Stakeholder Engagement on the draft National Guidelines for the RAC Sector

Trinidad and Tobago, via the National Ozone Unit (NOU) within the Environmental Policy and Planning Division (EPPD) of the Ministry of Planning and Development has made efforts to implement the Montreal Protocol through public awareness, legislation and providing training for the Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning (RAC) sector.

The Unit sought to continue efforts to enhance the RAC sector by holding stakeholder engagement sessions on the National Guidelines for the RAC Sector of Trinidad and Tobago. These guidelines are designed to define standards, good RAC practices, improve safety quality, act as a resource document for training technicians and facilitate the transition from Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) to non-ODS refrigeration technology. Its ultimate goal is to enable the reduction and elimination of ODS consumption in Trinidad and Tobago.

There were three (3) sessions held in both Trinidad and in Tobago:

• Magdalena Grand Hotel, Lowlands, Tobago -  August 6, 2015 
• Arthur Lok Jack GSB, Mount Hope, Trinidad -  August 11, 2015 
• Cara Suites, Claxton Bay, Trinidad -  August 13, 2015

The stakeholder engagement sessions were intended to solicit feedback from persons within the Sector on the draft Guidelines. The document has been amended incorporating comments received from these sessions and is currently awaiting approval.

 

Participants at the South Stakeholder Engagement Session

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.

Check out the Species of the Month for August!

 

Get acquainted with some of Trinidad and Tobago's biodiversity! Check out the National Biodiversity Clearing House Mechanism (CHM) website for the series  "Species of the Month" which features one of our local species every month. This month we feature the Tayra.

Visit www.biodiversity.gov.tt to view the "Species of the Month" series as well as access further relevant information on the conservation of biodiversity and on the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Trinidad and Tobago.