The Board of Directors of the Caribbean Environmental Health Institute attend meeting in Washington, DC

WASHINGTON, DC – Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Health, the Hon. John Maginley participated in the meeting of the Board of Directors of the Caribbean Health Environmental Health Institute,(CEHI) which was held at the State Plaza Hotel in Washington, D.C. One of the primary roles of CEHI is to assist its sixteen member states in finding cost effective solutions to environmental health concerns on Thursday, October 4.

On the agenda was the formalization of the appointment of Mrs. Patricia Aquing as Director of the Institute. In congratulating Mrs. Aquing on her appointment Minister Maginley noted that, her “commitment to assisting the Caribbean in finding innovative solutions to combat our environmental health problems is well-known,” I therefore have no doubt that your tenure as Director would be a successful one,” the Minister concluded.

Hon. John Maginley

Among the items of critical concern to Antigua and Barbuda was a status report on projects, and in particular, a Rainwater Harvesting project which has been proposed for Antigua and Barbuda.

This project will focus on the development of rainfall catchments which can be used to augment existing water supplies. “It is well known that Antigua and Barbuda has been plagued by periods of drought over the past several years. The commencement of this project thus remains a priority for the Government of Antigua and Barbuda” Minister Maginley remarked.

Other items on the day’s agenda included a review of the host agreement with the Government of Saint Lucia, and a review of the financial situation of CEHI which included an update on quota contributions.

The Ministers were also brought up-to-date on the growth of the revenues from related services and expressed support for the capacity of CEHI to perform environmental Impact Assessments for companies and member governments, thereby enabling CEHI to generate additional resources aside from those received through quota contributions.

Minister Maginley was accompanied at this meeting by Dr. Rhonda Sealy-Thomas, Chief Medical Officer.