegetative Index (NDVI), in reflecting water stressed conditions 

for three agricultural areas in Jamaica. The SPI was developed for 

different time scales, and then correlated to monthly soil water. Depending 

on location, either the 1 or 3 month SPI was found to be 

more representative of soil water conditions. The NDVI however, 

does not provide a suitable representation of soil water for any of the 

areas studied. As such, this paper provides soil water values for 

different categories/values of the SPI, for use in future drought management 

within the island. 

Sustainable freshwater management and public perception: The 

case of Barbados by Kwame Emmanuel 

Barbados is a small, densely populated, upper-middle income country 

characterized as ‘absolute water scarce’. Mismanagement of the 

low freshwater availability has implications for the sustainable development 

of the country. Globally, water shortage crises are primarily 

influenced by social factors such as bad policies and poor govern- 


ance at the macro (government) and micro (household/ 

community) levels. Human ingenuity is therefore key to achieving 

sustainable freshwater management. This paper examines the 

public’s perception of freshwater availability and management by 

analysing household survey responses of two hundred households 

across five parishes. Social themes include, but are not 

limited to, disconnection of public perception, and differences in 

sex and perception. The paper also presents recommendations 

for sustainable freshwater management taking into consideration 

social adaptive capacity. 

Public awareness process through non-formal environmental 

education in coastal communities. Experiences from 

a demonstrative area in Cuba, as a part of GEF-IWCAM Caribbean 

Regional Project by María E. Castellanos Gonzále, 

Ángel R. León Pérez, Clara E. Miranda Vera, Ángel Moreira 

González 

This paper showcases an informal environmental education approach 

for Integrated Watershed and Coastal Area Management 

(IWCAM) utilizing a Social Approach to Science and Technology, 

as a pathway to increase public awareness within the Castillo 

Coastal Community. This community is a demonstration area of 

the GEF-IWCAM Caribbean Regional Project, located in Cienfuegos, 

Cuba. The development of this work was based on a social 

network study and an integrated and participatory environmental 

diagnosis. One of the highlights under this environmental education 

initiative was the development of a Community Environmental 

Education Information Room (IREEC). From this room, a 

number of activities have been developed for various community 

institutions, but one of the most noteworthy has been the linkage 

with the Primary school “Paco Martell”. Children attending Paco 

Martell have been engaged in 5 orientation groups on environmental 

issues related to watersheds and coastal areas. The children’s 

uptake of scientific knowledge was evaluated in a community 

scientific exposition, the community in turn generating substantial 

social motivation for scientific knowledge. Overall this 

study highlights a number of lessons learnt and a suitable methodology 

to take science to the community which can be replicated 

in other IWCAM initiatives. 

The Impact of the Present Drought on NWC Water Supply 

Services to Kingston and St. Andrew by Mark Barnett 

Water is life, however between May 2009 and present Jamaica 

was starved of the precious commodity. There was a significant 

reduction in rainfall intensity island wide especially along the 

southern sections of eastern parishes (St. Thomas, Kingston, St. 

Andrew, St. Catherine and Clarendon). The National Water Commission 

(NWC), the state entity charged with the responsibility to 

provide water and sewerage services was seriously challenged to 

adequately supply customers daily with reliable potable water. 

To this end the NWC had to implement drastic measures such as 

supply restrictions to communities in order to ensure that the 

limited stored capacity was not completely depleted. Such austere 

measures had and continue to have serious social, health, 

financial and economic implications for the NWC but more importantly 

on Jamaica as a whole. 

This paper evaluates and discusses the impact of the drought experienced, 

and the lessons learnt in charting a path forward that could 

guide the process of securing the water supply needs of Kingston in 

particular, but more importantly the country on a whole. A discussion 

is also presented on an appropriate institutional arrangement, environmental 

and social implications, and the economic and financial 

feasibility of reusing treated wastewater effluent as a water resource. 

Protecting aquatic interfaces: riparian conservation, 

restoration and buffer width recommendations 

for rivers in Trinidad by Natalie Boodram 

Riparian zones are transitional areas between terrestrial and freshwater 

systems. They include riverbanks and shores of ponds and lakes. 

Along riverbanks, riparian zones extend from the water’s edge to the 

areas landward that either experience flooding or have elevated soil 

water levels. Riparian zones have high levels of plant productivity and 

biodiversity and are important habitats and corridors for animals. Riparian 

plant roots trap sediment and pollutants and take up nutrients 

from surface and groundwater filtering into the associated watercourse. 

In so doing, riparian plants buffer the water quality of adjacent 

watercourses. Riparian plant buffers are often created for water quality 

protection especially at sites used for recreation and water abstraction. 

Baseline data on riparian zone vegetation and environmental parameters 

were collected along 12 rivers in Trinidad, at sites selected to 

reflect the variations in rainfall, geomorphology and land use in Trinidad. 

Cluster analysis and Spearman rank correlations were used to 

delineate riparian vegetation groups and identify the most significant 

determinants of riparian vegetation groups. Sites clustered into the 

following broad vegetation groups: Northern Range Forest, Southern 

Forest, Agricultural Vegetation, Abandoned Estate/Secondary Vegetation, 

Weedy Vegetation and Bamboo Dominated Vegetation. The 

best predictors of riparian vegetation groups included anthropogenic 

variables like the degree of upland and riparian zone soil modification, 

fire, channel modification, distance from paved roads, land ownership 

and pollution. Sites within forests and abandoned agricultural estates 

were recommended for conservation. Sites with limited human disturbance 

especially limited fire disturbance were recommended for restoration. 

Overall, the study recommends a 30m riparian buffer width 

along rivers in Trinidad. 

EcoEconomics and Management Effectiveness of Marine Parks 

and Environs in the Caribbean by Richard M. Huber 

Coral reefs are sometimes referred to as “canaries of the sea” because 

of their early warning ability to forecast near-shore oceanic 

stress. Because of their biological diversity, they are also called 

“rainforests of the sea”. Coral reefs are vital to the well being of millions 

of people. Tropical marine and coral reef ecosystems, including 

mangroves and sea grasses, are vulnerable environmental resources 

that provide significant economic goods and services. The health of 

these resources is critical to human well-being. By accounting for 

coastal marine and coral reef ecosystem economic values in manage- 

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ment decisions, Small Island Developing States (SIDS) can sustain 

their flow of goods and services in the interest of current and future 

generations. Caribbean Countries have requested technical assistance 

from the GS/OAS to achieve the commitments laid out in the 

WSSD Plan of Implementation and the CBD targets. http:// 

www.oas.org/dsd/Events/english/08.03.10.htm 

ReefFix is a valuation of ecosystem services program to assess tourism, 

fisheries, and spatial analysis of ecosystem service values. Using 

economic ecosystem valuation, the ReefFix methodology was 

applied to 9 case study sites in the Caribbean and followed up by a 

participatory workshop. http://www.oas.org/dsd/ IABIN/Component1/ 

ReefFix/ReefFix.htm 

Two methodologies developed by the World Resources Institute for 

tourism and fisheries data and a third methodology using site-specific 

land cover data (using benefits transfer economic valuation studies) 

to assign estimates of ecosystem service values to each ecosystem 

type, e.g. coral reef, mangrove, or freshwater swamp were compiled 

for each of the 9 case study sites. 

Recommendations made by the marine park experts included: 

• Encourage a unified collaborative on-line Caribbean-wide database 

of ecosystem goods and services values and economic 

benefits derived from ecosystem services like the IABIN management 

effectiveness database that will help in reporting to 

CBD, the Millennium Development Goals, the World Parks Congress, 

and the Grenada Declaration. 

• Explore partnerships to help finance the policy reform, institutional 

arrangements, and sustainable financing agenda required 

to implement ICZM and create governance through comanagement. 

• Invest in creating sustainable alternative livelihoods and social 

protection for those affected by reallocation of use rights. 

• Expand biological corridors and biodiversity conservationoriented 

MPAs to meet “representative system” targets. 

• Scale up community-based resource reserves to mainstream 

biodiversity protection in the production landscape. 

Parallel Session 6 - Environmental Health 

Pipe Service Age Effect on Water Quality in Drinking-Water 

Transmission and Distribution Systems by A. O. Al-Jasser & S. 

Mogren 

Chlorination of water beyond the treatment plant is required for 

maintaining acceptable quality of water transported in the transmission 

and distribution system. While flowing through pipes, the 

chlorine concentration decreases for different reasons. Reaction 

with the pipe material itself and the reaction with both the biofilm 

and tubercles formed on the pipe wall are known as pipe wall demand. 

This varies with pipe parameters. 


The aim of this paper was to assess the impact of the service age of 

pipes on the chlorine wall decay constant. One hundred and fifty 

three pipe sections of different sizes and four different pipe materials 

were collected and tested for their chlorine first-order wall decay 

constants. The results showed that pipe service age was an important 

factor that must not be ignored. For the range of the 55 years of 

pipe service age used in this study, the change in the wall decay 

ranged from 8% to 531% of the corresponding values in the recently 

installed pipes. The effect of service age on the wall decay constants 

was most evident in steel pipes. Other important findings were 

reached. 

Development of the St. Lucia Recreational Water Quality Standards 

by Alexandra DuBoulay 

The importance of establishment of recreational water quality standards 

is against the backdrop of increasing threats to the coastal 

environment largely through land-based sources of marine pollution. 

The threat from pollution has significant implications not only to the 

health and well-being of the citizens of Saint Lucia but serves to 

degrade the tourism product, which is the primary economic driver of 

the country. Based on the findings and consultative process in this 

study it was recommended that ‘Guidelines’ be developed that 

should be translated into a more ‘prescriptive’ Standard. The development 

of the guidelines for recreational water quality for St. Lucia 

involved various components including public sensitization activities, 

technical consultations, field visits, meetings with resource personnel, 

public and institutional perception surveys and literature reviews. 

To inform the development of the guideline, local stakeholder input 

was solicited. This was done on two levels: (1) through national 

consultations when a series of four events were hosted in which 

participants were sensitized on the initiative, who in turn offered 

suggestions on what the components of the guidelines should 

include, and (2) through island-wide surveys of individuals and businesses/institutions 

to obtain inputs on perceptions associated with 

the definition, use and management of recreational waters. A monitoring 

framework is also proposed as part of the guidelines. The 

guideline presented in this study is intended to be used as the basis 

for the actual development of the standard. It is recommended that 

the process be channelled through the national standards-setting 

body, the St. Lucia Bureau of Standards. It is recommended that the 

legislative provisions of relevant front-line agencies incorporate references 

to the recreational water quality standard so as to expand 

institutional support to ensure compliance to the standard. The 

guideline document developed by CEHI can be used to ensure that 

recreational water in St. Lucia meets the desired quality. 

Connections between Land Use Changes and Water Quality in a 

Subtropical Urban Coastal Watershed in Florida, USA by Gurpal 

S. Toor 

Eutrophication is a broad term used to describe enhanced phytoplankton 

growth in water bodies that receive excess nutrients such 

as nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) from various land uses in a watershed. 

In the US and elsewhere, eutrophication is one of the 

greatest threats to the coastal economies and health of the estuaries. 

Further, the impact of land use changes on water quality especially 

in coastal tropical and subtropical areas is of immense interest. 

This interest stems from dependence of coastal economies on open 

water for fisheries and recreational purposes. In rapidly developing 

coastal urban communities such as those in the Caribbean and Florida, 

solutions that are protective of water quality while allowing future 

development are urgently needed. Unfortunately, most land use 

modification decisions lack scientific rigor which further complicates 

the impact of such changes on water quality of receiving water 

bodies. 

Recent research has suggested that controls on both N and P transport 

from land to water might be needed to control eutrophication in 

freshwater-marine continuum. Therefore, the inputs of N and P are 

greater in human dominated land uses (agricultural and urban) as 

compared to relatively undeveloped land areas such as natural forests. 

The nutrient sources can be divided into “point sources” such 

as wastewater and industrial effluents and “non-point sources” such 

as runoff and leaching from urban and agricultural areas. Non-point 

source pollution is dominant in most of the watersheds in the US and 

elsewhere. Urban storm water runoff is the major contributor of 

nutrients to coastal water bodies in developed and rapidly developing 

regions. 

Florida is one of the rapidly developing states in the US and has 

serious water quality problems such as eutrophication of coastal 

waters. Therefore, it is important to assess the impact of anthropogenic 

activities on water quality of coastal waters. This presentation 

will discuss how the land use changes in an urban coastal area, the 

Alafia River Watershed (drainage area: 1085 km 2 ) that drains into 

the Tampa Bay estuary, has impacted the water quality. This watershed 

represents a typical urbanizing watershed in the region with a 

diverse mix of urban, agricultural, and mixed land uses. The presentation 

will specifically address how the different land uses have 

impacted losses of various organic and inorganic forms of N and P 

from 1991 to 2009. 

The presentation will conclude with an optimized water quality monitoring 

approach and synthesis of best management practices that 

rapidly urbanizing communities in Florida and Caribbean countries 

can use to assess the impacts of land use changes on water quality 

and protect their valuable water resources. 

Assessing exposure to Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in 

the Caribbean by Martin Forde and Eric Dewailly 

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have become widespread in 

the environment and are now widely recognized as a global contamination 

problem. Although mapping of the scope and scale of POPs 

contamination has begun in most developed countries and is ongoing, 

to date, there has been a lack of information concerning the 

sources, fates, and effects of these highly toxic, bio-accumulative, 

persistent chemicals within the Caribbean region. 

