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item: http://hdl.handle.net/2134/3971

Title:  Regional integration - a way forward for

improved water and sanitation services in the
Caribbean
Authors:  Martin, N.A.
Sohail (Khan), M.
Keywords:  Caribbean
Regional integration
Water and sanitation
Issue Date:  2003
Citation:  MARTIN, N.A. and SOHAIL (KHAN), M., 2003.
Regional integration - a way forward for
improved water and sanitation services in the
Caribbean. [Presented at:] 2nd Meeting of the
Academic Forum of Regional Government for
Sustainable Development, Conference on
Regional Governance for Sustainability, 17-19
September, Fremantle, Western Australia
Abstract:  Regional integration has been used with varying
success to overcome disadvantages associated
with small size. The fundamental premise for
regional cooperation in the Caribbean has been
the promotion of economic development
particularly in the manufacturing and industrial
sectors. The opportunity exists however, for use
of a regional approach to develop strategic
responses to other issues essential to
sustainable development such as service
delivery. Infrastructure, particularly water and
sanitation, has a significant positive effect on
regional socio-economic development. This
capacity for development is however
predetermined by investment and development
policies and is limited by the financing capacity
of governments. Fragmented spending on
infrastructure may not be sustainable in the
long-term and renewal of economic growth
requires accompanying investment in
infrastructure. The current trend of increased
private sector involvement in water and
sanitation provides an alternative to financing
this sector, as well as the potential for better
use of existing financing. Determinants for
 attracting private investment include market
size and institutional capacity. Regional
cooperation in water and sanitation services
across the Caribbean is an option for achieving
market power and realising socio-economic
benefits of increased investment on a large-
scale. An integrated approach to water and
sanitation service delivery in the context of
sustainable governance is essential to regional
development in the Caribbean. This concept of
a regional approach poses several challenges
which include: (1) Determining an appropriate
scale and geographical extent for regional
cooperation; (2) Prioritising national agenda for
water and sanitation services within a regional
framework; (3) Determining the nature of
private sector involvement within a regionally
coordinated sector; (4) Cross-boundary
regulation of a regional strategy to water and
sanitation services.
Description:  This is a conference paper.
URI:  http://hdl.handle.net/2134/3971
Appears in Collections: Conference Papers (WEDC)