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

Ministry of Planning Celebrates World Forestry Day

From left: Minister of Planning The Honourable Camille Robinson-Regis, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Planning and Development Mrs. Joanne Deoraj and City Engineer of the Port-of-Spain City Corporation Mr. Jason Lalla plant one of six black poui trees at the POS Central Market

The Ministry of Planning and Development celebrated World Forestry Day, on March 21^st 2016, with an internal plant distribution to staff and the planting of six (6) black poui trees at the Port of Spain Central Market this morning (March 22, 2016). The trees were donated by the Cumuto Forestry Division Nursery of the Ministry of Agriculture and were planted at the southern entrance of the market as part of a joint effort between the Planning Ministry and the Port of Spain City Corporation.

Present at the event was the Minister of Planning and Development, the Honourable Camille Robinson-Regis who spearheaded the planting of the young trees.  Also in attendance were the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Planning and Development, Mrs. Joanne Deoraj and City Engineer Mr. Jason Lalla of the Port of Spain City Corporation.

The event which took place this morning at 9:30am, was the first step in a greening initiative currently underway by the Port of Spain City Corporation. The Ministry was first off the bat with the planting of the six black poui trees.

The entire event was the culmination of an internal initiative put on by the Ministry of Planning and Development that also recognised winners of a ‘Win -A- Tree’ competition launched internally for World Forestry Day. The competition saw the distribution of fifty special “carbon sink” plants to Ministry staff, encouraging them to plant within their communities.

The term “Carbon sink” describes how trees store carbon in the form of cellulose. “Carbon Sink” plants are those that greatly aid in the reduction of one’s carbon footprint. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and use it to sustain themselves, creating oxygen as a by-product. Currently, trees are critical to sustainable development by reducing our carbon footprints, as about 18 percent of carbon emissions are absorbed by existing forests every year. The Honourable Minster congratulated the Port of Spain City Corporation on their initiative and also commented that she looked forward to seeing the trees cared for and grow.

Some of the winners of the 'Win-A-Tree' Competition