This lack of information is particularly troubling since it is well known 

that many POP chemicals have been extensively used within this 

region for agriculture and vector control purposes over several decades. 

Since the half-lives of many POPs can be measured in decades, 

it is plausible that significant POP chemical concentrations 

may still be present in the Caribbean environment which continue to 

serve as major causes of contamination to the region’s food and 

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water supplies. There is thus a pressing need to monitor over 

several years the concentrations of POPs in the Caribbean population 

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Starting in 2007, using funding obtained under the Caribbean Eco- 

Health Program (CEHP)—a four-year CAD$1.6 million grant to 

develop a research and capacity building program—a research 

project entitled Human Monitoring of Exposure to Persistent 

Organic Pollutants (POPs), Pesticides, Metals and Zoonoses was 

initiated. The goals of the study are primarily threefold: (1) determine 

the body burden of POPs, heavy metals (mercury, lead) and 

specific zoonoses in maternal blood among citizens of those living 

in each CARICOM member state; (2) allow and facilitate all CARI- 

COM Caribbean states to gain and develop the capacity and capability 

to determine human exposure to these pollutants and 

organisms; and (3) enhance the expertise of laboratory technicians 

within each CARICOM island and the Caribbean region in general. 

A key outcome objective of this study is to provide policy makers 

within the Caribbean region with baseline data that are needed in 

order to develop appropriate safety guidelines and effective monitoring 

programs relative to management of heavy metals, pesticides, 

and POPs within the region. 

This research is the first to undertake a systematic approach 

geared at determining levels of human exposure to POPs (and 

related contaminants) in the CARICOM region. As such, the study 

addressed key priorities for the Caribbean region as outlined by the 

UNEP in its report from the UNEP Regional Workshop on the Reduction/Elimination 

and Management of Pesticides in the Context 

of the Stockholm Convention on POPs and the Basel Convention 

on the Control of Trans-boundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes 

and their disposal. In particular, it contributes to strengthening human 

resources in the region, building laboratory capacity, and increasing 

public, industry and governmental awareness, participation 

and risk communication in the region. It also fills a gap in current 

research and will be of significant value for both policy-making 

and for raising public awareness about this important issue in the 

region. It will also help raise awareness of the Stockholm Convention 

among health professionals. 

Infrastructure Rehabilitation in the U.S. Virgin Islands by May 

Cornwall 

The United States Virgin Islands is a group of islands in the Caribbean 

that are an insular area of the United States. The total land 

area of the territory is 133.73 square miles (346.4 km 2 ). As of the 

2000 census, the population was 108,612. 

Prior to the 1970’s, wastewater was collected in the major cities of 

Christiansted (C’sted) and Frederiksted (F’sted) on St. Croix and 

Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas and discharged to the ocean with 

little or no treatment. During the 1970’s a massive program was 

completed under the Clean Water Act to bring secondary treatment 

and discharge to long ocean outfalls to the major population centers 

of the two main islands of St. Croix and St. Thomas. While the 

system has worked well, extremely high levels of hydrogen sulfide 

gas have caused major deterioration in the sewer lines, manholes 

and pumping stations. In 2006, maintenance of the sewer system 

was placed in the hands of a new Waste Management Authority. 

Since that time, Hoyle, Tanner & Associates, Inc., has been working 

closely as a third arm of the Authority to oversee O&M training, 

cleaning, televising and evaluating the lines, prioritizing and developing 

rehabilitation and replacement techniques, holding workshops 

with mainland U.S.A. contractors and overseeing the repairs. 

This presentation will deal with the unique problems experienced by 

the Authority and their engineer due to the nature of the high strength 

wastewater, the remoteness and extreme topography of these volcanic 

islands, the economy which depends heavily on tourism and 

thus clean beaches and water, the difficulties of meeting EPA’s National 

Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) requirements 

which were not developed with small islands in mind, the lack of specialized 

local engineers and contractors with rehabilitation equipment 

and know how and of course the high costs resulting from all of the 

above. 

This presentation will explain how the WMA and their engineer have 

worked closely using both local resources and bringing in the 

mainland expertise to develop an asset management program, categorize 

and rate problem areas, and use trenchless technology to 

bring their 1970 wastewater system into the 21 st century and 

preserve the pristine beaches and coral seas well into the future. 

HosPilot - Intelligent Energy Efficiency Control in Hospitals by 

Nebojsa Kieskovic 

HosPilot is a project which is focused on energy efficiency in hospitals. 

It is initiated by EU (contract no. 238933) and it involves 11 

partners (of which 3 hospitals) from 5 European countries 

(Netherlands, Spain, Finland, France and Monaco). 

The main goal of the project is to develop a methodology for creating 

energy efficient hospitals. The HosPilot methodology will be able to 

provide a hardware description for an energy efficient system for any 

hospital, based on specific requirements of that hospital. This will be 

a unique methodology, which considers energy efficient installations 

in all the domains (lighting, HVAC, ICT…) and it will be made combining 

the expert knowledge of all the partners in the project. It will 

also define the best method for auditing a hospital, in order to obtain 

the most relevant data, for the methodology to be applied to this particular 

hospital. The methodology will be proven by creating 3 pilot 

sites in the partner hospitals and monitoring those pilots in the period 

of one year. In this process, the methodology will be improved further. 

Also, it will be safeguarded that the HosPilot methodology is 

applicable everywhere in Europe. Applied to any hospital it will give 

results based on the particular needs of this hospital. 

At the moment, the HosPilot project is in the middle of its realization. 

It has generated significant results, which will be presented in this 

paper. The most important results that will be presented are: 

• State of the art analysis regarding the current situation of the 

hospitals in Europe, in terms of energy management and consumption, 

based on the main technological areas: lighting, heating, 

ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) 

• Analysis of the audits conducted in six European hospitals 

• A unique list of all the room types that can be found in a hospital, 

summarized with all the requirements regarding lighting, 


ventilation, temperature, etc inherent to those room types. 

• HosPilot methodology - what the methodology is, how it is 

implemented, what technical solutions it proposes and questionnaire 

for auditing hospitals 

• Description of the pilot sites and their requirements 

• The purpose of the project and its intended impact 

Assessment of Wastewater Treatment Plants in Jamaica by 

the Ministry of Health by Nilsia Johnson, Leonard Smith, William 

Broughton and Homero Silva 

An assessment of the complete status of wastewater treatment 

plants (WWTPs), effluent quality and the impact of effluent on the 

environment is difficult to make with current data. Therefore it is not 

possible to fully determine the compliance by the Government of 

Jamaica with the Protocol concerning Pollution from Land-Based 

sources and Activities in the Wider Caribbean Region (LBS Protocol) 

of the Cartagena Convention. The Government of Jamaica 

ratified the Cartagena Convention on 1987. 

