GRULAC Preparatory Meeting for the 2019 Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, Conference of the Parties

The Regional Preparatory Meeting for the 2019 Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Conference of the Parties (COPs) was held in Montevideo, Uruguay from March 27^th-30^th, 2019. Trinidad and Tobago participated as a Party to the three (3) multilateral environmental agreements in the chemicals and waste cluster: the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, which are commonly referred to as the BRS Conventions. The country was represented by Ms. Keima Gardiner, Waste Management Specialist, Multilateral Environmental Agreements Unit, Environmental Policy and Planning Division, Ministry of Planning and Development. The Ministry of Planning and Development serves as the Focal Point to these Conventions.

The aim of the regional preparatory meeting was to provide the GRULAC Parties with an opportunity to consult with each other in advance of the meetings of the triple BRS COPs, identify regional priorities and challenges, consider meeting documents and discuss substantive matters with an aim of arriving at regional positions in advance of the COPs.

The meeting was attended by a total of ninety-one (91) participants, including sixty (60) representatives from twenty-six (26) Group of Latin American and Caribbean Countries (GRULAC) countries. The agenda of the Preparatory Meeting comprised of a three (3) day session on a range of topics, inclusive of a small ceremony to commemorate the thirtieth (30^th) anniversary of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Waste and their Disposal.

Under the joint BRS session, the main topics of discussion were on technical assistance and the Basel and Stockholm Convention Regional Centres, of which Trinidad and Tobago is the host country for the Basel Convention Regional Centre for the Caribbean region. Discussions also centred on the two (2) chemicals under consideration for listing to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs); PFOA, its salts and PFOA-related compounds, and dicofol, and those proposed for listing under the Rotterdam Convention, namely: acetochlor, hexabromocyclododecane, phorate, carbosulfan, chrysotile asbestos, fenthion and paraquat formulations. Under the Basel Convention, the key issues related to marine litter and plastic waste, household waste, the technical guidelines on POPs, e-wastes, mercury wastes and landfills, and the Ban Amendment which was established to prevent disposal of hazardous wastes in specified territories.

There was a also a Gender Training Workshop and an Information Session on the Minamata Convention on Mercury, held in conjunction with the preparatory meeting. The objective of the interactive Gender Training Workshop was to improve understanding of gender, promote mainstreaming and describe how it contributes to the sound management of chemicals and waste, as well as to catalyse implementation of the BRS Gender Action Plan. During the information session on the Minamata Convention on Mercury participants were apprised about the emerging technical, policy and financial issues under the Minamata Convention. 

Ms. Keima Gardiner - T&T's representative at the 2019 GRULAC Preparatory Meeting

GRULAC Delegates at the Regional Preparatory Meeting

The Caribbean Contingent at the GRULAC Preparotory Meeting - Ms Keima Gardiner (2nd from right)

First National Interagency Workshop for the Norway ODA Mercury Storage and Disposal Project

The First National Interagency Workshop for the Mercury Storage and Disposal Project in the Caribbean was held on Wednesday 18th, May 2016 at the Ministry of Planning and Development’s Conference Room on Level 26, Tower D, International Waterfront Complex, Port of Spain.

The Project which is funded through the Norway Overseas Development Assistance (ODA), aims to enhance capacities, promote the environmentally sound storage and disposal of surplus mercury, and support the ratification and early implementation in three (3) selected countries in the Caribbean: Jamaica, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.

 In attendance were members of the National Working Group which is a multi-sectoral body comprised of representatives from ministries, government agencies, the oil and gas sector, dental association, civil society and academia. Ms. Keima Gardiner represented the Ministry of Planning and Development at the Workshop.

Participants at the First National Interagency Workshop for the Mercury Storage and Disposal Project in the Caribbean was held on Wednesday 18th, May 2016

This Workshop was designed to facilitate coordination of the various project activities which include:

• an inventory of mercury waste streams, 
• survey and analysis of possible temporary storage locations, 
• review of the regulatory framework, 
• assessment of basic management options, and 
• the development of a national storage and waste management action plan

The presentations delivered throughout the session focused on these project activities, along with guidance on potential local generators for use in supplying data to the inventory. The session closed with the country representatives’ presentation on the documented sources of mercury in Trinidad and Tobago and a revision of the country work plan based on the input of participants. This project is carded for completion by December 2016.

