Suriname joins
water Platform
PHILIPSBURG--Utilities Company GEBE Managing Director William Brooks welcomed Suriname membership to the Water Platform of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba (WNAA).
WNAA recently signed an agreement with the Suriname Water Company (SWM) allowing its participation in the collective experiences of WNAA member companies. The group’s main goals are to create a better working relationship between the water companies, to share knowledge and expertise and to assist one another in the event of a disaster.
Discussions are also taking place with the University of Suriname to establish ties for research and education on water related matters. The intention is to create an expert network between the Netherlands Antilles, Aruba and Suriname for the exchange of information and knowledge about water production, desalination, distribution and storage of water.
Recently, agreements were also signed with University of the Netherlands Antilles, Caribbean Water Technology Research Institute and the University of Delft in the Netherlands. The latter will conduct some research projects on water production on Curaçao.
“It is very important for the Water Platform of the Antilles and Aruba to establish working relationships with educational institutions and to also expand our membership. We need to work closer together in order to deal with the challenges of today and that of the future,” Brooks said.
WNAA was established in February 2005 from an idea launched during the EDCI Games (sports exchange between the utility companies of the Netherlands Antilles & Aruba) in 1993. WNAA comprises the water companies of Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, St. Maarten and now Suriname.
Last October, GEBE St. Maarten hosted the WNAA conference at The Westin St. Maarten Dawn Beach and Spa.
