On September 30, 2025 the Water Chemistry Laboratory welcomed two distinguished visitors: Ms. Carla Cueva, the newly appointed Programme Management Officer in the Technical Cooperation Division of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and Ms. Lisa Sinclair from the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ).

 

The visit served as an important opportunity to review the impact of IAEA-donated equipment and to discuss the ongoing and future work of the laboratory. Discussions were held with Dr. Debbie-Ann Gordon-Smith, who provided an overview of how the IAEA’s support has significantly enhanced the lab’s capacity to conduct critical water quality assessments and contribute to national and regional research. Also present during the visit were Mr. Andrew Green and Mr. Daniel Gillings, both of whom are actively engaged in the execution of ongoing water quality and monitoring projects. Their presence helped illustrate the hands-on application of the IAEA-supported equipment in real-world environmental challenges.

 

This visit highlighted the vital role of international partnerships in building local scientific capacity and advancing Jamaica’s national development goals in water resource management. The Department is grateful for the continued support of the IAEA and PIOJ and remains committed to leveraging these collaborations to address pressing environmental issues.