Op-Ed: Water and Caribbean Development

The international community recently commemorated World Water Day exploring the theme Water and Sustainable Development. World Water Day is set aside to bring global awareness to the many individuals who suffer from water related issues, such as, no or poor sanitation facilities, as well as, diseases such as, dysentery and diarrhea.

The vast majority of the Earth’s water resources are salt water, with only 2.5 per cent being fresh water. Approximately 70 per cent of the fresh water available on the planet is frozen in the icecaps of Antarctica. According to the Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture, one in three people are already facing water shortages (2007).

Caribbean countries have been implementing various measures to control the use of water as the region experiences a prolonged drought.