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.