Meeting of the English Speaking Caribbean and Haiti Ozone Officers

The United Nations Environment Programme Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (UNEP ROLAC) along with the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis hosted the Meeting of the English Speaking Caribbean Ozone Officers held during the period March 18-21, 2013 in Basseterre, St. Kitts.

Trinidad and Tobago was represented by Dr. Marissa Gowrie; the National Ozone Officer and Ms. Neera Singh, Ozone Assistant both from the National Ozone Unit (NOU); Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources. Representatives from the UNEP OzonAction ROLAC and Paris Office, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and national stakeholders from St. Kitts and Nevis were also present.

The meeting focused on:

• Major decisions coming of the 24th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol and the Compliance Status of the Montreal Protocol in the Caribbean Network 
• Major issues addressed in the 23rd Meeting of the Open Ended Working Group of the Montreal Protocol
• Recent decisions of the Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund Secretariat and the implications for the Caribbean Region
• Certifications and licensing systems  for technicians (case study on a system set up by the Belize Ozone Unit)
• Graduate level course on the Management of Ozone Depleting Substances in progress to be implemented at the University of the West Indies and its benefits to the Caribbean region
• Implementation of the Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) Phase Out Management Plans (HPMPs)

This forum provided a distinct opportunity for the English Speaking Caribbean and Haitian Ozone Officers to share and learn from each others' experiences.
 

Sensitisation Training for Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Technicians on Hydrocarbon Refrigerants

The National Ozone Unit (NOU) embarked on a drive to educate technicians on the use of hydrocarbon refrigerants as a preferred alternative to hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) in the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Sector. 

Trinidad and Tobago opted to utilise this new refrigerant because it is :

safe for the environment  


it is Non-Ozone Depleting and; 

does not cause Global Warming unlike the Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) alternatives currently available.

These series of training sessions took place in both Trinidad and Tobago during 2012 and early 2013. The final training session occurred in Tobago on 15th January, 2013 at Crowne Point Beach Hotel. Technicians were sensitised about hydrocarbon use and the safety precautions required when using these hydrocarbons. In addition, they were also refreshed on proper refrigeration practices.

The  facilitator, Mr. Vernon Ramjattan of the  National Energy Skills Centre (NESC)  (front, centre) and Dr. Marissa Gowrie, National Ozone Officer  (front, left) from the NOU, Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources  addressing the technicians in a training session held in Tobago.

2 day Seminar on Hydrocarbon Sensitization

In keeping with T&T's commitment to phase out ozone depleting substances (ODS) as mandated by the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, a Hydrocholorfluorocarbon (HCFC) Phase Out Workshop was recently conducted with stakeholders of the air conditioning and refrigeration industry.  

The Workshop was held by the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, in collaboration with the University of the West Indies (UWI) and the United Nations Environment Programme - Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (UNEP-ROLAC) during the period September 27-28, 2012.

UWI's Professor Gurmohan Kochhar addressing the participants of the Seminar

The workshop concentrated on many aspects of the refrigeration and air condition industry and the foam sector. It also marked an opportunity for senior decision makers to gain a wider view on how business practices can be changed to improve companies’ green business performance, including energy efficiency, climate and ozone impacts.

Facilitators were:

1. Professor Gurmohan Kochhar - Professor of Mechanical Engineering, UWI St. Augustine 
2. Mr Alvin Daniel - Engineering and Refrigeration Consultant
3. Dr. Marissa Gowrie - Deputy Environmental Manager and National Ozone Officer, Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources

Dr Gowrie, National Ozone Officer giving the participants an introduction to the Montreal Protocol

25th Anniversary Celebration of the Montreal Protocol and Launch of NIHERST Ozone Awareness Display

The Montreal Protocol celebrates its 25^th year of existence in September, 2012.  World Ozone Day is celebrated each year on September 16^th.  The National Ozone Unit, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme and National Institute of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (NIHERST) launched the Ozone Awareness Display at the NIHERST Science Centre on September 14, 2012 in commemoration of World Ozone Day and to mark the 25^th Anniversary of the Montreal Protocol. 

The Honourable Ganga Singh, Minister of the Environment and Water Resources was there to receive a commemorative plaque for Trinidad and Tobago’s important contribution to protecting the ozone layer.  The display serves to build awareness for children on both the damaging effects of chemicals (such as CFCs and HCFCs) on the ozone layer and how to protect themselves from harmful UV radiation from the sun as a result of the weakened ozone layer.