This study aimed to assess the nation’s sewage treatment systems 

and their impact on the environment. The objectives were to assess 

the efficiency and the effluent water quality of Jamaica’s WWTPs; 

Assess the environmental and health impacts of effluents on water 

bodies; Assess the level of compliance with the Protocol concerning 

Pollution from Land-Based sources and Activities in the Wider 

Caribbean Region; build the capacity and quality assurance systems 

of the Laboratory; and to identify constraints to effective 

wastewater treatment and recommend measures for improvement 

in the short, medium and long-term. 

Regional workshops were conducted to determine the number of 

WWTPs. This included discussing the inspection form, schedule of 

sampling, methodology and to obtain the GPS coordinates of the 

Influent and Effluent of the plant. One sampling exercise was conducted 

over a three-month period for each plant, and equipment 

and supplies were acquired. Samples were collected for testing of 

the effluent and receiving water bodies where applicable for the 

following parameters: Faecal Coliform, Biochemical Oxygen Demand 

(BOD5), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Nutrients (Total 

Nitrate and Total Phosphorus), Oil and Grease and Total Suspended 

Solids (TSS). These results were compared with existing 

government standards. The compiled data collected was placed on 

a national data base. 

Preliminary results revealed that there are some wastewater plants 

that do not meet the standards. However more information will be 

gathered to ensure the consistency of the performance of the 

plants. 

Analysis of the Nutritional Content of Duckweed and the Quality 

of Water that Supports its Growth by Marlyn Ramjeet-Samad 

In recent years a commonly occurring aquatic plant, "duckweed" 

Lemna sp., has become prominent, because of its ability to concentrate 

minerals on heavily polluted water such as that arising from 

sewage treatment facilities, intensive animal or crop processing or 

production industries. However, it has also attracted the attention of 

scientists because of its apparent high potential as a feed resource 

for aquaculture and livestock (Skillicorn et al., 1993; Leng, et al., 

1994). Duckweed grows on water with relatively high levels of N, P 

and K. It concentrates the minerals and synthesizes protein and 

therefore, duckweed can clearly supply the protein needs of aquaculture. 

Within recent times and in response to changing environmental 

conditions duckweed has been identified as a possible feed source 

for aquaculture. This system is being promoted through “increasing 

productivity of small farmers by integrating duckweed production 

with fish farming”. This project described collectively as Integrated 

Farming Systems (IFS), utilizes animal waste to produce biogas via 

a bio-digester and the effluent would be used to fertilize duckweed 

ponds and the duckweed can then be used to feed aquaculture, 

particularly tilapia, poultry and pigs. 

When conditions are ideal, in terms of water temperature, pH, incident 

light and nutrient concentrations they compete in terms of biomass 

production with the most vigorous photosynthetic terrestrial 

plants doubling their biomass in between 16 hours and 2 days, depending 

on conditions. Baseline data collected from the local environment 

reveals that duckweed tissue is 97.5% water and 2.5 % dry 

matter, growing well under an average pH of 7.58. The primary 

macro nutrients (N, P, K), followed by the secondary macro nutrients 

(Mg and Ca) occurred in greater abundance over the micronutrients 

and other metals found in the duckweed tissue, indicating the 

nutritive quality of duckweed. Also an evaluation of the water quality 

that supported the growth of the duckweed discussed above followed 

a similar pattern of distribution of minerals namely; primary 

macronutrients were in greater abundance, followed by the secondary 

macronutrients. This therefore indicated that water quality does 

have an influence on the nutritive content of duckweed’s tissue. 

It therefore implies that duckweed farming will have a two-fold impact 

on environmental sustainability since it reduces the impact 

from polluted water by accumulating vital minerals and converting it 

to usable forms and secondly by aiding in food security by providing 

a cheaper alternative food source for aquaculture and other animals. 

The actual application of the duckweed as a food source is 

widely promoted in many countries. Therefore, in order to reduced 

environmental pollution and enhance food security the duckweed 

initiative should be supported. 

Proper Well Construction Techniques and Well Field Management 

in the Caribbean and Central America: From Water Supply 

Investigations to Analysis and Design by Sandy Nettles 

Ocean Earth Technologies (OET) has been involved in a multitude 

of hydrogeologic investigations and well field design projects 

throughout the Caribbean and Central America. Recently it has 

become apparent that water supply shortages and increasing populations, 

combined with inefficient well field operation and production 

well design, are resulting in serious concerns regarding water supply 

throughout the Caribbean. Our extensive experience in optimizing 

specific wells to maximize their efficiency and longevity in 

unique environments has resulted in the successful rehabilitation 

and/or design of new water supply systems. OET typically incorporates 

geophysical mapping into our full-scale hydrogeologic evalua- 

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tions. Our standard geophysical test utilizes Multi-Electrode Electrical 

Resistivity (MER). This technology allows for a rapid and 

accurate characterization of aquifer systems, including but not 

limited to mapping the depth of the water table, the geologic configuration 

of the aquifer materials, and the presence of fresh/salt 

water interfaces. The results of the mapping have been incorporated 

into computer groundwater models and are also used to 

properly design aquifer performance tests and aid in well construction 

specifications. 

This paper will present several short case studies throughout the 

Caribbean and Central America where OET has successfully designed 

and implemented more efficient water supply systems. The 

case studies will include geologic mapping techniques, site characterization 

approaches, aquifer performance test specifications, well 

construction specifications, and well field design and management 

protocols. The case studies will address specific issues that are of 

concern in the Caribbean, such as salt water intrusion, maximizing 

the efficiency of wells in low yield environments, and extending the 

life of a given water supply well. Our goal is to provide innovative 

alternatives to both water supply investigations and well design/ 

construction that will prove beneficial to the dynamic and challenging 

groundwater systems in the Caribbean and Central America. 

Integrated Eco-Health Assessment in the Americas: A Hemispheric 

Research Partnership to Evaluate and Strengthen 

Health and Environmental Impact Assessment Laws and Policies 

by Shermaine Clauzel 

Most countries and institutions in the Americas do not yet have 

access to appropriate methods, or laws to assess and address the 

health and environment impacts of trade or economic development 

policies in an integrated way. Existing capacity to carry out such 

assessments, or even to understand and customise the relevant 

methodologies, is still extremely weak and progress has been uneven. 

The Eco-health Assessment hemispheric research initiative seeks 

to build on, monitor and analyse existing experiences with integrated 

health and ecological impact assessment in the Americas 

laws and policies and develop a new tool – integrated health and 

ecological impact assessment law. The research will be used to 

ultimately improve the protection of eco-health objectives and priorities 

in the Americas integration process. The project has established 

a collaborative relationship between project partners from 

different disciplines and regions of the Americas, to build expertise, 

awareness and capacity in the design and enforcement of health 

and environment impact assessment research methods, laws and 

policies. 

