The Nation's Water Supply and Sanitation Services to be Enhanced with Loan from the IDB

Tue, Feb 4th 2025, 03:46 PM

The Bahamas Government has signed an agreement with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to enhance the country's water supply and sanitation services.  A signing ceremony was held during the IDB's XIII Annual Consultation with Caribbean Governors Conference held at Baha Mar Convention Centre, February 3, 2025.  The loan will be used to upgrade potable water by improving the water supply coverage, service quality, operational efficiency, and financial performance of the Water and Sewerage Corporation (WSC).

IDB President Ilan Goldfajn said that the signing signaled an 'important step' in the continued collaboration between the IDB and The Bahamas. 

“We are confident that this project will make a significant difference in the provision of water and sanitation services to more Bahamians and improve their lives,” said President Goldfajn. "This program aims to improve potable water services coverage in the Family Islands and New Providence, and sanitation services reliability in New Providence.  Additionally, it will improve the operational and financial performance of the WSC through water loss reduction and smart metering, as well as its governance and that of the water and sanitation sector." He said that the first loan will be beneficial to the majority of the population. 

"The first individual loan will directly benefit 65,000 households (235,000 people), 48,103 in New Providence and 16,897 in the Family Islands, by improving the provision of drinking water services.  Additionally, nearly 10,500 households in New Providence will benefit from improved access to reliable sewerage collection services," he said. "Furthermore, 573 households (1,530 people) in the Family Islands and 645 households (2,400 people) in New Providence will benefit from the expansion of potable water supply coverage."

He also said that the entire Bahamian population would benefit indirectly from the strengthening of the sector's policy-making capacity and regulatory framework, improved governance and operational efficiency of the WSC, and greater resilience in access to drinking water through enhanced efficiency in its use.

The IDB's Board of Executive Directors approved this operation in November 2024 as part of a Conditional Credit Line for Investment Projects (CCLIP) totaling US$100 million, with an initial loan of US$50 million under this credit line. This signing formalizes the agreement with the government of The Bahamas and enables the start of project execution.

The Bahamas Government has signed an agreement with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to enhance the country's water supply and sanitation services.  A signing ceremony was held during the IDB's XIII Annual Consultation with Caribbean Governors Conference held at Baha Mar Convention Centre, February 3, 2025.  The loan will be used to upgrade potable water by improving the water supply coverage, service quality, operational efficiency, and financial performance of the Water and Sewerage Corporation (WSC).
IDB President Ilan Goldfajn said that the signing signaled an 'important step' in the continued collaboration between the IDB and The Bahamas. 
“We are confident that this project will make a significant difference in the provision of water and sanitation services to more Bahamians and improve their lives,” said President Goldfajn. "This program aims to improve potable water services coverage in the Family Islands and New Providence, and sanitation services reliability in New Providence.  Additionally, it will improve the operational and financial performance of the WSC through water loss reduction and smart metering, as well as its governance and that of the water and sanitation sector."
 
He said that the first loan will be beneficial to the majority of the population. 
"The first individual loan will directly benefit 65,000 households (235,000 people), 48,103 in New Providence and 16,897 in the Family Islands, by improving the provision of drinking water services.  Additionally, nearly 10,500 households in New Providence will benefit from improved access to reliable sewerage collection services," he said. "Furthermore, 573 households (1,530 people) in the Family Islands and 645 households (2,400 people) in New Providence will benefit from the expansion of potable water supply coverage."
He also said that the entire Bahamian population would benefit indirectly from the strengthening of the sector's policy-making capacity and regulatory framework, improved governance and operational efficiency of the WSC, and greater resilience in access to drinking water through enhanced efficiency in its use.
The IDB's Board of Executive Directors approved this operation in November 2024 as part of a Conditional Credit Line for Investment Projects (CCLIP) totaling US$100 million, with an initial loan of US$50 million under this credit line. This signing formalizes the agreement with the government of The Bahamas and enables the start of project execution.
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