During a visit to Grenada, the UK Minister for Latin America and Caribbean, Baroness Jenny Chapman, visited the Concord water intake, treatment and storage facilities to see and discuss some of the challenges of implementing the £17 million UKCIF grant to overhaul the water and sewerage network for the southern half of the island, administered through the Caribbean Development Bank and Nawasa.
It is estimated that 111,000 residents (95% of Grenada’s population) will benefit from the project. Project benefits include increased efficiency and climate resilience of the water sector and enhanced access to safe drinking water and sanitation.
Baroness Chapman also met with the Nawasa Chairman Philip Alexander, and CEO, Terrence Smith, to discuss the US$2.2 million payout to Nawasa under a new parametric insurance product launched with the UK as principal donor (US$25 million) — the Caribbean Water Utility Insurance Collective (CWUIC), with Grenada’s premiums also subsidised by the UK. This payout has helped Nawasa respond to the damage caused by Hurricane Beryl across Carriacou, Petite Martinique and Grenada, while also contributing towards building up future resilient water infrastructure.
This forms part of the broader record CCRIF (Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility) US$55.6 million payout that Grenada was awarded after Hurricane Beryl. Prior to Beryl and since its inception in 2007 (as a direct result of Hurricane Ivan which devastated Grenada in 2004) CCRIF had made 65 payouts totalling US$274 million to 17 members. The UK is a founding contributor of CCRIF, and applauds Grenada for its investment, foresight and leadership within the region on parametric insurance.
UK Minister for the Caribbean Baroness Chapman said: “The UK is committed to supporting Grenada’s efforts to enhance its water infrastructure and increase its resilience to climate change. I was pleased to visit the Concord Water Treatment Plant to see how the UK’s support will help deliver a cleaner and more reliable water supply, ensuring lasting benefits for communities across the southern region of the country.”
British High Commission, St George’s
