THE UNITED States Government has committed another US$1.9 million to the Coastal Water Quality Improvement Project (CWIP) to develop an integrated management approach to improve coastal water quality in Portland.
CWIP2, follows the successful conclusion last year of CWIP1, a project funded jointly by the United States Government through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Government of Jamaica's National Environment & Planning Agency (NEPA).
CWIP1 worked with communities in Negril, Ocho Rios and Portland to implement programmes and strategies to improve coastal water quality.
IDENTIFYING MEASURES
Dr. Scott McCormick, chief of party of the CWIP projects said that CWIP2 will work with the Portland Parish Council, the Portland Parish Development Committee, and Port Antonio communities to identify approaches and means to improve the provision of planning and environmental management services to residents of the parish.
In addition, CWIP will assist the Port Antonio Marina and Beach and four beaches in Negril, Montego Bay, and Ocho Rios to achieve Blue Flag certification this year. Blue Flag is an international certification programme for beaches and marinas which comply in compliance with four sets of criteria relating to clean water quality, safe bathing areas, existing environmental management systems, and promotion of environmental education.
CWIP is no stranger to Portland, and has partnered with a Parish Development Committee Task Force during CWIP to initiate an integrated approach to environmental management.
Through the task force, whose representatives comprise organisations such as the Parish Development Committee and Social Development Commission, much has been achieved. Grants to the Portland Environment Protection Association (PEPA) for example, funded an environmental education programme and the development of 26 community action plans.
Garbage skips were placed throughout the community, advocacy training was conducted, analyses of solid waste highlighted issues and a water quality monitoring programme was developed in association with the College of Agriculture Science & Education (CASE).
PROJECTS TO BE IMPLEMENTED
CWIP2 will implement demonstration projects with the aim of developing increased capacity of parish or community-based organisations to lead and influence sustainable planning. Emphasis will be placed on the strengthening of the Parish Council and the Parish Development Committee and other parish-based civil society groups. Support will also be given to the NEPA to strengthen its water quality monitoring programme.
In addition, CWIP will support the development of an Advisory & Monitoring Committee (AMC) as the leading advocacy group for the improvement of water and sanitation in Portland.
The AMC is a voluntary committee of community stakeholders organised by the National Water Commission (NWC) to advise the NWC on the development of wastewater issues in a particular location. With CWIP assistance the AMC concept was successfully pioneered in Negril, Montego Bay, and Ocho Rios where they are still active.
Howard Batson, director of the Office of Environment, USAID, said that CWIP2 will help Portland achieve sustainable development. Noting that the parish "is poised for great developments", he said that USAID wanted to do its part to ensure they were ready for it.
Mr. Batson said that "the integrated approach is absolutely necessary to ensure sustainability of resources for future generations". He noted that lessons learnt from CWIP1 were not only informing CWIP2 but initiatives elsewhere in the Caribbean and case studies from the Jamaica experience are to be presented at the White Water to Blue Water Conference to be held in Miami next month.