 Dr Marissa Gowrie presenting a token of appreciation to Ms Maureen Manchouck, President of NIHERST

Senator, The Honourable Minister Ganga Singh interacting with the Ozone Display

Ms Rosemary Lall (UNDP Representative)  presenting the Commemorative Plaque for the 25^th Anniversary to the Minister

Hydrocarbon Sensitisation Training

The National Ozone Unit comprising Dr Marissa Gowrie (National Ozone Officer) and Ms Neera Singh (Ozone Officer) held Hydrocarbon Sensitisation Training sessions over the month of August 2012. 

The dates and venues of the sessions included:

• August 6th and 10th, El Sororro
• August 7th, Macoya
• August 8th, Couva
• August 27th, San Fernando
• August 30th, Tobago 

A key obligation of Trinidad and Tobago under the Montreal Protocol is the phase-out of Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). To facilitate the phase out, the refrigeration and air conditioning sector needs to be properly trained in alternative refrigerants. This is set out in the HCFC Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP)  for Trinidad and Tobago.

One of the alternative refrigerants currently being explored is hydrocarbon, which is considered to be a green refrigerant. It is non-ozone depleting and has a low global warming potential (GWP). However, hydrocarbon is a flammable substance and therefore, proper training is required for technicians to safely work with the refrigerant.

The sessions served to build awareness of the importance of training service technicians in the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry to work with hydrocarbon systems. Mr Ruben Marchand (Hydrocarbon Expert) and Mr Vernon Ramjattan (School of Practical Air-Conditioning) were the trainers for the sessions. Stemming from these sessions, the way forward will be to begin training technicians to service systems utilising hydrocarbon as a refrigerant.                                                                                      

Dr Marissa Gowrie (National Ozone Officer) speaking at the Tobago Session

Technicians at the Hydrocarbon Sensitisation Session in San Fernando

Methyl Bromide Sensitisation Training

The National Ozone Unit held two sessions of Methyl Bromide Awareness Training for the Plant Quarantine Division of the Ministry of Food Production, Land and Marine Affairs, Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago who deal specifically with plant quarantine and fumigation.  

The sessions were facilitated by Mr Anthony Ramdeen (Consultant for the Methyl Bromide Phase-Out Project) and Dr Marissa Gowrie (National Ozone Officer) on March 23, 2012 and May 18, 2012 at the El Socorro Office of the Ministry of Housing and the Environment.  

The purpose of the training was to increase the awareness of various stakeholder groups on the Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) and Methyl Bromide, their usage and the alternatives available.  

Dr Marissa Gowrie (National Ozone Officer) addressing the participants

Mr Anthony Ramdeen, Project Consultant, demonstrating fumigant 

detection equipment to the participants

Ozone Awareness at ABS

The National Ozone Unit (NOU) continues its education of the air conditioning and refrigeration sector on the Montreal Protocol and the impending phase out of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) scheduled to begin in January 2013, through its lectures and outreach activities. 

The NOU most recently conducted training and awareness raising at Abel Building Solutions (ABS) at its Mount Hope Offices for the entire engineering department including senior staff, technical professionals and procurement officers.

Attendees were informed about the phase out targets for HCFC as well as the elements of the HCFC Phase out Management Plan (HPMP) which include equipment provision, further training in good refrigeration practices, retrofitting of equipment, and the establishment of a certification programme for technicians. 

To learn more about ABS, you can visit the company's website.

From L-R: Dr. Marissa Gowrie (National Ozone Officer), Mr. Adam Sabga (General Manager; ABS ) and Mr. Winfield Clamens (one of the founders the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry Association)

NOU partners with NIHERST

The National Ozone Unit (NOU) of the Ministry of Housing and the Environment is partnering with the National Institute of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (NIHERST) of Trinidad and Tobago to embark upon an educational and public awareness drive relating to the ozone layer. The aim of this activity is to disseminate knowledge to the public through the NIHERST National Science Centre on ozone friendly practices, the effects of ozone depletion and sun safety. 

Our National Ozone Officer, Dr Marissa Gowrie along with Ozone Assistant Ms Neera Singh, expect that an interactive way to present the information will be developed so that kids of all ages can get a chance to discover and understand the hole in the ozone layer, how it was formed and how it can heal. 

During peak times, the National Science Centre has over 300 students visiting the displays, which provides a valuable opportunity for the NOU to get their message across. The Centre has also agreed to partner with the NOU during their grand display to commemorate the 25^th Anniversary of the Montreal Protocol in September 2012. 

To learn more about the National Science Centre, you may visit their national website or their link on Facebook.

Above right: Dr. Marissa Gowrie, National Ozone Officer presenting a representative of NIHERST with educational material on the ozone layer.