Basseterre, St. Kitts (MoPIEUDT NEWS) – Locally, regionally, and internationally, the reality of climate change and its devastating impacts have risen to the top of many states’ agendas. Small island developing nations, such as the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, are not immune to this issue and have also devoted considerable attention to the associated challenges.
Akin to an impending storm with deleterious impacts that nations like ours would not withstand without strategic interventions, our nation’s leaders search for a silver lining. The search has ushered our country to the doors of the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre.
“The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) coordinates the Caribbean region’s response to climate change, working on effective solutions and projects to combat its environmental impacts and global warming.”
– Excerpt from Caricom.org
CCCCC has, in collaboration with the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis, prepared the SKN TransWater Project proposal for submission to the Green Climate Fund.
“The Green Climate Fund (GCF) – a critical element of the historic Paris Agreement – is the world’s largest climate fund, mandated to support developing countries raise and realize their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) ambitions towards low-emissions, climate-resilient pathways.”
The SKN TransWater Project proposal follows a 2021 World Bank Report that describes St. Kitts and Nevis as a nation facing water scarcity. According to the GCF website, 2% of the national population has no access to safe and regular water, and four-fifths of the population experience regular water service interruptions because demand exceeds supply.
Cromwell Williams, Water Manager and Engineer at the St. Kitts Water Services Department (WSD), highlighted the local reality as follows:
“While some of us in St. Kitts might look at the recent heavy rains and think that climate change is a hoax, we have seen an 18% decrease in average annual rainfall over the past 10 years. If this trend continues or worsens, it will have very serious implications for our source of water, which is rain.
Let us, therefore, begin now to adapt and be willing to change our attitude towards water conservation. Use as little water as is necessary at all times.”
– Cromwell Williams, WSD Manager & Engineer
Williams’ words suggest that even as the country seeks viable solutions to its water supply problem through the SKN TransWater Project, the public may also derive benefit from shifting its attitude on consumption in favour of conservation.
The SKN TransWater Project is a climate-resilient development project that will transform the delivery of water in St. Kitts and Nevis by focussing on three key areas: (i) strengthening the enabling environment for low carbon, climate resilient water supply; (ii) reducing non-revenue water; and (iii) mainstreaming low carbon, climate resilient water supply systems.
The public consultation on the SKN TransWater Project, held on June 16, 2025, was attended by a diverse group of stakeholders dedicated to advancing water management and climate resilience in St. Kitts and Nevis. Notable attendees included Mr. Auren Manners, Director of the Department of Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP) within the Ministry of Sustainable Development, serving as the National Designated Authority for the TransWater Project.
Additionally, Mr. Daryll Lloyd, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, spoke briefly for the Minister of Public Infrastructure, Energy, Utilities, and Domestic Transport, the Hon. Konris Maynard, who was on official duty overseas.
Cromwell Williams and WSD Assistant Engineer Landrith Isaac added to the local representation on the panel.
Dr. Adrian Cashman, Team Leader from CEAC Solutions Ltd, along with Mrs. Nicole West-Hayes, Stakeholder Engagement and Gender Specialist, and Ms. Camile Roopnarine, Social and Environmental Specialist, emphasized the importance of community involvement and environmental considerations in project development.
A significant observation that Dr. Cashman made concerns the state of the Basseterre aquifer. Citing population density and decreased rainfall as factors that have led to residents’ dependence on that source of water, Dr. Cashman stated that the aquifer has not been able to recharge in a manner that is commensurate with the demand placed on it. He informed the audience that continuous dependence on that source, without appropriate interventions, could result in saline water intrusion and further degradation of the source and the quality of water derived from it.
Mrs. Sherise McKoy-Wilkin, a statistician from the Department of Statistics, informed the gathering about the role the department will serve in supporting the project’s objectives.
Francisco Magaña, Project Manager from the Project Management & Coordination Unit at CCCCC, represented Mr. Ryan Phillip, Project Development Specialist, showcasing cross-agency collaboration aimed at advancing the objectives of the organization.
The first night of consultations provided a medium for introducing the SKN TransWater Project to the public, and facilitated two-way engagement about the project, which is in the project preparation facility (PPF) stage.
As the group mobilizes to gather data from the public that will meet the requirements of the GCF and guide the design and future implementation of the project, it has scheduled additional public engagements in St. Kitts and Nevis.
Additional meetings are scheduled for the following locations:
Date: Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Venue: The Nevis Performing Arts Centre (NEPAC)
View Online: https://meet.google.com/bxj-poyi-efu
Date: Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Venue: St. Paul’s Community Centre
Date: Thursday, June 19, 2025
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Venue: Saddlers’ Primary School
Date: Friday, June 20, 2025
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Venue: McKnight Community Centre, Basseterre
For more information the SKN TransWater Project and the organizations participating in its development, please see the tabs below:
