conference magazine - Caribbean Environmental Health Institute

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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FIFTH BIENNIAL CARIBBEAN ENVIRONMENTAL FORUM AND EXHIBITION