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Protecting Barbados’ Water Supply

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#Barbados, March 16, 2018 – The United Nations considers universal access to clean drinking water to be a basic human right.  According to the World Health Organization, one-tenth of the global disease burden could be prevented by increasing access to safe drinking water; improving sanitation and hygiene; and improving water management to reduce the risks of water-borne diseases.

In Barbados, the Ministry of Health is one of the agencies charged with protecting the island’s water supply through a programme of systematic monitoring and surveillance.

According to environmental health specialist in the Ministry, Steve Daniel, the programme’s objective is to identify any potential hazards or risks in the drinking water supply within the distribution system; and in the event that hazards are identified, to promptly take the steps necessary to resolve the issues.

He assured: “Our methodologies allow us to quickly respond to put mitigation measures in place for the protection of public health.  As it relates to drinking water, Barbadians can be assured that the Ministry of Health utilises all its resources and follows all internationally recognised standards and protocols for the monitoring of water.”

The water quality specialist defined good drinking water as water that was free of pathogenic or toxic materials.  “Outside of that, there are also what we call organoleptic properties of water, which speak to the quality in terms of taste, colour and odour.  Good drinking water is free of colour, taste and odour.”

Barbados’ water supply originates in underground aquifers that are accessed through the digging of deep wells, while a small percentage comes through the desalination process.  It is pumped by the Barbados Water Authority to the reservoirs and from there, feeds into the distribution system.

Water wells are located only in Zone One protected areas, where development is restricted to minimise the potential contamination of the water supply aquifer from disposal waste.

The Environmental Health Department conducts routine sampling of potable water on a weekly basis within seven public health catchments, as well as the ports of entry. A minimum of 44 samples is delivered to the Best-dos Santos Public Health Laboratory for analysis each week.

Mr. Daniel explained that the findings which would constitute a public health threat related to microorganisms that fall within the coliform group. “Within that group of microorganisms, I’m making reference to E-coli, total coliform and faecal coliform. In addition, toxic chemicals that can be in water are periodically tested for by the Environmental Protection Department, which collaborates with the Ministry of Health.”

In light of the challenges posed by the sewage spills on the south coast, the Ministry official said the Environmental Health Department was particularly focused on the area to make sure that public health was maintained.

“The methodology that is employed there is a risk assessment methodology, whereby the focus is on chlorine residual testing that is done on a weekly basis, in addition to taking the routine samples.”

He explained that the purpose of chlorine residual tests, which were carried out on site, was to determine the level of chlorine in the water.  “The reason we do this is that chlorine has an inverse relationship with pathogenic microorganisms, so in other words, the presence of chlorine to satisfactory levels basically indicates to us that the risk of dangerous microorganisms is low.

“In the case where the officer suspects there may be a need for further investigation, the samples are taken, the appropriate chain of custody forms filled out, and the protocols in terms of delivering in ice and within the correct time periods are followed in terms of delivery to the laboratory for analysis.”

The water quality specialist also cautioned householders about the importance of making sure that their water filters and storage tanks were properly maintained, since failure to do this could also affect water quality.

“Water can start at the source and be safe as it relates to the chemicals that are added to protect it.  And, it can continue to be safe throughout the distribution system.  However, there are many environmental factors that can affect your quality when it is delivered at your tap.”

Mr. Daniel said that a household filter, which was not maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations, could become a source of delivery for all the residue or contaminants that it was intended to remove.  The same was true for water storage tanks, he submitted, and he advised that these containers should be routinely cleaned and sanitised.

“So, if you go on vacation, for instance, and you don’t use your water for a period of time, you must appreciate that the water in your tank will stagnate.  When water stagnates, it basically allows for the build-up of some microorganisms, such as pseudomonas, or what we sometimes refer to as heterotrophic plate count microorganisms.”

The growth of these microorganisms, he disclosed, could significantly impact the quality of water received at the tap and would not necessarily be a reflection of what started out at the source.

Mr. Daniel, therefore, advised: “There is some responsibility on householders to understand how their water supply system works and to monitor it, so that they can put correct measures in place to ensure that they are receiving the safest possible supply of water.”

By: Joy Springer (GIS)

joycspring@gmail.com

 

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CARPHA Progresses to Eligibility for the First Disbursement of Pandemic Funding

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Following a landmark Public Signing Ceremony for the Pandemic Fund (PF) Technical Cooperation Agreement (“Reducing the Public Health Impact of Pandemics in the Caribbean through Prevention, Preparedness, and Response” [RG-T4387] Project) on December 14, 2023, in Trinidad, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) continues to progress towards the start of implementation.