The Caribbean Environmental Health Institute (CEHI) was engaged 

to undertake the assessment of three Caribbean case studies 

in order to typify the approaches used in the Caribbean region 

for the conduct of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs). 

CEHI investigated the EIA process applied to a bauxite mining 

operation in Guyana, an electricity-generating plant in Barbados 

and a tourism (hotel/marina/golf course) development in St. Lucia. 

The results of the study indicated that although health issues were 

implied in the social impact aspects of the various processes employed, 

health was not explicitly identified; and that whereas representatives 

from the Ministry of Health were involved in most EIAs, 

they were not necessarily core members of a body charged with 

evaluating development proposals or preparing the terms of reference 

for the EIA. 

It was found that there were sometimes gaps in the legislation and 

policies that could account for the possible eclipse of health issues in 

the EIA process. Even where these were clearly outlined, institutional 

resources and enforcement were weak and lacking. Some of the 

preliminary recommendations from the review of the case studies so 

far points to a need for awareness, education and advocacy; formalising 

the mechanisms for engaging the competent health authority to 

have inputs in the preparation of the TOR for the EIA, evaluation of 

the EIA and monitoring of development projects. There was also a 

need identified for the review of existing legislation and policies and 

some attempt to harmonise them among the countries, going forward. 

Mainstreaming Saint Lucia’s National Plan of Action through a 

North West Coast Water Quality Demonstration Project by 

LaVerne Walker and Alexandra du Boulay 

Saint Lucia’s coastal waters, like those of most of the countries within 

the Wider Caribbean Region are under increasing threat from a number 

of land-based pollutants. Specifically, improper sewage treatment 

and disposal, as well as sedimentation, have been identified as 

the biggest threats to the integrity of the island’s coastal waters and 

habitats. 

The existence of Draft Recreational Water Quality Standards is a 

step by the Government of Saint Lucia towards the full implementation 

of the Land Based Sources of Marine Pollution (LBS) Protocol 

and the island’s National Plan of Action for the Protection of the Marine 

Environment from Land-Based Pollutants. However, it is recognized 

that in order to adequately address the pollution of the island’s 

coastal and marine environment, it is necessary that an Integrated 

Watershed and Coastal Area Management (IWCAM) approach is 

adopted. 

In light of the foregoing, the Government of Saint Lucia in collaboration 

with the private sector is implementing a project that seeks to 

improve recreational water quality along the island’s North-West 

Coast, a densely populated area and an important recreational area 

for both locals and tourist alike, through the implementation and demonstration 

of best practices for pollutant discharge reduction. 

The presentation outlines the approach and methodology that is to be 

adopted under the project to move towards achieving the limits outlined 

in the Draft Recreational Water Quality Standards and by extension, 

Class I Waters as defined in the LBS Protocol. 


Parallel Session 7– Climate Change and 

Appropriate Technology (Negril Room) 

Energy Efficiency and Carbon Emission Reduction: a review 

of Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) by 

Denise Simmons and Paulette Bynoe 

Climate change is recognized universally as a major threat that is 

likely to have dire consequences to natural, social, economic and 

human capital, given recently predicted impacts on water resources, 

ecosystems and coasts, food supplies and health. According 

to the Stern Review (2006) the economic costs of climate 

change impacts are between 5 and 20 per cent of global GDP, and 

possibly much higher. Thus, there is international agreement that 

nations of the World must now aim to stabilise levels of atmospheric 

greenhouse gases at 445-490 parts per million CO2e or 

less in an effort to avoid any catastrophe. 

One of the most effective ways of stabilising greenhouse gas levels 

is the implementation of mitigation measures with regard to 

energy supply and use which could account for 60 to 80 per cent 

of GHG reductions. It is a measure that should be considered non 

-negotiable by developed, emerging, and developing countries. 

Guyana is heavily reliant on importation of petroleum products 

which accounts for about 70% of primary energy supply. In fact the 

country imports approximately 10,400 barrels per day, with petroleum 

imports for 2008 representing about 44% of Guyana’s official 

GDP. To a lesser extent, bagasse, fuelwood and solar power also 

provide the energy supply required. Notwithstanding this, Guyana’s 

CO2 emissions are low: an estimate of CO2 emissions done 

for the reference year 1994 for Guyana’s Initial National Communication 

revealed that CO2 emissions are 1446 Gg. Given the vast 

extent of the Guyana’s forest resources, the country is considered 

a net sink country. As a front-runner in the Caribbean Community 

(Caricom), Guyana in 2009, launched its Low Carbon Development 

Strategy (LCDS) that sets out the national position on how 

such a platform for partnership can be created, and affirms its 

commitment to play its part. It further seeks to provide insights on 

how to stimulate the creation of a low-deforestation, low-carbon, 

climate-resilient economy. 

This paper is aimed at reviewing Guyana’s LCDS in light of the 

vital role of energy supply and use in the fight against climate 

change. In particular, it will clearly analyse the role envisaged for 

renewables (given that about 70 per cent of Guyana’s energy supply 

is sourced from fossil fuels), and importantly, energy efficiency 

as an aspect of mitigation. Possible gaps will be discussed and 

policy recommendations will be provided. 

Promotion of Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) in Caribbean Small 

Island Developing States by Christopher Cox 

The Caribbean Environmental Health Institute (CEHI) has been 

collaborating with the United Nations Environment Programme 

(UNEP) since 2005 in the promotion of Rainwater Harvesting 

(RWH) across the Caribbean as part of a global effort aimed at 

promoting water security across all ranges of use from household to 

agricultural to commercial and industrial applications. The use of RWH 

as a water augmentation measure is considered a key adaptation strategy 

to address the impacts of climate change where experts are forecasting 

that the precipitation regime in the Caribbean will shift towards 

less annual rainfall accumulation, with an increase in the frequency of 

extreme events, notably droughts and hurricanes. This will have significant 

implications in the context of watershed and aquifer recharge 

which will impact water withdrawals to maintain demand. Already, 

many Caribbean countries face challenges in meeting peak demands 

under normal conditions, but as the 2009-2010 drought demonstrated, 

water management and water security must be given high priority attention. 

