Government agencies to tackle pollution

A release from the Ministry of Planning and Development (MPD) said that objective of the collaboration is to develop a comprehensive plan to more effectively monitor, evaluate and remediate potentially contaminated sites, particularly in southwest Trinidad.

Discussion began on Thursday and among those present were Environmental Management Agency (EMA) Chairman, Nadra Nathai-Gyan, and Managing Director Hayden Romano, Petrotrin’s President Fitzroy Harewood, Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries Permanent Secretary Selwyn Lashley, and Ministry of Planning and Development, and MPD Deputy Permanent Secretary Beverley Khan.

Nathai-Gyan expressed support for the initiative which, she said, is aligned to the EMA’s mandate.

All parties confirmed their commitment to fostering a proactive approach to environmental management.

The meeting agreed that a draft terms of reference (TOR) for the engagement would be developed as a priority.

The TOR will define the responsibilities of all the parties in relation to implementation of the plan. The identification and assessment of all the possible sources of oil contamination (land and sea-based) from Mosquito Creek to Icacos, were also discussed as important considerations for the TOR.

The parties agreed to co-opt technical support of other local agencies/organisations to ensure that the undertaking is of a national scope and is relevant to current and emerging priorities.