Caribbean Water Insight - August 2012 (Vol 3, Issue 2)

August, 2012 

Volume 3, Issue 2 

Caribbean Water Insight 

In This Issue 

Rainwater Harvesting Encourages Sustainability in Rural Communities 

US$12.3 Million Water Supply Rehabilitation Project to Improve Quality of Life in Guyana 

Three Caribbean Women Receive International Water Law Scholarships 

Caribbean Youth Speak up on Water 

Women, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Suriname 

See more inside… 

Working toward a water secure Caribbean

Innovative Agriculture: A Profitable and Sustainable Business 

In today’s society when we consider the most 

sought after professions, being a farmer or 

agriculturalist is not at the top of the list. In the 

Caribbean, there is an undeniable aging farming 

population; highlighting the need for greater 

youth involvement in the agriculture sector, the 

primary industry of many Caribbean countries. 

One of the postulations behind the deficit of 

young persons passionately and actively seeking 

to enter into the field of agriculture is the view 

that it isn’t profitable in the long-term. This 

according to Mr. Ramgopaul Roop, a Farmer 

and Sustainable Agricultural Development 

Specialist from Trinidad and Tobago, is a 

fallacy. Mr. Roop, now in his early 60’s has been 

in the field of agriculture for most of his life and 

his work as a farmer is nothing short of a true 

success story. 

Mr. Roop is the owner of Rocrops Agrotec, a 

smallholder family-run farm in central 

Trinidad which was established in 1994. 

Rocrops Agrotec which became a partner of 

GWP-C in March 2011 has been described as 

“A diversification dream that has eluded many 

agriculturalists.” 

The Rocrops farm is quite unique; it once stood 

as degraded and acidic sugar cane lands and has 

been transformed into a model farm due to the 

application of a combination of strategic 

planning and innovative agricultural 

technologies. The techniques used to manage 

the farm include micro-irrigation and recycling 

of water; integrated soil and water 

management; integrated crop management; 

integrated pest management; soil and water 

testing; field sanitation and special attention to 

post harvest handling techniques. 

A key factor in Mr. Roop’s ability to transform 

what was once nutrient poor land into a 

profitable entrepreneurial success is his vision, 

passion and commitment to sustainable 

agriculture; notwithstanding the application of 

innovative farming techniques. 

Mr. Ramgopaul Roop is seen here on his model 

farm in Trinidad. 

The land which was once laden with low 

fertility clay soil now produces an extensive 

amount of vegetables and fruit crops. Before 

the quest of transforming the land began, the 

soil was tested to ascertain its acidity level. The 

soil test confirmed that the soil was very acidic 

and had to be changed if there was any 

prospect of cultivating crops on it. This reality 

led to the application of various innovative soil 

fertility management techniques. 

Story continued on the following page… 

1 www.gwp-caribbean.org

Mr. Roop used a combination of methods to fix 

the soil; some of these techniques included: 

The use of limestone to reduce the soil’s 

acidity and improve its structure. 

The use of micro-irrigation systems which 

helps to save water and energy and even 

reduce weeds and diseases. 

The application of Integrated Pest 

Management (IPM) strategies some of 

which included the use of high quality 

pesticide-free agricultural products. 

The use of integrated soil and water 

management applications including the 

re-use of water throughout the farm. 

The application of fertigation techniques 

which refers to the use of fertilisers and 

other water-soluble products through an 

irrigation system. 

The use of organic manure and mulches to 

improve the structure and stability of the 

soil. 

Rocrops Agrotec has established a select 

clientele which consists of exporters, 

processors, consumers, grocery chains and food 

outlets which demand a year round supply of 

primary products. Additionally, the farm is 

often used as a model demonstration station 

and receives frequent visits from local and 

regional agricultural students, farmers, and 

agriculturalists. 

Mr. Roop is seen here on his farm speaking to 

Environmental Science students. 

The farm’s progress as well as the distinctive 

application of integrated water and soil 

management techniques applied by Mr. Roop 

has not gone unnoticed. In 2001, he won the 

Agricultural Entrepreneur of Year Award of 

Trinidad and Tobago, which is put on by the 

Ministry of Food Production. Within the same 

competition Mr. Roop placed first in the 

Integrated Agriculture category. 

In 2010, Rocrops Agrotec was used as a case 

study in Integrated Soil and Water 

Management for Sustainable Agriculture in 

Trinidad and Tobago at the Technical Centre 

for Agricultural and Rural Development (CTA) 

Annual Seminar in Johannesburg, South Africa. 

Additionally, Mr. Roop’s work in transforming 

what was once sugar cane land into a model 

farm has been documented in several research 

publications. 

Recently, during the month of June, the 

GWP-C Secretariat had the opportunity to 

visit Mr. Roop’s farm and learnt that Rocrops 

Agrotec has been nominated for the Contest of 

Successful Cases on Innovation for Family 

Agriculture (2012). The regional competition 

targets the Caribbean and Latin American 

regions. It is a an initiative led by the Regional 

Fund for Agricultural Technology 

(FONTAGRO) and supported by the 

Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on 

Agriculture (IICA) and the Inter-American 

Development Bank (IDB). 


2

GWP-C and IICA representatives look on as 

Mr. Roop demonstrates various soil and water 

management applications used on his farm. 