This paper intends to highlight the work carried out under the 

cooperative efforts between UNEP and CEHI with contributions from 

local and regional agency partners in promoting RWH. It will focus on 

achievements in Grenada and Antigua & Barbuda as pilot countries in 

the formulation of a RWH National Programme of Action (Grenada), 

development of a Caribbean Regional RWH Programme, the installation 

of best-practice demonstrations for RWH within building infrastructure, 

the application of geographic information system (GIS)-assisted 

mapping of water availability as guidance for investment in RWH, the 

application of managed aquifer recharge (MAR) techniques using rainwater 

runoff, and the production of public education material including 

a Handbook on RWH for the Caribbean. The outputs from the initiative 

will contribute to the body of knowledge on the practice to assist and 

drive policy towards incorporation of RWH within national integrated 

water resources management policies and plans. 

Climate changes in the Caribbean and implications on renewable 

energy resources for the region by Jorge Gonzalez 

Assessment of renewable energy resources such as surface solar 

radiation and wind current has great relevance in the development of 

local and regional energy policies. 

This paper examines the variability and availability of these resources 

as a function of possible climate changes for the Caribbean region. 

Global climate changes have been reported in the last decades, causing 

changes in the atmospheric dynamics, which affects the net solar 

radiation balance at the surface and the wind strength and direction. 

For this investigation, the future climate changes for the Caribbean are 

predicted using the parallel climate model (PCM) and it is coupled with 

the regional atmospheric modelling system to simulate the solar and 

wind energy spatial patterns changes for the specific case of the island 

of Puerto Rico. Numerical results from PCM indicate that the Caribbean 

basin from 2041 to 2055 will experience a slight decrease in the 

net surface solar radiation (with respect to the years 1996–2010), 

which is more pronounced in the western Caribbean sea. Results also 

indicate that the easterly winds have a tendency to increase in its magnitude, 

especially from the years 2070 to 2098. The regional model 

showed that important areas to collect solar energy are located in the 

eastern side of Puerto Rico, while the more intense wind speed is 

placed around the coast. A future climate change is expected in the 

Caribbean that will result in higher energy demands, but both renewable 

energy sources will have enough intensity to be used in the future 

as alternative energy resources to mitigate future climate changes. 

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Are our laws and institutions ready for climate change? by 

Judy Daniel 

As pressure mounts on the developed world to curb greenhouse 

gases, the contribution of developing countries to climate change 

is being assessed. The reality is that just 20 percent of the world’s 

contributors account for about 90 percent of global emissions. 

Negotiations at last December’s United Nations Climate Change 

Conference in Copenhagen resulted in the Copenhagen Accord, 

an interim international agreement that includes $30 billion in 

financing by wealthy nations to help developing nations such as 

ours curb their emissions over the next three years (with a goal of 

increasing funding up to $100 billion by 2020). 

Of interest also is that the US is poised to introduce Cap-and 

Trade legislation, a pertinent aspect which allows their facilities to 

meet up to 15% of their emissions limits by purchasing credits on 

the international emission trading market. With the right planning 

small island Caribbean states could position themselves to obtain 

the assistance needed to adapt to climate change without compromising 

our national development. At the local and regional 

level climate change policy still falls within the remit of environmental 

and natural resources management agencies while for 

wealthy nations because of the significance of energy to their 

national economies it is undoubtedly a “make or break” economic 

issue that is housed in robust central agencies. 

Climate change as a phenomenon promises to negatively impact 

all of our resources and national development. Yet our laws and 

institutions remain set in a pre-climate era perhaps awaiting a jolt 

of reality and sense of remorse at how we could have availed 

ourselves of resources to stem these impacts. We must reform 

our thinking. Climate change is an enormous and complex national 

development issue with which we must treat through an 

appropriate institutional framework that is equipped to negotiate 

our climate future, mindful of our main objective - to secure our 

economic future. Given what’s at stake, are our environmental 

management agencies the best institutional venues for leading 

climate change issues? At a minimum should they be the sole 

venue? Most importantly, what are the plausible alternatives? 

The challenge of climate change requires a permanent change in 

the way our societies work and necessarily the way our laws and 

institutions are set out. This paper examines why we must act 

now, and proposes how the laws and institutions of Caribbean 

small islands can be designed to function in the wake of climate 

change and how we should now move forward. 

Sustaining the development of industry in Trinidad and Tobago: 

Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency and Green Manufacturing 

by Marc Sandy 

Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) possesses considerable proved reserves 

of crude oil and natural gas, which have traditionally allowed 

access to energy for industrial use at low costs, relative to 

the rest of the Caribbean region. However, the future growth and 

sustainability of T&T’s manufacturing sector will depend critically 

on its ability to move towards more sustainable methods of production. 

This paper will articulate positions that seek to clearly define the 

role, elements and parameters around which policy frameworks may 

be developed for renewable energy, energy efficiency, waste reduction 

and recycling in the Trinidad and Tobago manufacturing sector. It 

will also elaborate on the efforts being made, both in the public and 

private sector, to ‘Green’ our industries, for the benefit of the environment, 

the business sector and the wider national community. Though 

developed for the T&T local context, the backdrop to this paper is 

regional sustainable development. Conclusions will therefore be 

drawn as to how the country can then go further to participate in energy 

integration and deeper regional trade agreements, to enhance 

the sustainable growth of the Caribbean. It is instructive to note the 

environment within which the sector exists at present and, by extension, 

the emphasis as far as policy, legislation and implementation are 

concerned. Firstly, the legislative environment does not directly encourage 

or incentivize manufacturers to become more energy efficient. 

Secondly, there are inherent problems in the way in which policies 

are implemented locally, when one considers the infrastructural 

bottlenecks that have kept T&T’s cost of doing business high and 

stymied its competitiveness. 

Thirdly and in particular, the low cost of fossil fuel energy in T&T has 

led to a relatively languid approach to renewable energy development 

and industrial utilization, and the country lags behind many of its Caribbean 

counterparts. 

The overall objective of this paper is therefore to build a vision that 

sees Trinidad and Tobago in sync with the regional thrust towards 

energy efficiency, waste minimization and environmentally sustainable 

manufacturing. The realization of this vision, it is hoped, will placed 

the wider Caribbean on solid ground as we endeavour to surge beyond 

our development challenges. 

Our Planet : Using innovation to highlight the need to use and 

manage natural resources efficiently in the Caribbean by Pablo 

Rosenthal and Sarah Adams 

Our Planet will be an innovative educational/information centre for the 

Caribbean region which will raise public awareness on the efficient 

use, management and conservation of natural resources and protection 

of biodiversity. The centre will use high technologies in an interactive 

environment to engage visitors so that they "live" the impacts of a 

changing climate and poorly managed natural resources and understand 

the solutions which are presented to them. 

Beginning with a hologram of a leading environmental figure welcoming 

visitors to the centre and a hologram of the world illustrating the 

predicted changing climate, the global context will be presented followed 

by its impacts, specifically in the Caribbean region. Visitors will 

be led through an immersive environment to experience first hand the 

impacts of a changing climate (extreme weather events, rising waters, 

loss of biodiversity), will take part in interactive displays to measure 

their carbon footprint and discover solutions (renewable energies, 

energy efficiency, water and waste management, recycling, protection 

of biodiversity) which they can implement. 

