Pacific and the Caribbean sign water management MOU [1]
Thursday, April 23, 2015 - 22:04. Updated on Wednesday, July 15, 2015 - 13:41.
The Pacific Water and Wastewater Association PWWA and the Caribbean Water Associations have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to foster interregional cooperation.
The Chairman of the PWWA, Opetaia Ravai signed the MOU during the 7th World Water Forum 2015 in South Korea from 12-17April.
The purpose of the MOU according to Opetaia is to facilitate cooperation for better water and sanitation services between the two areas and would include capacity development through shared experience, expertise and knowledge.
“A better utilization of resources and an increased awareness of shared issues between the two areas is of significant importance as we move forward,” said Opetaia.
The World Water Forum is held every three years, and the 2015 forum was attended by 38,000 participants.
According to a Press Statement from the Water Authority of Fiji; Opetaia Ravai is also the Chief Executive officer of the Water Authority of Fiji that when Opetaia spoke at the Forum, he reviewed the challenges facing the 26 water and wastewater facilities of PWWA member countries.
He also highlighted the vulnerability of island atolls such as Kiribati and Tuvalu, and pointed out the importance of expanding the role of PWWA’s Secretariat to better serve the region and solicited financial support from funding agencies.
The membership of PWWA comprises Pacific Island water and wastewater utilities as well as international water authorities, private sector equipment and services supply companies, contractors and consultants.
The PWWA operates a temporary secretariat in Apia, Samoa through KEW Consult Ltd. with a full-time Activities Coordinator and a voluntary part-time executive director assisted by all KEW Consult staff. The Executive Board of Directors comprises of senior managers from some utilities in the region, whom are elected at every Annual General Meeting.
The countries which are members of PWWA are: American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, Tokelau, Guam, Samoa, Cook Islands, Marshall Island, Tuvalu, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu, Palau, Nauru, Niue, Kiribati.