The left image above shows a large pond developed 

by Mr. Roop which collects excess water that flows 

through the farm. The image on the right is an 

electrical pump which helps to drive water that is 

recycled throughout the farm. 

The overall objective of the contest is to 

document successful initiatives on agricultural 

innovation with small farmers and other actors 

in the agricultural value chain in family 

agriculture in Latin America and the Caribbean 

(LAC); and to disseminate these cases 

regionally and globally. The three top cases/ 

nominations in the FONTAGRO competition 

will be announced in November of this year. 

The competition’s aim to raise awareness about 

the importance of investing in agricultural 

innovation is precisely what Mr. Roop commits 

himself to as he works to encourage greater 

youth involvement in agriculture and educate 

young farmers on soil and water innovative 

techniques. 

During the GWP-C Secretariat’s visit to 

Rocrops Agrotec, Mr. Roop stressed his goal to 

develop incentives and a marketing strategy to 

show potential farmers and young persons that 

agriculture can be viable and can provide a 

good standard of living. He also explained that 

the business aspect of agriculture should not be 

overlooked and only through agriculture can 

future generations be sustainable. 

FONTAGRO was created in 1998 with 15 member countries to contribute to poverty reduction 

and sustainable management of natural resources. 

To learn more about the Fund visit: www.fontagro.org. 

Water Scholarships 

International Scholarships In Water Resources Management 2013 

The International Centre of Excellence in Water Resources Management (ICE WaRM) is 

offering a scholarship programme to attract high quality international students to education and 

training in Water Resources Management. Application Deadline: August 31 st , 2012. 

Visit www.icewarm.com for more details. 


Rainwater Harvesting Encourages Sustainability in Rural Communities 

Trinidad and Tobago, though not considered a 

water-scare country by international standards, 

is faced with the reality of many of its rural 

communities having limited access to a regular 

water supply. Persons from rural areas are 

often forced to rely heavily on water being 

delivered to their homes by trucks; water from 

nearby rivers; and in some instances collecting 

water from nearby stand-pipes. The water 

situation in these communities is also worsened 

during the dry season where in some instances 

water rationing throughout the country comes 

into effect. 

The existing state of water access in rural 

communities in Trinidad prompted the interest 

of the National Institute of Higher Education 

Research, Science and Technology (NIHERST) 

to develop a project to assist three rural areas - 

Toco, Moruga and Barrackpore in becoming 

self-sustaining communities by introducing 

them to rainwater harvesting and other 

sustainable practices to improve their daily 

lives. 

Rainwater harvesting which refers to the 

capture and storage of rainwater for re-use, is a 

practice that has been used for centuries for 

survival around the world. Within the 

Caribbean region, there are various islands that 

depend heavily on RWH and there are others 

like Trinidad and Tobago where it is not 

widely used. It is useful to note however, that 

prior to public water distribution, RWH was a 

common practice in the country but its use has 

significantly diminished. 

Example of a domestic Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) 

system. 

Intimately linked to RWH’s limited use in 

Trinidad and Tobago is the lack of public 

education and community outreach on its 

benefits. Furthermore, there is a shortfall in 

public information on safe and hygienic RWH 

systems. The NIHERST has been able to 

address this issue within the framework of its 

Rainwater Harvesting project which was 

launched this year on World Water Day 

(WWD), March 22 nd , 2012. 

The NIHERST through partnering with the 

Toco Foundation, Global Water Partnership- 

Caribbean (GWP-C), the Water Resources 

Agency (WRA) of Trinidad and Tobago, and 

various community groups, have began to 

introduce the concept of RWH as a regular 

sustainable activity in the daily lives of residents 

in the rural communities of Toco, Moruga and 

Barrackpore. 


4

Since March 22 nd , the NIHERST has embarked 

on an extensive public education drive on 

RWH in the three rural communities, exposing 

more than 3500 students from eleven primary 

and secondary schools to the concept. Students 

have learnt the critical importance of water 

conservation and the benefits of RWH through 

interactive puppet shows on the relevant topics; 

quizzes to assess what they have learnt; 

interactive water exhibits; training sessions; 

and through other mediums. 

Students engaged by interactive water exhibits. 

Residents (more than 60) from all three 

communities were also exposed to practical 

training on the installation of a recommended 

RWH system that takes into consideration safe 

and hygienic water collection procedures. 

Participants were exposed to: all the necessary 

material needed to build the system; how to 

determine a suitable location for installation; 

how to prepare the water tank base as well as 

how to install the tank and water level 

indicator; among other areas of training. 

Scenes from the outreach sessions with 

students from the communities of Toco, Moruga 

and Barrackpore. 

Students are quizzed on what they have learnt by 

Ms. Lovaan Superville, Research Officer at the 

NIHERST. 

Water information display at the schools. 

Primary school students are entertained by 

puppet show on water conservation. 

The RWH system being used as the model 

within the project is patterned against a system 

developed based on existing best practices and 

promoted by the GWP-C. To assist 

NIHERST in this venture, GWP-C has also 

contributed various public education material 

that it has developed on RWH including 

posters, bookmarks, and technical information 

related to the design and installation of the 

RWH model it promotes. 



The model which can be adopted by any 

water-scarce community is specially designed 

to minimise contamination and enhance the 

quality of captured and stored rainwater. 

What sets the model apart from a typical RWH 

system is that it includes a first-flush diverter. 