Our Planet will be the first high technology centre of this kind in the 

world and will start receiving visitors in St Lucia from the beginning of 

2011. Our Planet will also be working closely with the government of 

St Lucia and other local stakeholders to ensure that the centre is involved 

in the island’s educational programmes as the high technology 

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approach is particularly targeted towards engaging young people 

with a view to changing behaviour and influencing future 

generations. Our Planet is proud to be partnering with other 

regional institutions such as Caribbean Environmental Health 

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Institute (CEHI) and regional programmes like CREDP 

(Caribbean Renewable Energy Development Programme implemented 

by CARICOM Secretariat and funded by the German 

Government) to provide advisory services to local businesses 

and individuals on responsible resource use and management. 

Our Planet will also be working with the OECS Secretariat, 

CREDP and CARILEC to reach out and support initiatives 

throughout the entire Caribbean region. Our Planet will organise 

regional expert workshops to exchange experience and build 

partnerships and will be providing support to the Caribbean 

Community (CARICOM) to set up an energy stakeholder platform 

which will work on the design and implementation of a regional 

sustainable energy roadmap. In addition, a number of 

local businesses in St Lucia across a wide range of sectors 

(tourism, food and beverages, energy service providers, etc.) 

have already expressed their wish to commit sponsorship funding 

to Our Planet. 

Our Planet is an environmental social enterprise and offers a 

model where the results are truly triple bottom line: environmentally, 

socially and economically sustainable. Entrance fees 

charged to visitors will cover operating costs and be used to 

fund local and regional initiatives such as training/education 

programmes, drafting of environmental guidelines, setting up 

revolving funds, promotion of renewable energies and energy 

efficiency, private sector initiatives, etc. As awareness of the 

importance of combating climate change and pressure on resources 

increase, particularly for island states, this represents 

an opportunity for such an enterprise to make an even greater 

contribution. 

Water Variability and Climate Change Related Response 

Measures in Tuvalu by Pisi Seleganiu and Catherine Moulogo 

Tuvalu has little access to groundwater. What is available is 

brackish and polluted. As such Tuvalu is reliant on household 

rainwater harvesting. During dry periods, communities often 

experience water shortages resulting in problems with health, 

hygiene and sanitation. On the capital island of Funafuti, water 

storage has been increased by 10,000 litres per household, and 

a desalination plant introduced. Despite these measures, water 

shortages are still prevalent. In addition to groundwater being 

polluted, poorly constructed septic tanks contribute to pollution 

in the lagoons and coastal areas. This pollution is dangerous to 

the health of the community and contributes to the deterioration 

of local marine ecosystems. This coral is particularly important 

as it is Tuvalu’s natural defence against coastal erosion and sea 

level rise as well as being a source of naturally occurring sand. 

From the 2005 IWP (International Waters Project), dry sanitation 

technology (composting toilets) was identified as a potential 

solution to both issues. The GEF IWRM Tuvalu demonstration 

project is introducing compost toilets in Tuvalu with the view to 

changing a nation’s sanitation. A minimum of forty will be placed 

in volunteer homes, supported by awareness campaigns, champions 

and targeted engagement strategies. The aim of this demonstration 

is an independent uptake of composting toilets by the community. 

A challenge facing the introduction of composting toilets is the community’s 

initial reluctance to accept the dry sanitation technology as 

clean and hygienic. Nevertheless, as a result of awareness raising 

activities, attitudes are changing; increased numbers of families are 

requesting composting toilets. A major step forward in positive awareness 

is the 91% of recent study participants who consider composting 

toilets “a good idea”. The term “composting toilets” confused the community 

and fed negative misconceptions. To create a positive association, 

“Falevatie” is now the term used locally for toilets constructed by 

the IWRM initiative; this is an abbreviation of “a toilet which saves 

water and is good for you and the environment”. Composting toilets 

have a vast potential for replication in other Small Island Developing 

States. Not only are they financially sound - both cost effective and 

efficient; the technology reduces water demand by 30% (in most 

households), increasing the communities and individuals water use 

efficiency, increasing sustainability and climate change resilience. 

Moreover, composting toilets are especially important on coral atolls 

where land quality and size is not sufficient to allow traditional management 

of sewage and sludge. 

An Approach to Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) 

in the Caribbean by Natalie Boodram 

Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) is the production and 

use of goods and services that respond to basic needs and contribute 

to a better quality of life, while minimizing the use of natural resources, 

toxic materials and emissions of waste and pollutants over 

the entire life cycle of goods and services (Oslo Symposium, 1984). 

SCP is a holistic framework which emphasizes process modification 

and actions within the product lifecycle to minimize environmental 

impacts rather than coping with environmental impacts post production. 

SCP also emphasizes the modification of consumer behaviour 

patterns. SCP is an important concept for Caribbean communities 

given the region’s fragile ecosystems and a heavy reliance on and 

potential degradation to natural resources e.g. for agriculture and 

tourism. Additionally SCP is important in the reduction of environmental 

impacts of imported goods e.g. proper product waste disposal. 

This presentation outlines an approach to SCP in the Caribbean region. 

It highlights key SCP principles, and presents SCP as a holistic 

lens or framework for the reduction of the Caribbean carbon and environmental 

footprint. The current status of SCP in the region will be 

showcased within the context of regional and international initiatives. 

Case studies from the tourism and agriculture sector will be presented. 

The presentation will also highlight available regional and 

international information resources for the business sector, government 

agencies and all parties interested in implementing and furthering 

SCP in the region. 

“Communication” – The Missing “C” in Community-based Coping 

with Climate Change in the Caribbean by Maria Protz 

It is now widely recognized that Climate Change (CC) will have severe 

impacts on small island developing states (SIDS) such as ours in 

the Caribbean. What is less recognized, however, is that this adaptation 

process will demand intensive social learning among a wide 

variety of stakeholders. Unfortunately, what is even less appreciated 


is the role that Communication for Development (ComDev) plays 

in facilitating social learning experiences and in helping to identify 

viable adaptation options. Despite the significant contribution it can 

make to CC adaptation, ComDev is rarely planned for, budgeted 

and mainstreamed within sustainable development efforts. It is the 

missing “C” from the equation. ComDev practitioners are seldom 

part of research and project management teams and communication 

is too often thought of as ‘public relations’ or ‘general public 

awareness.’ In the face of the urgent need for CC adaptation however, 

the region cannot afford to overlook the value-added that 

ComDev can bring to the table. 

