Source - Latin America and the Caribbean

Jamaica: water commission loses US$ 11.4 million due to fraud

07 Oct 09

Jamaica’s National Water Commission (NWC) has lost over US$ 11.4 million in revenue in 2009 due to fraud and theft, a local newsaper reported.

Peru: president Garcia sets aside US$ 7.4 million for rural water and sanitation

07 Oct 09

Peru’s President Alan García has signed a supreme decree that authorises the transfer of US$ 7.4 million for 139 municipalities to carry out 174 potable water and sanitation projects.

Peru, Apurímac: Ministry launches pilot potable water plan for conflict areas

03 Sep 09

Peru’s housing, construction and sanitation minister Francis Allison has announced a pilot potable water project in Apurímac region as part of a plan to provide services in areas of conflict. The project seeks to relocate small communities and create new city models.

Honduras: new national water law declares access to water a human right

02 Sep 09

The plenary of the Honduran congress has approved the nation’s general water law, which declares access to water a human right. The law also establishes the creation of an autonomous national water authority.

Mexico, Mexico City: water scarcity could cause “spiral of violence”, human rights commission warns

02 Sep 09

Mexico’s federal district (DF) human rights commission CDHDF has warned that the capital’s growing water shortage could cause a “spiral of violence”. Low-income families are paying more for water of lower quality and only receive it at certain hours of the day, a situation that is causing social unrest.

Bolivia: huge glacier disappears

10 Jul 09

Scientists in Bolivia say that one of the country’s most famous glaciers has almost disappeared as a result of climate change. The Chacaltaya glacier, 5,300m up in the Andes, used to be the world’s highest ski run. But it has been reduced to just a few small pieces of ice.