The Caribbean Water and Sewerage Association (CAWASA), being a regional organisation of water utilities in the Caribbean, strives to bring together experts and practicioners of the water sector in the region and beyond. In its dedication to serving the growth and development of its members, CAWASA collects and disseminates knowledge and experiences through different channels. In this effort, a new means of knowledge distribution has been launched recently: the H2Operator Caribbean Podcast.T...

In its continued efforts to tackle the matter of non-revenue water in light of climate change, WASCO proudly hosts a Regional Training on the Demand and Distribution of Water. This training, which forms a part of the CATS-supported consultancy on Institutional and Organisational Strengthening of WASCO and Regional Water Utilities, is implemented by experts of the CONSULAQUA-COMO Consortium.The four-day training, taking place from July 1st to 4th 2019, brings together almost 20 technicians and ha...

The Soufriere Scotts Head Village Council has been one of CATS key partners within the Soufriere Scotts Head Marine Reserve (SSMR) Watershed in Dominica. Together, we have worked collaboratively on the Alums Stream Project, beach clean activities, community sensitization programs and well as support to fishermen and other interventions aimed at improving livelihood support and adaptation to climate change. This partnership continues to blossom and bear fruit. During CATS' most recent engagem...

The Caribbean Aqua-Terrestrial Solutions (CATS) Programme works with a number of governmental agencies and groups in selected watersheds across three focal countries in the Eastern Caribbean to improve research and data collection for environmental management. Best practices and effective monitoring of environmental parameters is hinged on accurate and reliable data for timely decision making. The use of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) is revolutionizing how these critical datasets and monitoring ...

On the occasion of the World Biodiversity Day on May 22nd, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) hosted a fair on Morne Fortune, Castries, and invited various organisations from all over Saint Lucia to create awareness and consciousness about the importance of local and global biodiversity.Under the theme "Our Biodiversity, Our Food, Our Health", almost twenty exhibitors showed their projects and products and how biodiversity affects their work. The Caribbean Aqua-Terrest...

One of the crucial aspects to increase climate resiliency of a water utility is to reduce its water losses. The calculation is simple: with less water being lost in the network, water can be provided to consumers in higher quantity, quality and reliability, especially in times of low availability at the source.In a consultancy project implemented by CONSULAQUA through the CATS programme since November 2018, the Saint Lucian water utility WASCO is supported in, amongst others, improving network o...

On Friday, Apr 12th, 2019, the Fond St. Jacques Development Committee hosted a Business Simulation Exercise for two agro-processing businesses located in Fond St. Jacques, Soufriere: Jacq-Co Valley Products Ltd. and Rainforest Foods. The exercise was conducted by professionals of the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (SALCC), namely by Dr. M. Lashley, Ms. Faye Henry, Ms. M.L. Catty and Mr. E. Ottley.The exercise, also referred to as a Micro Business Game, has been developed as “a highly i...

The use of Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), more commonly known as Drone technology, is now becoming more accepted as a tool to enhance monitoring and management of marine and terrestrial ecosystems. The Caribbean Aqua-Terrestrial Solutions (CATS) Programme recognises that this technology is vital to the management of marine protected areas of watersheds, and has therefore embarked on a regional capacity building technical support initiative in its partner island territories of Saint Lucia, Grenada...

The Caribbean Aqua-Terrestrial Solutions (CATS) Programme Phase II (Building Climate Resilience from the Ridge to the Reef), during the period of November 19th – 30th 2018, as part of a regional capacity building initiative, trained 18 ecosystems management officers in the operation and application of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS, "drone") technology, for environmental monitoring and management. The training also featured the participation of the Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA)...

The CATS programme, together with multiple partners in Saint Lucia and Grenada, has engaged on utilisation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles - commonly referred to as Drones - for environmental monitoring and management. The CATS programme's regional implementing partner CARPHA (Caribbean Public Health Agency) is already actively making use of a UAS system to support and guide interventions related to the CATS programme. The activities are planned to be further extended in the future, allowing CARPHA-...