The first-flush diverter is part of the downpipe 

configured to remove the initial wash off the 

roof so it does not enter the water tank. 

This allows the first flow of water containing 

roof debris to settle at the bottom of the 

downpipe with the cleaner water settling on 

top, allowing clean water to enter the tank. 

The community members that have received 

training on the installation of the RWH system 

are expected to be trainers in their respective 

communities. With the training received, the 

community members are also capable of 

advising local businesses in their area on the 

proper use and installation of RWH systems. 

Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) system installation 

at the Rochard Douglas Presbyterian 

Primary School in Barrackpore. 

The Rochard Douglas Presbyterian Primary School 

in Barrackpore, which was selected as the model 

disaster shelter. 

Example of a first-flush diverter. 

Within the project, the Barrackpore 

community will benefit from the additional 

focus on Renewable Energy and Disaster 

Preparedness. One of the schools that received 

training in that area was selected as a model 

disaster shelter, which will utilise renewable 

energy applications. 

The renewable energy system consists of solar 

panels that will be used to power essential 

appliances and fixtures needed in a disaster. 

The solar panels have been set-up to power 

electricity sockets for lights, a fridge and some 

computers. A new RWH harvesting system has 

already been installed at the school through the 

project and the remainder of the renewable 

energy fittings were installed in mid July. 

Barrackpore participant preparing the foundation for 

the RWH system. 


6

Water tank and water level indicator installation. 

Installation of the guttering for the RWH system. 

Installation of first-flush diverter. 

The training received thus far by students and 

community members has not been limited to 

RWH but also encompasses the overall subject 

of water conservation. Students and community 

members have learnt the critical importance of 

conserving water and have gained a greater 

appreciation for the use of RWH as a viable 

water supply option. 

Rainwater harvesting presents a practical 

alternative source of water for rural 

communities and the system being used within 

the NIHERST project has the advantages of 

being low-cost; easy to assemble from locally 

available materials; simple to maintain; and 

most importantly, supports the protection of 

water quality. The NIHERST plans to install 

RWH systems in all eleven schools that have 

received training by September 1 st , 2012 which 

will complete the first pilot project. 

Information and photos provided by: 

The National Institute of Higher Education 

Research, Science and Technology (NIHERST) 

Rainwater Harvesting 

ToolBox 

To learn more about Rainwater Harvesting 

(RWH) in the Caribbean visit the 

GWP-C RWH ToolBox at 

www.gwp-caribbean.org. 


Media Awards on Water Winner Receives Prizes 

To raise awareness on sustainable water management in the Caribbean, and to commemorate the 

United Nations’ World Water Day (WWD) 2012 which is celebrated on March 22nd each year, 

GWP-C established its first Media Awards on Water. The Awards which ran from March 5 th - 

April 10 th , 2012 sought to inspire Caribbean journalists to report more on regional water issues. 

Mr. Shane Hubbard, an Editor and Videographer was declared the winner of the competition with 

his television submission which focused on “Water and Food Security” in Guyana. He was recently 

presented with his winning award and cash prize at a presentation ceremony in Guyana hosted by 

the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) on behalf of GWP-C. 

Mr. Shane Hubbard (left) is 

presented with his winning award by 

the Chairman of the GWI, 

Mr. Ramesh Dookhoo (right) on 

July 13th, 2012. 

Mr. Emil McGarrell, Permanent 

Secretary in the Ministry of 

Housing and Water gave the 

feature address at the ceremony. 

Mr. Nigel Niles, Chief Executive 

Officer of the GWI provided 

background and history on the 

GWP-C and its partnership with 

the GWI at the Award ceremony. 

New Publication 

Global Water Partnership-Caribbean 

2011 Annual Report 

About the Publication | The Annual Report provides a 

comprehensive reference to the organisation’s work over 

the past year in working towards sustainable solutions to 

effective water resources management. 

It highlights various collaborative efforts between 

GWP-C, its partners and strategic allies. Moreover it 

shows how GWPC works to build alliances to strengthen 

the Partnership. An overview of the financial condition of 

GWP-C is also included in the publication. 

Download Annual Report at | www.gwp-caribbean.org 

8

US$12.3 Million Water Supply Rehabilitation Program to 

Improve Quality of Life in Guyana 

The quality of life is expected to improve for 

the residents of the city of Linden in Guyana 

as the Government of Guyana embarks on a 

US$12.3 million Water Supply Rehabilitation 

Program in that area. 

Linden, the second-largest town in Guyana 

after Georgetown, is the focus of a major water 

project being funded by the Inter-American 

Development Bank (IDB) called the “Linden 

Water Supply Rehabilitation Program (LWSRP).” 

The Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), the 

country’s supplier of water and sanitation 

services is the Executing Agency for the next 

five years within the framework of the 

Program. 

One of the prime objectives of the project is to 

improve the operational performance of the 

Linden water supply system through the 

replacement and rehabilitation of its most 

critical components. The program’s manager, 

Mr. Omar Bissoon has stated that over the 

next five years a series of large scale civil 

works are expected to take place which will 

include the construction of two new water 

treatment plants, booster stations, and 

reservoirs; the installation of transmission 

mains; as well as the rehabilitation of the 

distribution system, including replacing 

leaking pipelines and service connections. 

With the combination of the new treatment 

facilities and the reduction of leaks through an 

upgrade of the distribution system, Linden 

GWI customers will experience improved 

water quality as well as higher levels of service. 

