Agriculture Ministry launches ‘Family Nights Under the Lights’ 2019!

December 19, 2019:- The fifth instalment of Family Nights Under the Lights (FNUTL) took place on Saturday 14th December, 2019 at the Royal Botanic Gardens. The annual Christmas event which is free to the public included the traditional tree- lighting. To those who attend the event they see it as the start of the yuletide season in the capital city. The evening’s programme also provided entertainment in the form of a ‘Movie Night’, Santa and Friends and a performance from vocalist Justin Zephyrine.

Addressing a packed crowd of over 1000 patrons who braved the inclement weather, Senator the Honourable Clarence Rambharat, Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, thanked the event’s collaborating partner, the Zoological Society of Trinidad and Tobago, the event’s organising committee, staff, volunteers, and sponsors for their continued commitment and dedication over the years. FNUTL he said, has become one of the most widely anticipated events on the Christmas Calendar. He wished everyone great Christmas and a very productive 2020. The Minister then fondly commented on the grand prize of the event, an economy class ticket to any Caribbean Airlines destination sponsored by Caribbean Airlines. Prospective entrants were asked to post on the Ministry’s Facebook page, images of their families attending any FNUTL event hosted in previous years.

Prior to the start of proceedings, a cocktail reception was hosted by the Honourable Minister for specially invited guests including executive and management representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries (MALF), its State agencies and event sponsors. Attending the reception were the Acting Permanent Secretary (MALF), Ms. Susan Shurland; Acting Chief Technical Officer, Dr. Simone Titus; Acting Conservator of Forests, Mr. Denny Dipchansingh; Acting Director, Human Resource Division (MALF), Ms. Mary Rojas-Simeon and Acting Director, Horticultural Services Division (MALF), Ms. Chandrawti Kissun and Ms. Ann-Marie Dardaine, Director, Engineering Division. While this was taking place there was a simultaneous toy distribution and photo opportunity with Santa, face painting and balloon sculpting activities, live musical entertainment as well as an engaging dancing session with ‘Baby Shark’ (a costumed character), much to the delight and amusement of children and parents alike.

Families were also treated to a host of sponsored hampers and courtesy giveaways (inclusive of doubles, popcorn, corn soup, refreshments, snacks) and a tour of the Ministry’s educational and interactive Forestry Bus, where they learnt about Trinidad and Tobago’s wetlands, wildlife and protected species. Representatives from the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) were not left out of the festivities as they co-ordinated the distribution of educational stickers, activity books and learning charts, they encouraged the youngsters to spin a wheel and win any one of these prizes.

FNUTL 2019 was sponsored by Atlantic and Nutrimix Group of Companies, in addition to: Caribbean Airlines; National Agricultural Marketing and Development Corporation (NAMDEVCO); Agricultural Development Bank (ADB); Laing Sandblasting and Painting Company Limited; Johnny Q; Blue Waters; Nestle Trinidad and Tobago Limited; Angostura Limited; Coca Cola; Massy Stores; Holiday Snacks Limited; HADCO Limited; VEMCO; Diary Distributors Limited; EMA; iCare; The Green Fund; Harry’s Water Park; Movie Towne and Skallywag Bay Adventure Theme Park.

Family Nights 2019 Media Release

Official Hand-Over of Resources for Enforcement Officers

 

11^th December, 2019: At a Handing –Over Ceremony at the Kapok Hotel in Maraval, the Ministry Agriculture, Land and Fisheries (MALF), the Ministry of Planning and Development, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations presented a suite of resources to assist Enforcement Officers in the performance of their duties in the enforcement of the country’s environmental laws.

 

In delivering the feature address on behalf of the Minister of Planning and Development, Camille Robinson- Regis, Deputy Permanent Secretary Melanie Noel said, “enforcement of our environmental laws is germane to our national development, it’s not just our starting point but it keeps on the path for a secure future. Our national environmental goals as outlined in Theme V of Vision 2030 and our regional and international obligations under agreements such as the Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on Biological Diversity and the UN Convention on Land Degradation are wholly dependent on our ability to enforce our laws”.

Prior to the presentation a series of workshop was held amongst representatives of the Forestry Division, Game Wardens, Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard, Customs and Excise Divisions and the Environmental Police Unit of the Environmental Management Authority (EMA). Officers from these agencies contributed significantly to the compilation of these resources, as they were able to outline their needs and the specific day –day challenges they faced on the field of work.

The suite of resources was produced under the project the Project “Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago” and was implemented by the FAO on behalf of the Government. The items distributed were:

• An Enforcement Officers Guide Book, the document was developed with the intention to identify different protected area and also includes, key laws governing these protected areas, the relevant provisions that the officers should familiarize themselves with and the respective agencies that should be contacted in the event of a breach.

The Guide Book was drafted by Mr. Andrew Dalip, Consultant and on its cover it depicts an image of one of this country’s Environmentally Sensitive Species (ESS), the Ocelot, Leopardus Pardalis.

