Over 300 participants from the Caribbean and the Americas will converge on Jamaica later this year, as the country will be hosting a major hemispheric meeting – the Fifth Inter-American Dialogue on Water Management.

“The selection of Jamaica as host for this event is a major accomplishment,” said Donald Buchanan, Minister of Water and Housing. “The hosting of the Dialogue will allow us to put the water and other sectors on show and will provide an opportunity for the creation of partnerships, networking and investment,” he added. {{more}}

Buchanan, who was speaking on March 22 at a ceremony in Kingston commemorating World Water Day, and the commencement of the International Decade for Action in Water, also formally kicked off preparations for the Dialogue.

The Fifth Water Management Dialogue, scheduled for October 9 to 14 at the Half Moon Conference Centre in Montego Bay, will provide an opportunity for the transfer of technology and knowledge and the ‘Strengthening of Local Capacity to Achieve Global Challenges’ – the theme of the conference. The aim is to more effectively manage and develop water resources.

The first Inter-American Dialogue on Water Management was held in Miami, Florida, the second was held in Argentina, the third in Panama and the fourth in Brazil.