Within the structure of the Rehabilitation 

Program, GWI is also engaging a consultant to 

develop a strategy to reduce water loss and 

non-revenue water. 

The Program’s Manager has also pointed out 

that when the new water plants in Linden are 

fully operational, customers will enjoy a 

higher standard of treated water as the plants 

are designed to deliver water quality that 

fulfills the World Health Organisation’s 

(WHO’s) guidelines. 

Apart from the setting up of new water 

facilities and systems, another major 

component of the project is public education 

and community outreach on water 

conservation. According to the Program 

Manger, “The success of the LWSRP also 

depends on the willingness of the GWI Linden 

customers to partner with us on water 

conservation; protecting freshwater resources 

and maintaining safe household water supply.” 



He explained that for customers to enjoy higher levels of service they must avoid wastage. As such, 

all the treated water schemes within the Program will be engaged in a water conservation 

campaign via mass media and community meetings. 

While the new facilities will provide an improved level of safe, potable water in Linden and overall 

improvement of the water sector in Guyana, water can still become contaminated if customers are 

reluctant to adapt safe habits such as storing water in covered containers and consistently cleaning 

black tanks. This is also the reasoning behind the large public education thrust within the LWSRP. 

Contributor: Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) 

For more information on the Linden Water Supply Rehabilitation Project (LWSRP) visit 

www.gwiguyana.com. 

Guyana Water Incorporated Celebrates Ten Years of Progress 

GWP-C would like to congratulate its partner, the 

Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), on its 10 th 

Anniversary. 

Over the years GWI, Guyana’s supplier of water and 

sanitation services, has and continues to work to improve 

access to potable water in Guyana and has made 

significant strides in doing this. Access to potable water 

in Guyana has risen from 89% in 2000 to 97% in 2009. 

GWI has also worked to establish new water treatment facilities in various communities 

throughout Guyana. This, according to Guyana’s Minister of Housing and Water, the 

Honourable Irfaan Ali has tremendously improved the economic, social and education sectors in 

the country. GWI has managed to consistently enhance water production sites and improve the 

quality of life of Guyanese county-wide in its 10 years of operation. 

GWI was formed on May 30 th , 2002 following a merger of the Georgetown Sewage and Water 

Commission (GS&WC) and the Guyana Water Authority (GUYWA). The company provides 

water service for all of Guyana including large portions of the Hinterland. 

For more information on the GWI visit www.gwiguyana.com. 

10

Caribbean Youth Speak up on Water 

Two Caribbean nationals, Shanaz Bacchus of 

Barbados and Rolissa Ballantyne of St. Vincent 

and the Grenadines had the distinction of being 

amongst 80 young people between the ages of 

18 to 23 years to participate in the 2012 World 

Youth Parliament for Water (WYPW). The 

WYPW was held within the framework of the 

6 th World Water Forum (WWF) which took 

place in Marseille, France in March of this 

year. The Forum brings together thousands of 

participants from across the globe such as 

politicians; water managers; representatives 

from non-governmental organisations (NGOs); 

among others. 

The CYEN encouraged its members to apply to 

attend the WYPW based on information on the 

event shared by GWP-C. The WYPW is 

considered the largest youth meeting in the 

world that focuses specifically on water issues; 

and this year’s Parliament saw the participation 

of youths from 71 countries and 5 continents, all 

committed to local projects in the water sector. 

Shanaz Bacchus (from CYEN-Barbados) pointed 

out that the WYPW presented an opportunity 

for young people to finally have a real place for 

their opinions to be heard; and brought 

together young persons from around the world 

who are motivated to play a part in water 

governance. She further explained that during 

her time at the WYPW it was obvious that the 

youth participants wanted to provide the WWF 

with strong recommendations for water issues 

and also to commit themselves to engage in real 

actions. 

The Youth Parliament focused on the theme 

“Time for Solutions” and the structure 

revolved around that of the 6th WWF. 

The three main topics for the Parliament were: 

Rolissa Ballantyne (left) of St. Vincent and 

the Grenadines and Shanaz Bacchus (right) 

of Barbados and are seen here at the World 

Youth Parliament for Water in Marseille, 

France in March 2012. 

Shanaz Bacchus and Rolissa Ballantyne are 

both members of the Caribbean Youth 

Environment Network (CYEN), the oldest, 

largest and most active youth organisation that 

focuses on environment and sustainable 

development in the Caribbean region. The 

CYEN became a partner organisation of Global 

Water Partnership-Caribbean (GWP-C) in 

June 2006. 

1. Access to Water and Sanitation 

2. Climate Change and Natural Disasters 

3. Water Basin Governance 

Ballantyne (from CYEN-St. Vincent and the 

Grenadines) recounted that every day was 

demanding as the youth participants tirelessly 

worked to prepare a Charter and a Declaration 

which had to be presented at the major event - 

the 6 th WWF. 



The Charter stipulates the Parliament’s 

objectives and rules of governance. It therefore 

covered details related to membership, the 

organs and internal regulations of the 

Parliament. 

The Declaration on the other hand, detailed the 

commitment of the young parliamentarians in 

finding solutions related particularly to global 

water access and sanitation, climate change and 

water governance. The document clearly 

outlined the Parliament’s major concerns and 

recommendations. Some of the major concerns 

by the youth included the lack of awareness at 

all levels on issues such as climate change, 

natural disasters, and depletion of potable water 

resources, among many others. 