 

• A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Manual
• A Quick Reference Card, the card has a ten (10) step rule to follow when conducting an investigation of capture/ possession of Environmentally Sensitive Species (ESS). The ten steps replicate those found in the SOP Manual

Also present at today’s event were the FAO Representative for Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname, Mr. Reuben Robertson, Mr. Steve Lalbeharry, Regional Coordinator, Emergency Response & Investigations, Environmental Management Authority (EMA).

Official Hand-Over of Resources for Enforcement Officers

Silver Award for T&T at
International Horticultural Exhibition in China

November 26, 2019: Trinidad and Tobago was the recipient of a Silver Award for the Caribbean Pavilion’s Outdoor Garden at the recently-concluded International Horticultural Exhibition in Beijing, China. Receiving the award on behalf of Trinidad and Tobago at the Gala Award Ceremony on October 8th, 2019, was Agricultural Officer I in the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, Ms. Rebecca Roberts-Bain. She was accompanied by her husband, Mr. Augustus Bain and local florist/avid horticulturist, Ms. Joan Hampton.

Describing the moment as a proud one, Ms. Bain said that this country’s participation at the event generated meaningful dialogue with Chinese nationals and other participating countries in relation to T&T’s cultural and infrastructural environment. She noted that the event was particularly beneficial, as it opened avenues for trade, investment, tourism; by extension, it has also created opportunities for local entrepreneurs and persons in the creative industries.

Under the Theme, ‘Live Green, Live Better’, the exhibition which was held from 29th April to 7th October 2019, spanned more than 500 hectares. There were over 110 participating countries and organisations, over 8,000 varieties of plants,’ fourteen (14), different garden styles created by top designers from around the world and was attended by more than 9.4 million visitors over the162-day duration.

 

Media Release – Ministry of Agriculture Land and Fisheries (Silver Award for TT at International Horticultural Exhibition in China)

Signage Unveiling Ceremony at Matura

13th November 2019. An official launch for the unveiling of new signage took place today at the Matura National Park in Matura. The event an initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO/UN) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries and the Environmental Management Authority (EMA).

In his remarks at the event, Senator the Honourable Clarence Rambharat, Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries (MALF) said that this initiative was very important for the area and he thanked the FAO for their support, as they worked closely with the Ministry to realize the project.
The signage is intended to build public awareness of local forest and protected areas. These are critical communication components of the project, which is “Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago” says the FAO. The project is an ongoing initiative which has been implemented by the Organisation on the Government’s behalf over the last four years.

The main sign which was unveiled at today’s event will provide information on the size of the protected area, its assets and share instructive messages on the use of the site to support proper management of the area. It is located at the corner of Toco Road and Salybia-Matura Trace, Salybia Village which is an entryway into the Matura National Park Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA).
In addition, other signs will be located at the ESA’s boundary and in the surrounding communities from Matura to Matelot.
Officials from the Food and Agriculture also indicated that the project is expected to be expanded to four other protected areas across Trinidad and Tobago in the coming months and will conclude in May 2020.

Media Release – Signage Unveiling Ceremony at Matura- R

Agriculture Ministry facilitates Emergency Response
Training for Staff

November 13th, 2019:
Speaking at the opening of a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training Workshop. Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, Ms. Coomarie Goolabsingh said, “Without effective policy guidelines in place for preparedness, and a proper plan of action for the agriculture sector; natural disasters will continue to severely impact our twin island state, and anything that negatively affects agriculture needs to be addressed immediately.”

The Deputy Permanent Secretary added, that because of this country’s vulnerability to climate change and its impact; such training was timely, as the as it aligns to the foundational and overarching Government policies embodied in Vision, 2030. …Theme V states…Placing the Environment at the Centre of Social and Economic Development

The CERT Workshop was facilitated by MALF’s Agricultural Planning Division in collaboration with the Trinidad and Tobago Red Cross Society (TTRCS). The initiative came about as a result of the need for the Agriculture Ministry to develop a co-ordinated Disaster Risk Management (DRM) plan for the agricultural sector, following the extensive flooding in 2017 and 2018 which severely affected several of the nation’s food producers. It was initiated by the Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, Clarence Rambarath in collaboration with both the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).

The Disaster Risk Management Plan will seek broadly to achieve the following objectives:
Improved Preparedness; Capacity Building and Institutional Strengthening of the
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Sectors in Disaster Risk Management (DRM) and Climate Change Adaption (CCA); Increased Sustainability of Livelihoods by Building Resilience; and Risk Identification and Information, Communications Strategy and Early Warning Systems (EWS).

The workshop was attended by persons comprising staff volunteers from the Ministry’s Regional Administration North, Regional Administration South, Animal Production and Health, Engineering and Research Divisions. Its overall objective was to educate persons about disaster preparedness in their area whilst also providing basic training in disaster response skills such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organisation, and disaster medical operations.

The three (3)-day Training Workshop was scheduled to run from 13th – 15th November, 2019 at the Sugar Cane Feeds Centre in Longdenville.

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