On Tuesday 14th October,
2013 a meeting was held at the Point Lisas Chamber of Commerce, Couva with the
daily paid Forestry Staff on the transformation of the Forestry Division to the
Forest and Protected Management Authority (FPAMA) from 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
The purpose of
this consultation was to sensitise staff members about the FPAMA and the
potential of benefits this transition. Most importantly, it was to give daily
paid establishment of the Forestry Division a forum to voice their concerns and
comments regarding the establishment of the new Authority.
Mr. Carlton Roberts,
Director of the Forestry Information Unit and Forest Resource Inventory and
Management (FRIM); Forestry Division opened the meeting with a prayer and welcoming
remarks. He was then followed by a
presentation by Dr. David Persaud, Environmental Manager of the Environmental
Policy and Planning Division; Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources.
Dr. Persaud
updated staff on the status of the transformation process of the Forestry
Division to the FPAMA. Daily paid staff
of Forestry was also given an overview of the proposed institutional
arrangement and potential benefits of the FPAMA by Dr. Floyd Homer, Biodiversity
Specialist, Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources. After the
presentations, there was an open discussion facilitated by Mr. Roberts. During
this session, staff had the opportunity to raise concerns and pose questions to
members of the head table.
 |
| View of the facilitator and members of the head table. From L-R: Mr. Roberts, Mr. Byer, Mr. Rattansingh, Ms. Bartlett Alleyne, Dr. Ramlogan, Mr. Seepersad, Mr. Simpson, Dr. Persaud and Dr. Homer |
The head table included Mr. Jonny Seepersad, Conservator of
Forests, Mr. Clifton Simpson, Second Deputy President General, National Union
of Government and Federated Workers (NUGFW), Ms. Jillian Joy Bartlett-Alleyne,
General Secretary, NUGFW, Mr. Ajodia Rattansingh, Human Resource Manager,
Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Reginald Byer, Industrial
Relations Specialist, Dr. Rajendra Ramlogan, Legal Drafting Consultant for the
Draft Forestry, Protected Areas and Wildlife Conservation Bill, Dr. Persaud,
and Dr. Homer.
 |
| Daily Paid Staff of the Forestry Division in attendance |
Many issues were
raised and suggestions made about the transformation of the Forestry Division
to the FPAMA. These concerns included, among other things, transition of
related current posts into the Authority, inconsistences in the operations of
Forestry Division being transferred in the new Authority, and the status of
outstanding matters at the CPO’s office and pending compensation, re-visiting
of the proposed Bill.
Concerns about job security especially for persons that have been
working at the Division for a short period of timeopportunities for
younger employees in the Authority pensions and other employment
benefits/ flexibility especially for single parents, the time-frame for the
realisation of the Authority, safety on the job, and fear of victimisation and favouritism were also raised. At the end of
the session, Mr. Roberts thanked the staff for their time and airing their
views.
>> For further updates on the status of the transition to the FPAMA and/or
to give comments, stay tuned to the Green Days by EPPD blog. Presentations and
written comments from this meeting can be accessed below:
The Subcommittee for the Matura Forest and Coastal Zone Pilot Protected Area recently undertook its first field trip to examine current issues pertaining to management of the area. 