The youth also stated their concern for good 

governance and stakeholder participation at all 

levels for equitable and inclusive water 

distribution. Within the Declaration, 

representatives committed to various 

responsibilities in their respective regions. 

At the WYPW, Bacchus and Ballantyne were 

advocates for water issues in the Caribbean. 

Within the framework of the Parliament, they 

were able to make the link between climate 

change and the impacts on Small Island 

Developing States (SIDS); and also raised issues 

related to water availability and access in the 

Caribbean. They also proposed that Integrated 

Water Resources Management (IWRM) be a 

central pillar in national planning especially in 

Caribbean countries which are water scarce. 

The Caribbean participants explained that the 

youth of Central America and the Caribbean, 

have pledged to create the first School for 

Water at the regional level, where children will 

be educated on topics related to water 

governance. 

Additionally, the participants committed to 

promoting the creation of an ecological 

corridor in Central America in collaboration 

with civil societies, governments and the 

private sector. Bacchus of Barbados was 

elected as the regional support for the 

Caribbean and Central America. 

The St. Vincent and the Grenadines 

representative explained that the discussions 

on major concerns for the preparation of the 

Declaration helped her to better understand 

how privileged the citizens of her country of 

St. Vincent are to have access to running 

water. Furthermore, it helped her better 

understand how to deal with the water 

management issues faced by her country. 

In major decision making on water and 

developmental issues across the globe, the 

youth are often important stakeholders that 

are not readily given a voice in such 

discussions. The World Youth Parliament for 

Water presented an invaluable chance for 

young people from various parts of the world 

including the Caribbean, to highlight their 

commitment to water, develop an 

understanding of water issues, and also 

contribute to the World Water Forum with 

solutions based on their initiatives and their 

projects. 

With the knowledge gained from their 

participation at the 2012 WYPW, Bacchus 

and Ballantyne both plan to share their 

experiences with other youth in the region to 

engage them on critical water and 

development issues. 

Information and photo provided by: 

The Caribbean Youth Environment Network 

(CYEN) 

For more information on the above listed documents prepared at the WYPW, please go to: 

www.cyen.org/documents/resources.php 

12

Photo of the Issue 

Two young boys are seen here bathing in a waterfall called the “Corriente de Vallejuelo” in 

San Juan de La Maguana in the south of the Dominican Republic. 

Photo submitted by GWP-C Partner: Asociacion Vigilantes de la Calidad del Agua (AVA) 

based in the Dominican Republic. 

Photographer: Ricardo Rojas 


GWP IWRM ToolBox: Academically Valuable and Real-World Practical 

It has been 10 years since the Integrated Water Resources 

Management (IWRM) ToolBox was developed by the 

Global Water Partnership (GWP) to increase knowledge 

sharing on an integrated approach to water resources 

management. 

IWRM ToolBox Training 

across the Globe 

One of the indications of its success during the past 10 years has 

been the many IWRM knowledge materials that have been 

published, and taught, by international policy and advocacy 

organisations. Some of these organisations include the United 

Nations Development Programme (UNDP); Cap-Net; the United 

Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); UN-Water; the DHI 

group; the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI); 

among others. 

IWRM’s adaptability is seen in the fact that real-world 

challenges have brought about new tools. In 2010 for example, 

the GWP ToolBox was upgraded with new tools on policies for 

adapting to climate change; tools on the concepts of water 

footprint and virtual water; and a tool addressing the 

relationship between IWRM and infrastructure. In 2012, further 

tools are under revision; namely those dealing with financial 

frameworks and economic instruments. 

One outcome of the IWRM Toolbox has been its adoption into 

the curriculum of university education. There are already several 

universities across the globe that use the IWRM Toolbox in 

advanced education. For example, in a Master’s program in a 

West African network of eight universities and in a Southern 

African program in 16 countries, the IWRM ToolBox structure 

is used in their curricula. 


14

The goal is to increase the use of the Toolbox 

in education and research institutions as well as 

illustrate application of the Toolbox for 

training and capacity building programs. 

The GWP has already successfully done this in 

countries such as Ghana, Armenia, China; and 

regions such as Central Asia, and Eastern and 

Central Europe. 

Other universities in countries such as Ethiopia, 

Hungary, and Nanjing Province in China are 

using the ToolBox; and there has been some 

usage of the ToolBox in tertiary level 

institutions in the Caribbean region. 

Furthermore, a growing number of 

international organisations and nongovernmental 

organisations (NGOs) use the 

ToolBox for capacity building programs and 

training. 

The integration of the ToolBox in university 

education has inspired the GWP to launch a 

planned initiative to expand the use and 

accessibility of the ToolBox in universities in 

the developing world. The GWP intends to 

work with Partners to facilitate the growth of 

IWRM Knowledge Centers so that the Toolbox 

is used in universities for knowledge exchange 

and capacity development on priority water 

needs. 

The aim of the initiative is for the IWRM 

Knowledge Centers to be national and regional 

universities and other educational institutions 

interested in promoting IWRM and committed 

to sharing water knowledge and building 

capacity. The Centers are also expected to play 

an important role in policy support for 

government agencies. 

Ultimately, the GWP IWRM ToolBox is 

available for Partners of the GWP network and 

for everyone working in development. 

