Mercury Storage and Disposal in the Caribbean Project Inception Workshop

A 2 day Inception Workshop entitled "Mercury Storage and Disposal Project in the Caribbean" was hosted by the Basel Convention Regional Centre for Training and Technology Transfer for the Caribbean Region (BCRC-Caribbean) and the United Nations Environment Programme - Division of Technology, Industry and Economics (UNEP/DTIE). The Workshop was held from August 12-13, 2015 at the Hilton Hotel and Conference Centre, Port of Spain, Trinidad.

The Project aims to enhance capacities and promote the environmentally sound storage and disposal of surplus mercury in 3 selected countries in the Caribbean (Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Suriname). It also serves as a catalyst in the action towards ratification of the Minamata Convention on Mercury.

In attendance at the Workshop were representatives of relevant government agencies of the 3 countries, the CARICOM Secretariat, the BCRC-Caribbean and UNEP Chemical Branch as well as an international consultant. Ms. Keima Gardiner, Environmental Engineering Specialist, Environmental Policy and Planning Division and Ms. LaToya Smith, Legal Officer represented Trinidad and Tobago at the Workshop.

Participants of the Mercury Storage and Disposal Workshop including (from L-R) Ms. Smith and Ms. Gardiner of the Ministry of Planning and Development.

The meeting served as a prime opportunity for the UNEP Chemical Branch to present and utilise the Practical Sourcebook on Mercury Waste Storage and Disposal, which will be the primary guide during the roll-out of the Project. It also provided the opportunity to establish the mechanism for decision-making processes, as well as develop a work plan which outlined the project activities, resources and requisite personnel for the 12 months of project implementation in the respective territories.