Over 21 officers trained in water quality monitoring and data analysis

The Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Climate Change has announced that more than 21 environmental and technical officers have completed comprehensive training in water quality monitoring, data analysis, and storage.

The training, which spanned November 2023 to October 2024, was organized in collaboration with the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC), the Center for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (CERMES), and Spatial Innovision Ltd.

Participants included officers from the Ministry of Environment, HLSCC, the Environmental Health Division, Water & Sewerage Department, Agriculture and Fisheries, National Parks Trust, and Town & Country Planning departments. They completed nine courses designed to enhance their technical skills in water quality assessment and data management.

Training highlights included advanced geographical data collection and analysis using ArcGIS software and enterprise-level geographic information system (GIS) training to improve data warehousing capabilities.

According to Project Coordinator Atoya George, the initiative aligns with the objectives of the Resilience, Sustainable Energy, and Marine Biodiversity (RESEMBID) project, which focuses on capacity building.

“Throughout the year, we hosted a series of GIS training sessions to educate participants on spatial analysis of water quality data. These workshops build on that foundation, ensuring that officers acquire the full range of skills needed,” George stated.

In September 2024, the officers also participated in a five-day workshop aimed at strengthening their abilities to assess, collect, test, analyze, and interpret water quality data, while enhancing their laboratory maintenance knowledge.

RESEMBID Senior Programme Manager Andrea Floudiotis emphasized the critical importance of water quality, stating:

“Improved water quality is central to ensuring human and environmental health. We commend the Government of the Virgin Islands’ efforts to increase its capacity to collect and use water quality data for improved evidence-based decision-making on pollution control strategies.”

The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to equipping officers with the necessary tools and expertise to safeguard water quality in the Virgin Islands.