Promoting its use in educational institutions 

will ensure its benefits from the latest thinking 

in the world of water resources management 

and at the same time guarantee that the tools 

are applied by present and future water 

professionals. 

Contributor: The Knowledge Management 

Team of the Global Water Partnership (GWP) 

For more on the IWRM ToolBox visit 

www.gwptoolbox.org. 

Engaging Youth in the Environment 

A young boy gets assistance with planting a 

tree during the Fondes Amandes Community 

Re-forestation Project’s (FACRP’s) World 

Biodiversity Day Caravan in the community of 

Tamana in Trinidad. 

Photo submitted by GWP-C Partner: The Fondes Amandes Community Re-forestation Project (FACRP) 

based in Trinidad and Tobago. 

Photo taken by: Ms. Skye Hernandez (Administrator, FACRP) 


Water Resources Management and the St. Patrick’s Disaster in Grenada 

Grenada, like other tropical countries, is prone 

to the impacts of natural hazards which can 

impair a country’s water supply and 

distribution. Such a situation occurred on the 

evening of April 20 th , 2012, when the parish of 

St. Patrick experienced heavy incessant rainfall. 

The downpour which continued into the early 

morning, caused massive land-slides and moved 

boulders, rocks, sand and silt downstream. The 

high rainfall which caused massive erosion and 

heavy siltation of the river channels, restricted 

the two dams in the area from supplying water 

to the major water treatment plant in 

St. Patrick. 

Residents were completely unprepared for the 

local disaster and did not withhold their 

criticism of the National Water and Sewerage 

Authority (NAWASA), Grenada’s national 

supplier of water and sanitation services. 

The St. Patrick residents blamed the 

Authority for not carrying out mitigation 

measures to minimise or prevent the 

occurrence of such a disaster. 

With no water flowing into the treatment plant, 

approximately 12,000 persons in the 

communities which it serves, were left without 

water for five days; a record in service 

disruption for such an isolated event. 

Affected dam in St. Patrick. 

Amidst the criticism by residents, the 

NAWASA saw the disaster as a unique 

opportunity to engage the affected communities 

and country as a whole in looking at the 

benefits of an Integrated Water Resources 

Management (IWRM) approach. 

Images of one of the dams in St. Patrick completely 

covered by rock and silt. 

IWRM can be described as a holistic approach 

to managing water that takes into 

consideration that different uses of water are 

interdependent. This means that water 

allocations and management decisions consider 

the effects of each use on the other. The 

approach is also grounded in the understanding 

that water resources are an integral component 

of the ecosystem, a natural resource, and a 

social and economic good. 


16

In considering an IWRM approach, the 

NAWASA sought to involve the affected 

communities in rehabilitating the damaged 

dams. The St. Patrick’s parish proposed a 

community meeting with twenty-one nongovernmental 

organisations (NGOs) from the 

area which saw the planning of approaches for 

assisting with the post-disaster restoration and 

recovery efforts. These stakeholders were able 

to highlight to the NAWASA the need for the 

development of viable long-term solutions to 

alleviate possible future occurrences of a similar 

nature. 

A church youth group in the community also 

took action through voluntary assistance. Over 

twenty youths from the church group, 8 of 

which were females, braved the treacherous 

climb to the dam and laboured for six hours in 

digging out the debris deposited by the river 

into the dam enclosure. The leader of the group 

expressed enthusiasm on behalf of the 

volunteers, and indicated that the effort had 

heightened their awareness of the challenges 

faced in managing water resources and sparked 

their interest in learning more. 

Community members work to clear the dams. 

The first clearance attempt by the volunteers. 

The local disaster has helped to build awareness 

and understanding of the values and benefits of 

IWRM and planning and it has also made the 

staff of the NAWASA and the Grenadian 

consumer more aware of the vulnerability of the 

Water Authority’s facilities to climate 

variability. 

In light of what happened in St. Patrick, the 

NAWASA has taken steps towards preventing 

re-occurrences of a similar nature and as a 

short-term solution has created a protection 

mechanism for the rosehead of the dams to avoid 

blockage. 

The Authority continues to seek alternative 

mitigation measures to reduce the vulnerability 

of its facilities to natural disasters; and is in the 

process of developing long-term strategies and 

policies to address these threats and issues. One 

such strategy has been the preparation of 

drought and disaster management plans. 

Volunteers working together to clear the 

dams. 

Contributor: The National Water and Sewerage 

Authority (NAWASA) 


Women, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Suriname 

Access to a safe water supply, good sanitation and 

hygiene are essential for a healthy and decent 

quality of life. However, many rural communities 

throughout the world have limited access to a safe 

and reliable water supply and suitable sanitation 

facilities. Moreover, women and girls are deemed 

the most affected stakeholders in terms of water, 

sanitation and hygiene. This is because 

traditionally they have been associated with the 

responsibility for the water supply, sanitation and 

hygienic maintenance of the home. 

In the Caribbean region there are various 

non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that are 

cognizant of women’s central role in the provision 

and safeguarding of water and their vital role in 

terms of sanitation and hygiene upkeep. One such 

organisation is the National Women’s Movement 

(NVB) in Suriname who became partners of the 

Global Water Partnership-Caribbean (GWP-C) in 

August 2011. 

