 The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development, in partnership with the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre, has embarked on a collaborative effort to bolster the resilience of St. Lucia's water sector in the face of climate change. Supported by the European Union Global Climate Change Alliance, this comprehensive project aims to ensure water security for the country's population. The Wharton Sewage Company's Werner Intake currently serves as a demonstration site for climate change adaptation interventions undertaken by the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre with funding from the European Union. At the Werner Intake, the project focuses on crucial measures such as maintaining turbidity, reducing sedimentation in the river and rehabilitating river banks. Communication specialists attached to the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre, Tecla Fontenad, says the infrastructure upgrades and water intake enhancements are essential for water supply efficiency and mitigating water scarcity, particularly during the dry season. So the water sector is very vulnerable to climate change because of water scarcity because when you expect rain, you're not getting rain and when you don't expect rain, rain is coming. So because there's prediction for less rainfall, then it means there's a possibility we'll have more drought and that means less water. So the project is focusing on doing some interventions in eight islands of the 16, in eight countries of the 16 that are focused on this project and in those water interventions we are building resilience in the water sector. Recognising the significance of this endeavour, the director of the Water Resources Management Agency, Jason Ernest, emphasised the importance of integrated water resources management to strengthen resilience while also underlining the project's commitment to fostering public awareness and climate literacy as integral components of its objectives. When you're looking at building resilience in the water sector, you're looking at it from a point of view of integrated water resources management and primarily everyone is a stakeholder in that regard. Today's life, we need water for economic and social development and the water primary comes from the land and all activities take place on the land. So whatever affects the water as on the land, it ultimately affects the water resources at our collection points and in St. Lucia, our water supply is primarily surface water. So it's water that we collect in our rivers and our streams. So it is critical that everyone is aware as to what is happening and where they can play a role in building resilience, especially in this era of climate change. This project represents a significant step forward in St. Lucia's efforts to address the challenges of climate change in the water sector, demonstrating the country's commitment to sustainable development and paving the way for enhanced resilience in the water supply systems worldwide. From the Communications Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture, I am Anisia Antoine reporting.