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.

Regional Workshop in Support of the Ratification and Effective Implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury

The Regional Workshop in support of the Ratification and Effective Implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury was held in Montevideo, Uruguay, from the 16th to 17th of April 2015 hosted by the Minamata Secretariat,.

In attendance at the Workshop were regional Parties to the Minamata Convention (e.g. Guyana, Dominican Republic, and Jamaica), as well as representatives from the regional Parties to at least one of the following: the Stockholm, Rotterdam or Basel Conventions. Ms. Keima Gardiner, Environmental Engineering Specialist, Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources represented Trinidad and Tobago. 

Ms. Gardiner with a tuna-can model of a shark that was created by school  children and presented to Uruguayan Government Officials in an effort to raise awareness of mercury poisoning and the Minamata Convention at the  Regional Workshop.

Additionally, there were members from Basel and Stockholm Regional and Coordinating Centres, an array of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and intergovernmental government organisations (IGOs), and representatives from the BRS Secretariat. 

The Workshop commenced with a joint session between the Minamata and the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions on matters related to financing and coordination and cooperation. The remainder of the two-day session focused on matters related to the inter-governmental negotiating committee (INC), financial mechanisms and enabling activities to support implementation, technical advice on ratification and regional country-level experiences on the process of ratification or implementation of the Convention.

Trinidad and Tobago benefited from attending this regional workshop as there was current information presented about this hazardous chemical, and the progress made on the implementation of the Convention from a Secretariat and country scale. This feedback can be used to facilitate informed decision making and policy development as the country arrives at a definitive position on the issue of ratification of the Minamata Convention.

 

 

 

Sub-Regional Workshop for the Caribbean Countries in support for the Ratification and early Implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury

The Sub-regional Workshop for Caribbean countries in support for the Ratification and early Implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury was held from 19th to 21st January, 2015 at the Hilton Trinidad, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. 

 

The Workshop was  hosted by the Interim Secretariat of the Minamata Convention in conjunction with the Basel Convention  Regional Centre for the Caribbean (BCRC-Caribbean). Designed to ensure the appropriate enabling  environment is created at the country level, the Workshop was intended to  facilitate the effective and efficient implementation of the Minamata Convention in the interim period until it enters into force.

In attendance were government representatives of twelve (12) Caribbean countries and delegates from Latin American countries. Additionally, local and sub-regional stakeholder organisations involved in the manufacture, use or management of mercury were also present. Ms. Keima Gardiner, Environmental Engineering Specialist from Environmental Policy and Planning Division, Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) was among the representatives of the Trinidad and Tobago delegation.

Representatives from regional, inter-governmental, and non-governmental organisations also participated in the meeting. These organisations included: CARICOM, United  Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), Global Environmental Facility (GEF), UN Development Programme (UNDP), United States Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), officers from UN Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (ROLAC) and its Division of  Technology, Industry and Economics and IPEN. 

Permanent Secretary of the MEWR, Ms. Vidiah Ramkhelawan delivered the feature remarks at the Workshop. She encouraged participants to utilise the three day session to expand their knowledge base in an effort towards developing resolute, collaborative and comprehensive decisions with respect to the environmentally sound management of mercury in their respective territories.

The forum involved an exploration into each of the Articles of the Minamata Convention with group  activities for certain key provisions and culminated with participants creating a draft country road map for the ratification and early implementation of the Convention.

Participants of the Sub-Regional Workshop for the Caribbean on the Implementation of the Minamata Convention in January, 2015 including Mr. Kishan Kumarsingh (Head, Multilateral Environmental Agreements Unit, MEWR ( Front row, second from the left), Ms. Ramkhelawan (front row, middle)  and Ms. Gardiner (back row,  first from the left)