The NVB is a NGO focused on the areas of 

economic empowerment; capacity building of 

women's organisations; legal aid; housing; and 

health. In addition, the organisation is the 

Coordinator of the National Steering Group on 

Water, Sanitation and Waste Management in 

Suriname and has implemented several water and 

sanitation programmes particularly for women in 

the less developed areas in the interior of 

Suriname. 

Water Supply 

In 2006, the National Women’s Movement 

(NVB) in collaboration with World Waternet 

and the Suriname Water Company executed a 

drinking water programme in the hinterland 

of Suriname. Through the programme, water 

installations were set-up in three villages and 

to date an estimated two thousand villagers 

now have access to clean drinking water in the 

villages of Asindonhopo, Bendekonde and 

Akisiamau. 

Asindonhopo 

Bendekonde 

Here’s a look at three initiatives spearheaded by 

the NVB aimed at improving and building 

awareness on water management, sanitation and 

hygiene for women and other stakeholders in 

Suriname: 

Akisiamau 


18

Eco-Sanitation 

From 2007 to 2010 the NVB coordinated a 

National Consortium on Water, Eco-sanitation 

and Waste Management; executing the ISSUE-2 

Programme which was about empowering local 

stakeholders to develop and implement practical 

solutions to overcome urban environmental 

problems, and meet the Millennium Development 

Goals (MDGs). This programme was supported 

by WASTE, World Waternet, Women for Water 

Partnership and the United Nations 

Environmental Programme. The eco-sanitation 

project was implemented in six villages in the 

upper Suriname region in the interior. 

The launch of the first Urine Diverting Dry 

Toilet (UDDT or eco-toilet) took place in 2009, 

with the involvement of a local dignitary, who 

assisted with awareness raising on this subject. 

The concept of this system is that urine and other 

excrements are stored separately above the 

ground. 

In the beginning of the Programme there were 

social and cultural constraints. However, the 

eco-toilet became a huge sanitation solution for 

the women and elderly in the hinterland. With its 

introduction, the women in the villages are not 

forced to go to the bushes and rivers when nature 

calls; instead they can use the facility in the 

privacy if their homes. 

Jolina, a blind woman who lived with her sick 

mother in the village of Akisiamau, got her 

eco-toilet in 2009. For her and her mother this 

was a relief and a way of being independent and 

comfortable. 

Majolina, a mother and grandmother, is also 

very satisfied with her own eco-toilet and finds 

it very convenient. Majolina is also the Chair 

of a local women’s organisation “Hoi Tanga” 

that strongly advocates for development of the 

community. 

Majolina and her family. 

Peer to Peer Water, Sanitation and Hygiene 

Training 

From March 1 st to 3 rd , 2012, the Water and 

Sanitation Unit of the NVB in collaboration 

with World Waternet, organised a Peer to 

Peer Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) 

Training at two primary schools, in the areas 

of Godo and Djumu, in the Suriname interior. 

This model is based on the fact that people 

will not only change based on what they 

know, but also through the opinions and 

actions of their trusted peers. The main goal of 

the training was to raise awareness at the 

schools on the importance of water, sanitation 

and hygiene. Through this project, the NVB is 

thriving to create a “Life-Long Good Hygiene 

Habit” amongst the pupils. 


Jolina 


Three teachers and nine peer educators participated in 

this training. With the training received, the teachers 

and peer educators can now organise educational 

activities for both children and adults in their 

communities and share knowledge on water, sanitation 

and hygiene. 

Contributor: The National Women’s Movement 

Pupils and teachers from the schools O.S. 

Godo and EBGS Djumu. 

Professional Certificate in Strategic Water Planning 

The International Centre for Parliamentary Studies (ICPS) is offering a course in Strategic Water 

Planning from December 10th - 13th, 2012 in London. Course participants are expected to develop 

essential skills for understanding regulation, governance and sustainability of the water sector. 

Early Registration: August 21st, 2012. 

Visit www.strategicwater.parlicentre.org for more details. 

Upcoming Events 

GWP Consulting Partners Meeting 2012: “Beyond Rio+20: Water as a Catalyst for 

Climate-Resilience Development” - August 26 th , 2012, Stockholm 

World Water Week: “Water and Food Security” - August 26 th - 31 st , 2012, Stockholm 

21 st Annual Caribbean Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA) Conference 

and Exhibition: “Water and Waste Management in the Caribbean: Real Strategies and 

Solutions” - October 1 st - 2 nd , 2012, Bahamas 

8 th Caribbean High Level Session (HLS) Ministerial Forum: October 4 th - 5th, 2012, 

Bahamas 

Inter-American Water Day - October 6 th , 2012. 

20

Three Caribbean Women Receive International Water Law Scholarships 

1 2 3 

1. Alana Lancaster - Environmental Lawyer, Lecturer and Natural Resource Management Specialist 

Nationality: Barbadian 

2. Judy Daniel - Attorney-at-Law and Environmental Management Specialist 

Nationality: Trinidadian 

3. Nadia Joseph - Geography Teacher and Post-Graduate Student in Water and Environmental Management 

Nationality: St. Lucian 

Three Caribbean nationals, Ms. Judy Daniel of 

Trinidad and Tobago; Ms. Nadia Joseph of 

St. Lucia; and Ms. Alana Lancaster of Barbados 

were among 30 persons from across the globe to 

receive scholarships to undertake an 

International Water Law (IWL) course at the 

University of Dundee in Scotland from June 11 th 

to 29 th , 2012. 