 CARPHA fulfilled the IDB’s nine conditions prior to first disbursement, achieving full eligibility on March 15, 2024, and is now eligible for the first disbursement. This milestone achievement in just 3 months after the signing speaks to the commitment of both CARPHA, the Executing Agency, and IDB, the Implementing Entity, toward the regional PF project with the objective of supporting the reduction of the public health impact of pandemics in the Caribbean by building pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (PPR) surveillance & early-warning systems (EWS), laboratory systems and workforce capacity, regionally at CARPHA and in countries.

Since the signing of the Technical Cooperation Agreement and as part of the conditions prior to first disbursement, CARPHA has achieved the following key outputs (i) the development of the PF Project Operations Manual, Multi-annual Execution Plan, Procurement Plan, Financial Plan, Procedure for CARPHA’s Financial Reporting System; (ii) vacancy announcements for two tranches of consultants with the subsequent hiring of five (Technical Coordinator, Financial Specialist, Procurement Specialist, Operations Officer and Project Operations Coordinator) and (iii) the establishment of the Project Execution Unit (PEU) and Project Execution Steering Committee (PESC). The dedicated PEU will be responsible for execution according to its planned timelines, which will be led by the Dr. Lisa Indar, the Project Director (CARPHA’s Director of Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control Division).

 CARPHA, as the lead regional public health agency and an expression of Caribbean Cooperation in Health is mandated by its Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) to support its 26 CARPHA Member States (CMS) in bolstering national systems and coordinating regional response to public health threats. The Agency works closely with regional and international agencies and uses regional mechanisms, surveillance systems, and networks for coordinating its public health response work.

In July 2023, the PF Governing Board announced that CARPHA’s regional entity proposal, entitled ‘Reducing the Public Health Impact of Pandemics in the Caribbean through Strengthened Integrated Early Warning Surveillance, Laboratory Systems and Workforce Development’ was successfully selected for the first round of financing. It was one of only 19 proposals selected from over 300 submissions and the only regional project. The three priority areas in the proposal are: (i) Comprehensive disease surveillance and EWS, (ii) Laboratory systems and (iii) Human resources and public health and community workforce capacity.

This project is expected to begin implementation in March 2024, starting off with a blended onboarding session. A Stakeholder Meeting with countries is tentatively planned for July 2024.

CARPHA remains dedicated to working together with the IDB, CARPHA Member States and the Pandemic Fund to successfully implement the regional proposal geared toward reducing the public health impact of pandemics in the Caribbean.

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Men who had Murdered Man, Marley Higgs’ cell phone face Court

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Wilkie Arthur

Freelance Court Correspondent

The prosecution intends to try two young North Caicos men, both age 21 for the offense of possession of property of a murdered man, property that was stolen and landed in their possession.

The phone belonged to Peureton ‘Marley’ Higgs, who is believed to have been an innocent gunned down at his apartment complex in the Glass Shack area in a spray of bullets on February 2 that killed another man and wounded two others, including a ten-year-old little girl.

The cell phone was described as white in colour, an iPhone, in a hard black case. 

On Monday, March 18th, JEFFVANO HANDFIELD of North Caicos pleaded not guilty to the offense, and the matter was adjourned to April 2024. He was granted bail in the matter.

A second North Caicos man was charged similarly.  

SARENO CAPELLAN aka, Kino Williams is the second individual brought before the court pertaining to the said cellphone. He appeared in court a week after JEFFVANO HANDFIELD, the date being Monday March 25th 2024.

The case for the Crown is that both men sometime in February of this year possessed the cellphone knowing or suspecting it to be stolen property.

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Supreme Court Closed for Easter

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NOTICE is hereby given that the Easter Recess shall commence on Friday 29th April, 2024 and end on Friday 5th April, 2024. During the Easter Recess Judge Selochan will be available to deal only with matters that are urgent or require prompt attention.

Court Business During the Easter Recess

A person who wishes to have a matter heard during the recess must file a certificate of urgency along with an affidavit, which must set out the reasons why the matter is urgent or requires prompt attention. The matter will not be listed during the recess unless the Judge deems it fit for urgent hearing.

Opening Hours During the Easter Holiday

The Supreme Court’s last sitting day for the first term is Thursday 28th March, 2024. The Court will officially resume sittings on Monday 8th April, 2024. The Supreme Court Offices in both Grand Turk and Providenciales will continue to operate while the Court is not sitting during the recess.

The Court Office will be closed on the following public holidays:

  • Friday 29th March, 2024 (Good Friday) CLOSED
  • Monday 1st April, 2024 (Easter Monday) CLOSED

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