Can-Cara Limited Showcases Jamaican Water Sector Leadership at CARIF 2026
Panelists for the Water & Wastewater: Reliability & Rethinking Delivery Models from left to right: Glaister Clive Cunningham, Water and Sanitation Sector Senior Specialist, Inter-American Development Bank, moderator; Henry J. Charrabé, Chief Executive Officer, Seven Seas Water; Honourable Matthew Samuda, Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change, Jamaica; William Squier Gonzalez, Portfolio Development Advisor, UNOPS in the Caribbean and Head of Office for UNOPS Jamaica; and, Robert J. Taylor, Chairman, Can-Cara Limited
Miami, Florida — September 16, 2026 – Can-Cara Limited, Jamaica's largest private water and sewerage company, reinforced its position as a regional infrastructure leader at the 10th Caribbean Infrastructure Forum (CARIF 2026), held at the Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove in Miami on 15–16 September. The company participated as both sponsor and panellist, joining government ministers, multilateral representatives, and private operators from across the Caribbean to address the pressing challenges of water security, sustainable financing, and climate-resilient service delivery.
Jamaica emerged as one of the forum's most prominent voices. Dr. The Most Honourable Andrew Michael Holness, ON, PC, Prime Minister of Jamaica, opened Day One with a wide-ranging discussion on the country's reconstruction and resilience agenda following Hurricane Melissa. His remarks covered road redevelopment as a national priority, the expansion of digital connectivity, and the legislative and institutional structures required to mobilise investment and accelerate project delivery. The Prime Minister's participation signalled Jamaica's intent to lead, not simply participate in, the regional infrastructure conversation.
That leadership carried through to the water sector. Can-Cara’s Chairman Robert Taylor joined The Honourable Matthew Samuda, Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change and other Water sector leaders on the high-level panel "Water & Wastewater: Reliability & Rethinking Delivery Models," bringing a government perspective to the discussion on regulation, investment, and delivery reform. Together, they represented a coordinated Jamaican voice on the most pressing questions facing Caribbean utilities.
Robert Taylor drew on Can-Cara's operational experience to offer practical insights into hybrid public-private partnership (PPP) models, developed through the company's ongoing collaboration with the National Water Commission (NWC). A centrepiece of Can-Cara's contribution was its exclusive contract to provide potable water and wastewater services for the Greater Bernard Lodge Development — one of Jamaica's most significant new townships. The model leverages Can-Cara's existing wells and gravity-fed sewage systems, operates within a robust regulatory framework overseen by the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) and environmental agencies, and incorporates an impact fee on developers to help fund capital expenditure.
"Our role at this conference reflects Can-Cara's commitment to being more than a utility operator — we are a strategic partner in Jamaica's climate and development agenda," said Robert Taylor, Chairman of Can-Cara Limited. "By working alongside government, regulators, and international partners, we are proving that well-structured PPPs can deliver reliable, high-quality water services while protecting both consumers and the environment."
Throughout the forum, Can-Cara emphasised that PPPs should be understood as genuine partnerships with public utilities rather than competition — built on clear risk allocation, performance-based delivery, and financing structures that attract patient capital. The company also highlighted how its model supports climate-resilient urban growth at Greater Bernard Lodge and contributes to Jamaica's national water security goals.
Given the infrastructure challenges shared across the region, Can-Cara's hybrid PPP approach was recognised as a scalable template with clear application in other Caribbean territories — particularly those grappling with high non-revenue water rates and limited public capital.
Looking ahead, Can-Cara reaffirmed its commitment to innovating in PPP and financing structures, investing in sustainable and environmentally sound systems, and sharing lessons with Caribbean and international partners as the region adapts its infrastructure to a changing climate.
Left to right: Wilfred Baghaloo, Partner, PwC Jamaica; Stephan Rampair, Deputy CEO, Can-Cara Limited; Donna Lincoln, Director, Can-Cara Limited; Joseph Lincoln, Founder & CEO, Can-Cara Limited; Lair Hall, Director, Can-Cara Limited; and, Robert Taylor, Chairman, Can-Cara Limited
About Can-Cara Limited
Founded in 1999 and headquartered in St. Andrew, Jamaica, Can-Cara Limited is the country's largest private water and sewerage company. With the capacity to serve up to 100,000 connections across potable water and wastewater services, Can-Cara made history in 2002 as the first privately owned water, wastewater, and sewage treatment provider in the Caribbean. The company operates groundwater wells and gravity-fed sewage treatment systems primarily in St. Catherine, the fast-growing urban extension of Kingston, and is a trusted partner to the Government of Jamaica and the National Water Commission.