The IWL Scholarship Programme is an 

initiative of the Global Water Partnership 

(GWP) and the United Nations Educational, 

Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) 

IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and 

Science at the University of Dundee. 

Ms. Daniel, Ms. Joseph and Ms. Lancaster were 

eligible to apply for the IWL scholarship due to 

their affiliation with the GWP-C. All three 

women are members of partner organisations of 

the GWP-C. 

GWP-C had the opportunity to communicate 

with the three participants following the 

completion of their training in Dundee and here 

is some of what they had to say about the 

experience: 

Nadia Joseph (St. Lucia) 

Ms. Nadia Joseph of St. Lucia explained that the 

training in International Water Law (IWL) 

would assist her in her studies as she is 

currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Water 

and Environmental Management. She pointed 

out how pertinent the course was to her studies 

as she came to realise that proper water 

management requires good legislative and 

policy knowledge. 

She explained that as a Geography teacher, she 

can use the knowledge from the training to 

educate her students on the critical importance 

of water. 

Ms. Joseph pointed out that one of the most 

important lessons learnt at her training in 

Dundee was the increasing need to have persons 

aware of the current status of water and how 

one can ensure that water, which has no 

substitutes, is protected. 

Feature continued on the following page… 


She also noted that the training showed her how 

fortunate her country of St. Lucia was in 

relation to critical issues such as transboundary 

watercourses as transboundary water laws are 

not applicable in the Caribbean region. 

She further stated that the issues of upstream 

and downstream are still evident and persons 

must be aware that everyone has a right to 

water. 

Ms. Joseph stressed how beneficial the training 

in IWL was to her but suggested that the 

course could be extended to three weeks instead 

of two. She pointed out that the two week 

course was very demanding and embodied a lot 

of information which is initially not easily 

understood by persons with a non-law 

background. 

Another suggestion by Ms. Joseph to improve 

the programme was the idea of having small 

tasks assigned to persons to discuss and debate. 

She said that this would better prepare course 

participants for the formal assessments such as 

oral law pleading, written pleading and a 

research paper. She pointed out that being 

someone with no prior training in law, there 

was a lot of work to be covered for her to be 

sufficiently prepared for the course 

assessments. 

Judy Daniel (Trinidad and Tobago) 

Ms. Judy Daniel, Attorney-at-Law and 

Environmental Management Specialist shared 

that the course provided an invaluable 

opportunity to expand her network of water 

professionals. 

When asked about ways in which the IWL 

programme can be improved, Ms. Daniel 

suggested that the course take on a more 

practical and cross-cutting approach to address 

more areas in IWL such as governance issues, 

involvement of local communities, regulatory 

arrangement, small island states; among other 

issues. 

Ms. Daniel pointed out that if the 

objective of the IWL course was to certify an 

understanding of the IWL Convention to 

non-lawyers, then that objective was met. 

Alana Lancaster (Barbados) 

Ms. Alana Lancaster, Environmental Lawyer 

and Lecturer in Environmental and 

International Environmental Law stated that 

the IWL workshop provided an excellent 

opportunity for her to build her capacity in the 

discipline at one of the leading centres of 

excellence in water law in the world. 

She explained that the overall experience at 

Dundee was rich and rewarding. Ms. Lancaster 

said that the training course included the 

participation of a wide-cross section of 

academics and professionals which enabled her 

to expand her knowledge in the area of 

international water law as well as to consolidate 

research she is currently undertaking in the area 

of international environmental law. 

Ms. Lancaster pointed out that many of the 

programme’s participants were drawn from 

various regions in the world, and from a range 

of professional backgrounds concerned with the 

management and administration of water 

resources. This diversity and inter-disciplinarity 

she said provided unique, as well as shared 

knowledge on the topic. 

She noted that lessons learnt from her IWL 

training will be shared in academic and 

professional fora in the Caribbean region and at 

The University of the West Indies (UWI), 

Cavehill Campus where she lecturers. This 

would include the Faculty of Law and the 

Centre of Resource Management and 

Environmental Studies (CERMES) at the UWI. 

22

Caribbean Water Insight 

Special Thanks to: 

The National Institute of Higher Education Research, Science and Technology (NIHERST) 

Rocrops Agrotec 

Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) 

The Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN) 

International Water Law Scholarship Recipients - 

Ms. Judy Daniel, Ms. Alana Lancaster and Ms. Nadia Joseph 

The Knowledge Management Team of 

the Global Water Partnership (GWP) 

The National Water and Sewerage Authority (NAWASA) 

The National Women’s Movement 

————————————————————————————————————————-- 

Photo Credits 

Asociacion Vigilantes de la Calidad del Agua (AVA) 

Cover Page 

Handbook on Rainwater Harvesting for the Caribbean by the 

Caribbean Environmental Health Institute (CEHI) 

Page 4 

Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) 

Page 8 

Mr. Ricardo Rojas (Photographer) 

Page 13 

Fondes Amandes Community Re-forestation Project (FACRP) 

Page 15 

CONTACT US 

GWP-C Secretariat, c/o NIHERST, 43-45 Woodford Street, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, W.I. 

Tel: +868 622 3117, Fax: +868 622 1589, E-mail: info@gwp-caribbean.org 

Website: www.gwp-caribbean.org

Caribbean Water Insight - August 2012 (Vol 3, Issue 2)

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