MINISTER without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Matthew Samuda is now off to Santiago, Chile, to represent Jamaica at the 2023 Regional Water Dialogues.

The objectives of the water dialogues are to analyse the progress of Sustainable Development Goal #6 (water and sanitation) with respect to the commitments to accelerate its implementation in Latin America and the Caribbean and move towards a sustainable and inclusive water transition.

There will also be an exchange of experiences and lessons learned to achieve the objectives of the Decade of Action for Water 2018-2028 and the launch of a regional agenda for action for water with a multi-stakeholder approach.

"The Government of Jamaica's approach as part of the policy measures instituted is to provide universal access to potable water and adequate sanitation by 2030," said Samuda.

"This series of dialogues will provide a perfect opportunity for us to share on a global platform, the achievements of the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation in the management of water resources, along with the maintenance of water infrastructure to meet demand and the treatment of waste water," Samuda added.

The dialogues will feature ministers, members of academia, and other high-level national authorities from Chile; Barbados; Antigua & Barbuda; Trinidad & Tobago; St Kitts & Nevis; Dominican Republic; Colombia; the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation; and the University College of London among others.

The sessions of the Regional Water Dialogues 2023 are oriented towards the themes of the UN Water Conference 2023 which are:

i) Water and Climate;

ii) Water and Sustainable development;

iii) Water and Financing;

iv) Water and Cooperation;

v) Water, Energy, and Food.

Organised by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, the event is part of the regional preparatory process for the UN Water Conference to be held in March.