CARIBSAN 2008 …

                                       CARIBSAN 2008
                                      Kingston, Jamaica
                                     April 28 and 29, 2008

     "Integration of Sanitations Policies into National Development Plans in the
                                 Caribbean Region"

                          KINGSTON RECOMMENDATIONS


We, the Representatives from the countries of Antigua/Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, Guyana,
Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, St. Kitts/Nevis, Suriname, Trinidad &
Tobago, that took part in the Caribbean Workshop on Sanitation (CARIBSAN 2008) in Kingston,
Jamaica, from April 28 to 29, 2008, with the participation of Ministers, Ministers of State,
professionals of institutions of the sector, scholars, members of the civil society, non governmental
agencies, donor agencies, development agencies and the private sector hereby:

     i)   Acknowledge that access to and improvement of basic sanitation services together with
          the appropriate management of waste water and solid waste and compliance with good
          hygiene practices significantly contribute to human wellbeing through the protection of
          health, environmental conservation, and the reduction of poverty;

     ii) Recognise the fact that the majority of the people with no access to an improved
         sanitation system belong to the poorest and most vulnerable groups of the population,
         including rural communities, informal settlements in peri-urban areas, women and
         children in particular and that economies of most of our countries which rely on tourism
         are at risk due to the inadequate management of sanitation;

     iii) Agree that although existing published statistical data suggest high levels of sanitation
          coverage, the situation on the ground reveals that, despite some improvement through
          work of government, civil society and private sector, much is still to be done;

     iv) Taking note that in December 2006, the United Nations General Assembly concerned
         by the slow and insufficient progress in achieving the sanitation targets declared 2008
         the International Year of Sanitation, and is "Convinced that progress can be achieved
         through active commitment and action by all States, including at the national and local
         levels, as well as United Nations agencies, regional and international organizations, civil
         society organizations and other relevant stakeholders"

     v) Affirm our commitment to achieve the basic sanitation targets of the Millennium
        Development Goals (MDGs) and the objectives of the International Year of Sanitation,
        and commit ourselves to enhance progress toward the provision of appropriate sanitation
        systems, based on specific planning.

     In support of the main objectives in the International Year of Sanitation we aim to:

     a. Ensure real commitments to develop national sanitation policies to establish the
        legislative and institutional frameworks to improve sanitation, allocate clear
        responsibilities to achieve this objective within the national and international context as


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   well as develop and implement effective actions leading to the implementation of
   sanitation programs by:
       · Prioritizing and integrating sanitation in national development policies and plans,
           including the sustainable management of waste water, solid waste, sanitary
           disposal of excreta, and the promotion of good hygiene practices, in order to
           improve health and environmental protection, especially with regard to the
           population in informal settlements, urban-marginal and rural zone

       ·   Incorporating sanitation issues in Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation Plans
           based on the vulnerability of the region to natural disasters

       ·   Incorporating sanitation issues in national physical development (land use) plans
           and policies to effectively promote public health and safety in the siting and
           approval of developments

       ·   Agreeing on the definition of sanitation across the region, evaluating the real
           situation across the region and standardizing modalities for monitoring sanitation
           in Caribbean countries and for presentation of realistic data

       ·   Establishing a multi sector body at the national level, including civil society to
           oversee and monitor the implementation of sanitation policies and to report on
           progress

       ·   Mobilising additional resources for sanitation by signing on to other regional
           environmental agreements

b. Assess the financial needs and explore alternative and innovative options to ensure
   increased financial support to facilitate sustained progress through national budget
   commitments, and from other sources, including cooperation agencies, financial
   institutions, private sector and civil society in order to:
       · Provide specific sources of financing for household on-site sanitation solutions

       ·   Provide sanitation solutions for communities at an affordable price

       ·   Provide income generating opportunities for the community in development
           and/or application of on-site sanitation

       ·   Provide incentives to individual home owners, community based organisations,
           private sector entities, hoteliers and industries for water conservation and
           wastewater reuse and recycling


c. Increase awareness and commitment of actors at all levels, both inside and outside the
   sector, regarding the importance of attaining the sanitation MDGs, including health,
   gender equity, economy and environmental issues, with convincing communication,
   strong monitoring data, revealing evidence, and inclusion of the youth by specifically:

       ·   Promoting the participatory approach to addressing sanitation issues




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        ·   Instituting education and outreach programmes to change public perception of
            the latrine as a viable sanitation solution where water supply is inadequate and
            where unsuitable soil conditions exist

        ·   Providing public education on hygiene and sanitation to promote positive
            behaviour change

        ·   Providing capacity building for communities to prepare documentation to source
            financing, implement solutions and evaluate projects

        ·   Developing and implementing mechanisms to facilitate and enhance the role of
            Civil Society in contributing to sanitation programmes and projects

        ·   Developing and implementing mechanisms to enhance cooperation among
            NGOs in the region

d. Mobilize governmental counterparts (regionally, nationally and locally) and existing
   alliances by engaging, financial institutions, sanitation service providers, industrial
   groups, manufacturers, Chambers of Commerce, the private sector, United Nations
   agencies, through quick cooperation agreements determining by whom and how the
   necessary steps shall be taken.

e. Promote sustainable and traditional solutions based on demand, and make informed
   decisions that acknowledge the importance of working upward from the baseline with
   both professionals and the communities;

f.   Develop and strengthen human and institutional capacity through the acknowledgment,
     at all levels, of the progress attained in sanitation toward the MDGs, involving inter-
     sectoral programs on hygiene, household installations (such as bathrooms and
     lavatories), access to safe water and sanitation services, and waste water treatment.
     This can be achieved by:

        ·   Strengthening of civil society organizations at all levels to enable them to support
            community initiatives in water and sanitation

g. Increase sustainability as well as the effectiveness of available sanitation solutions, to
   enhance the impact on health, social and cultural acceptance, technological and
   institutional appropriation, and the protection of the environment and natural resources
   by:
       · Ensuring that water projects and programmes always include provisions for
            sanitation

        ·   Promoting waste as a resource, as an income generating stream at the national,
            regional and local levels

        ·   Ensuring that there is gender mainstreaming (identification and consideration of
            the specific roles and responsibilities of men and women) in sanitation projects
            and programmes




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            ·   Developing alternative mechanisms for solid waste management especially in
                rural areas where curbside collection is not possible

            ·   Developing standards and templates for on-site sanitation solutions in rural areas

            ·   Focusing attention on schools and implementing programmes to upgrade and
                maintain acceptable levels of sanitation in schools

            ·   Ensuring that the effects of climate change are considered when designing and
                selection sanitation solutions


     h. Promote and give priority to sanitation at the regional level and establish mechanisms to
        cooperate regionally to achieve the required sanitation targets and goals by:
           · Including sanitation on the agenda of the next CARICOM Heads of Government
              Meeting and on other relevant Ministers Meetings; provide information on the
              likely environmental, social and economic costs of not addressing sanitation

            ·   Establishing mechanisms to share information and promote technology suitable
                to the region at Government and Civil Society levels regionally

            ·   Sharing experiences on best practices for addressing sanitation issues among
                Caribbean and Latin American countries

            ·   Strengthening inter-governmental cooperation in the region through the
                enablement of a work team of CARIBSAN countries, composed of high level
                representatives from member countries, who will work together on sanitation
                strategies and monitor progress towards improving access to sanitation within
                their countries and will organize a similar conference in 2 years -CARIBSAN
                2010- in order to report on the progress attained.

We acknowledge the commitments made by donor, technical cooperation and development
agencies who have pledged support for future initiatives geared at addressing sanitation issues in
the region by offering technical assistance, promoting awareness and providing an opportunity for
financial support.

We are indeed grateful for the support and sponsorship of our partners who assisted in making
this Workshop a reality: the United Nations Department of Economic & Social Affairs; Water and
Sanitation Programme - World Bank; Global Water Partnership - Caribbean; Ministry of Water and
Housing; Pan American Health Organisation; Water Resources Authority (Jamaica); CAN CARA;
Environmental Foundation of Jamaica.

Finally, we express our deepest appreciation to the Government of Jamaica and its people, for
their successful participation as the host country of the Caribbean Workshop on Sanitation,
CARIBSAN 2008, for their most warm and friendly welcome and for decisively contributing to the
success of this Workshop.




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