Appointment of the Advisory Town Planning Panel (ATPP)

Center Mrs Camille Robinson-Regis Honourable Minister of Planning and Development distributes instruments of appointment to Chairman Ms Lynn Hiliaire, from left Mrs Joanne Deoraj Permanent Secretary and ATPP Board Members Mr Jamel Reid and from right Ms Gitanjalie Gopeesingh and Ms Nathalie Atkinson .Excluded from the photo was Michael Jerome Keens-Dumas who joined the ceremony via Skype.

Congratulations to the newly selected Advisory Town Planning Panel, who received their instruments of appointment on April 20^th, 2016. The board, in accordance with the Town and Country Planning Act Chapter 35:01 was established for advising the Minister on any matter within their knowledge or on which the Minister may seek advice.

From a policy level the board has a key stake in the spatial development and therefore impacts meaningfully on the Ministry of Planning and Development’s mandate towards national development. The newly appointed Chairman, Ms Lynn Hiliare assured all present of her competence and willingness to do the work that is ahead, understanding that it is not an easy task and extended this position to represent other appointed members. The full panel include:

•   Ms Lynn Hilaire –Chairman
• Ms Nathalie Atkinson
• Mr Jamel Reid
• Ms Gitanjalie Gopeesingh
•  Mr Micheal Jerome Keens-Dumas – Representative from the Tobago House of Assembly (THA)

To the above mentioned, Mrs Camille Robinson- Regis, Minister of Planning and Development projected the ground breaking work the task of the board promises to bring to the development of Trinidad and Tobago, and the selfless service of the position . She emphasised that one of the critiques of our governance model over the past few years, was “the apparent penchant for ad hoc decision making, and the creation of policy on the hoof.” She goes on to mention that equity and equality must be ensured at all levels, especially as land use and space is important to ensure environmental sustainability and structurally enriching regulated space of our Small Island State.

 Also present at the ceremony were the Ministry of Planning and Development’s Permanent Secretary Mrs. Joanne Deoraj and Mrs Ayleen Ovid, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry.

Protect yourself against Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

In fulfillment of the obligations under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), in 2013 the Environmental Policy and Planning Division (EPPD), through funding from the United Nations Development Programme, completed and submitted Trinidad and Tobago’s National Implementation Plan (NIP). The NIP is a five (5) year road map that identifies mechanisms to measure, manage, reduce or eliminate the threat of POPs in the country.

View the video and picture below to learn more about POPs and how you can protect yourself and your family

 

Need more information on POPs and the EPPD? Visit http://eppd-tt.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_27.html

Nelson Island: Where History Comes Alive

Students board the Calypso Sprinter

Three hundred students from across Trinidad visited Nelson Island on Tuesday 22nd March, 2016 with the National Trust of Trinidad and Tobago. Including, Mayaro Government Primary, Happy Hill Hindu Primary and Laventille Girls Government to name a few . This tour of the island intended to impart both knowledge and appreciation of our heritage to the students, their teachers and parents who were also in attendance. Filled with facts, anecdotes, and expert tour guides visitors began learning about the rich history of Nelson Island from the moment the ‘Calypso Sprinter’ set sail.

When the ship docked smiling faces disembarked onto Nelson Island, there history came alive as students and other visitors were treated to dramatizations by the ‘SR Ideal Theatre Production Company’ who reenacted the historic people who once inhabited Nelson Island. An Amerindian, enslaved Africans, an indentured labourer and Tubal Uriah ‘Buzz’ Butler were present in all their glory to elaborate on  their heritage, culture and what the island was like in their time. The most engaging dramatizations came from the “King Slave” (name derived from the enslaved Africans from nearby estates of “King Negroes”). Students gathered as the King Slave delivered a powerful monologue on freedom, in front the oldest standing roofed building in Trinidad built by enslaved Africans marked AD 1802. Chants of “freedom” could be heard throughout the island as the students made their way around to view other dramatizations.

An Amerindian climbs, swings and jumps from tree to tree

An enslaved African drumming as the King Slave delivers his monologue

The King Slave delivers a powerful monologue on freedom,

he looks up at the building seen below

The oldest roofed building in Trinidad, built by enslaved Africans in AD 1802

An Indentured Labourer quizzes students on foods brought from her homeland

A student admires the view from the Calypso Sprinter

Children gathered on Nelson Island after their tour for songs and games