Fortunately, through the global Communication for Sustainable 

Development Initiative (CSDI), the Caribbean is benefitting from 

the practical application of ComDev to local adaptation and preparedness 

measures. This paper will provide an overview of how the 

CSDI-Caribbean programme is using ComDev to facilitate food 

security and CC adaptation measures in Jamaica, St. Lucia and 

Dominica. 

Cellulosic Ethanol Technology as Waste Management tool – 

the Belize Potential by Ruben Contreras-Lisperguer and Kevin de 

Cuba 

Waste is an indigenous energy rich source that can be converted 

into power or transport fuels critically important to build resilience in 

an age of global energy crises and volatile energy supply and 

costs. Furthermore, the proper use and conversion of waste to 

generate energy is a suitable alternative to its dumping at saturated 

landfills, mitigating climate change, creating new jobs, and addressing 

land use management challenges, especially in the agricultural 

and forestry sectors. Therefore, finding an optimal solution for 

waste collection, treatment and disposal in small developing states 

is increasingly an important paradigm in sustainability. This applied 

research concludes that production of cellulosic ethanol (CE) derived 

from agricultural and forestry residues and municipal solid 

waste (MSW) in the near future will become a suitable waste management 

tool and transport fuel production alternative to supply the 

domestic market in Belize with potential use as an export commodity. 

Solar Powered Automated Greenhouse Irrigation System Installation 

- Lessons Learned by Kevin Harris 

Food and nutrition security has become a focal point for a number 

of small Caribbean states including Jamaica. The Ministry of Agriculture 

and Fisheries has been actively promoting a return to Agriculture 

using technological aids to improve efficiency. The integration 

of greenhouse design, rainwater harvesting techniques and 

solar powered automated irrigation is one way for sustainable production 

of high quality produce to meet the demands of the market. 

This presentation specifically examines the effects of the integrated 

technologies (solar, greenhouse, rainwater harvesting) in mitigating 

key risks affecting the agro sector including increasing production 

costs, flood and drought damage, and low quality assurance. The 

presentation focuses on Pepper production – in a Food and Agriculture 

Organization (FAO) sponsored Solar Misting project at the 

Rural Agriculture Development Association (RADA) Nursery in 

Lucea, Hanover, Jamaica. 

Solar Irrigation provides a viable opportunity to match peak watering 

demands (between 7:30 am and 3:00 pm) with peak energy production 

(sunrise to sunset). This minimises the need for large battery 

banks for energy storage. Automated, self-sustained systems provide 

clean, cheap and dependable solutions and contribute to cost containment 

and standardisation of the production process. Using the 

solar irrigation system the delivery of water through high-pressure 

misters is automated. The electricity to power the timer, pump and 

valves is provided by an 80W solar panel. It also maintains a fully 

charged battery to provide backup energy if required. 

The system comes on 3 times daily and provides an option for misting 

three zones within the house, which contains twelve 20ft tables. 

This zone option allows the saving of water in the event that the 

house is only partially stocked with seedlings during the sowing process. 

The high-pressure anti-leak misters expel very fine droplets (130 

microns), preventing droplets dislodging the seeds in the trays prior 

to germination. The roof is guttered for rainwater harvesting to fill a 

1000-gallon tank thereby diversifying the water supply. 

What is the ‘Green Paradox’ and what it could mean for the Caribbean? 

by Benjamin Jargstorf, 

Hans-Werner Sinn is a German economist. In his recent book, “Das 

grüne Paradoxon“ (The Green Paradox), he touches on a sore point. 

Climate change is a new challenge for mankind. Sinn analyses the 

climate-policy measures in Germany, Europe and other regions of the 

world to examine the extent to which they are meeting this challenge. 

He does not question the goals of climate polices but shows that the 

instruments of these policies are ineffective and to a large extent 

counter-productive because they disregard important economic 

mechanisms. With this approach Sinn closes a gap between the 

scientific and societal discourse on the climate issue. 

The paper discusses the key arguments which form the Green Paradox, 

namely: 

1. Human beings are making the earth increasingly warmer; 

2. Germany and other European countries spend lots of money for 

Green electricity and still achieve little with this support because 

Europe already has an emissions market that has determined 

the amounts of emissions; 

3. Giving the tank priority over the plate creates poverty and unrest 

in the world; 

4. European climate policies have accelerated climate change 

because they have given the resource owners cause to extract 

their fossil fuels faster in anticipation of a further worsening of 

their sales options by policy-makers; 

5. Only a universal, worldwide emissions trading system and a 

source tax on the capital gains of the resource owners are suitable 

for effecting a postponement of resource extraction and for 

slowing down climate change; 

and checks the validity of each argument and its possible impacts on 

the current discussion of climate change mitigation. 

The second part of the paper analyses what medium- and long-term 

effects the Green Paradox could have on the countries in the Caribbean 

and if a policy change for climate mitigation measures worldwide 

and in the Caribbean is needed. 

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46 CEF-5 2010 Programme Time Table 

Time Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday 

7:30 Registration 

9:00 Formal Opening of 

10:00 Exhibition Setup Technical Sessions 

(Plenary) 

Early Registration 

- Conference 

Secretariat 

Plenary Session 

Parallel Sessions 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 

begin 

1. ReCaribe Meeting: Waste Management 

2. Centers for Disease Control 

(CDC)/ Water Safety Planning 

3. Integrated Watershed and 

Coastal Areas Management 

(IWCAM) (Closed session) 

4. Caribbean Sustainable Energy 

Forum 

5. Water Resources and Coastal 

Zone Management 

10:30 Coffee Break Coffee Break Coffee Break 

Parallel Sessions 1, 3, & 4 continue 

Parallel Sessions 6 & 7 begin 

6. Environmental Health and Water 

Quality 

7. Climate Change and Appropriate 

Technology 

Field Trips and 

Sightseeing Tours 

11:00 Plenary Session continues 


continue 

12:30 Lunch Lunch Lunch 

Closing of Exhibition 

Parallel Sessions 1, 3, 4, 6 & 7 continue 

14:00 Plenary Session continues 


continue 

Parallel Sessions 3, 6 & 7 continue 

15:30 Coffee Break Coffee Break Coffee Break 

16:00 OAS Plenary Parallel Sessions 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 

continue 

17:30 

Parallel Sessions 3, 6 & 7 continue 

18:00 Opening Ceremony 

and Exhibition 

Opening 

19:30 Welcome Reception 

Post-session event: 

Open Forum 

Post-session event: 

UNEP CAR/RCU Movie Night 

CEF-5 Banquet and Awards Ceremony 


Map of Conference & Exhibition Area 

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Caribbean Environmental Health Institute 

P.O. Box 1111 

The Morne, Castries, Saint Lucia 

Tel: 758 452-2501; Fax: 758 453-2721 

Email: cehi@candw.lc 

Website: www.cehi.org.lc

conference magazine - Caribbean Environmental Health Institute

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