PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – The Caribbean Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA) will be meeting here next month under the theme ‘Water and Waste Resources: Key Drivers of Sustainable Development in the Caribbean’.

The conference, to be held October 24-28, coincides with observance of the organisation’s 25th anniversary.

Last year’s event was hosted in Miami, Florida, and previous gatherings have been hosted at locations throughout the insular Caribbean. It is considered to be the region’s platform for discussion of important developments related to water resources management in the Caribbean.

High-level speakers, policy makers, development partners, experts, practitioners, academia and the corporate sector will assemble at the Hyatt Regency in Port of Spain to discuss several key thematic issues.

Presentations will focus on applied research, case studies, and lessons learnt, promising new technologies and the application of old or appropriate technologies with proven track records will also be highlighted.

The main areas of coverage will include water resources, wastewater, solid waste and a variety of other issues related to the sector including climate change and building resilience to deal with challenges such as drought conditions.

The 12th High Level Forum of Caribbean Ministers Responsible for Water is expected to take place at the conference.

The event is expected to attract over 400 local, regional and international participants. The participants will include exhibitors displaying new innovations and technologies in the water and waste management industries.

Membership of the CWWA comprises water and waste utilities from throughout the Caribbean, experts, students and the corporate sector from the Caribbean and North and Latin America. It is the premier water and wastewater professional association in the Caribbean.

Apart from its members, the association has a strong network of partners including the United Nations Environment Programme, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, Inter-American Development Bank, Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre.

Other agencies include the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), UN Habitat, the Caribbean Community Secretariat, and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency, among others.