IDB: Stop Pushing Water Privatization in Latin America

INTER-AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK SHOULD STOP PUSHING FAILED PRIVATIZATION POLICIES IN LATIN AMERICA

Statement of Food & Water Watch Executive Director Wenonah Hauter

When the Inter-American Development Bank meets this weekend in Guatemala, it should abandon failed policies promoting water privatization and instead focus on improving public health and increasing access to clean and affordable water for low-income communities.

In much of Latin America the water and sanitation systems are in desperate need of basic maintenance, rehabilitation, and expansion. But, private corporations have been unwilling to provide the needed investment to maintain, build and expand the water systems and, instead, introduce new financial demands on the water sector.

In too many cases, IDB loans require governments to privatize their water utilities without undertaking a comparative analysis of the option of restructuring and rehabilitating the public water utilities. IDB loan conditions often result in a government commitment to water utility privatization without the participation, knowledge or even discussion among citizens, affected communities, local government officials, or parliaments. The IDB has repeatedly provided funds that enable multinational corporations with a history of failing to meet the environmental and public health needs of the local population to assume control or management of local water supplies.”

For more information, see the recently released report by Food & Water Watch titled ‚Going Thirsty: The Inter-American Development Bank and the Politics of Water“.

Food & Water Watch is a nonprofit consumer rights group based in Washington, D.C. that challenges the corporate control and abuse of our food and water resources. Visit www.foodandwaterwatch.org.