10th August, 2016 The 9th Pacific Water and Waste Water Association Conference and Expo hosted by Tonga Water Board was officially opened by the Prime Minister Hon Samuela ‘Akilisi Pohiva yesterday at Fa’onelua Convention Centre.
Representatives from member countries of the Pacific Water and Waste Water Association (PWWA), Pacific water utility members and affiliated membership attended the four-day conference under the theme ‘Our Water, Our People’.
In his opening remarks Hon ‘Akilisi Pohiva told the gathering that the theme of the conference was important to the people in the region.
“This theme is a great significance to our people. We know that water is not only for life…water is life for our people and there is nothing more fundamental to our very existence,” he said.
“This conference retells the challenges faced by the Pacific’s water sectors with several matters that’ll influence it worldwide with the changes that may cause its transformation in the future.”
“Our societies in the Pacific cannot prosper without clean, adequate and sustainable water. This conference reminds us that the major problems still remain in the Pacific as in most countries of the world and that the future decades may cause more problems in the water sector and the environment, not clearly foreseen today.”
Hon Pohiva said there were driving forces that led to the influence of the water sector and that no country can escape these challenges.
“It is widely understood that several driving forces lead to changes which sooner or later will influence the water sector worldwide. They include demographic conditions, urbanization, climate change, changes in technologies, economics and people’s attitudes and many others, will definitely affect water resources development and management in the years to come. It is generally accepted that no country can escape these excesses,” he said.
Alongside the PWWA Conference is the 2nd Water Ministerial Forum that will be opened on Friday.
Hon Pohiva stated the Ministerial Forum would provide an opportunity for government ministries in the region to address the issues affecting the Pacific’s water sector and to provide initiatives to solve it.
“The role that has been taken up by the Pacific Water Ministerial Forum has been a good indication of what the Pacific island nations could do to face water challenges in our region,” he said.
“The seven-point communique endorsed by the Government Ministers from Pacific Island countries at their inaugural Ministerial Forum last year was a document of immense importance for water resources development and management in the Pacific that will lead to stronger regional outcomes this may assist governments of the Pacific for a more effective preparedness against future hazardous phenomena, such as droughts, water scarcity, floods and climate changes.”
Tonga’s Minister of Public Enterprises, Hon. Poasi Tei reminded participants that water development was important so that people can access good, reliable and affordable water at all times.
He then urged the gathering to support PWWA’s work as the leading professional water organization in the region.
“The challenge for us as summarized from last year’s Ministerial Communique that we must be champion and to support the PWWA in its efforts to continue growing as the Pacific’s regions leading professional’s water body and by doing that we can manage our water and our people by having good service and water deliveries.”
The opening program included presentation of gifts from Pacific countries to the host country as a token of appreciation for making the conference possible.
After the official opening ceremony in Fa’onelua Convention Centre the Deputy Prime Minister Hon Siaosi Sovaleni opened the PWWA Expo at Queen Salote Memorial Hall attended by international participants. The Expo offered special side events such as product launches, technology and demonstrations.
ENDS
Issued by the: Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications