EMA
boss: Not enough long-term planning
By Kristy Ramnarine
Trinidad Express
Port Spain
Petroleumworldtt.com
08 26 07
Short-term solutions and short-term planning.
Those were the words Dr John Agard, chairman
of the Environmental Management Authority, used
to describe
the budget presentation made by Prime Minister Patrick Manning in Parliament
on Monday.
Referring
specifically to the budget presentation made
on the environment he said: "There is
nothing new in any of that."
Manning announced that the Government was strengthening
the legislative framework and ensuring compliance
with environmental laws and regulations for a healthy
environment for all.
In terms of global warming and the dependence
on surface water, he said the Government was looking
more into the desalination option.
"Desalination plants are very expensive solution," Agard
said.
"If
we are talking about desalination plants which
are run by solar power or windmills then
it can provide a sustainable solution. But then
if we use energy to run the plant then we are back
to square one.
I
guess we have different understandings of what
sustainable means."
He said there was no major mention of dealing
with global warming.
"I didn't hear anything about the erosion
that is taking place in the coastal areas," Agard
said. "We are expecting bigger or more intense
hurricanes as proven by our current one, Hurricane
Dean. Nothing has been said about that."
Environmental announcements made by Manning included:
- The Green Fund Regulations, which are now law,
are expected to become operational in the new fiscal
year.
- The Government is in the process of completing
the Draft Air Pollution Rules and Air Pollution
Regulations.
- A contract was signed with the Natural Resource
Institute (CANARI) for consultancy services for
the revision of the 1942 Forest Policy and the
1982 Policy for the Establishment and Management
of a National Parks System in Trinidad and Tobago.
- In the new fiscal year work will continue towards
the designation of Environmentally Sensitive Areas
(ESA) and Environmentally Sensitive Species (ESS).
Main Ridge in Tobago and the Caroni Swamp are priority
areas.
- In the light of global warming, the Government
has taken a decision to reduce the country's dependence
on surface water, that is, the water from dams.
Accordingly, the Government intends to explore
the desalination option in providing service to
various parts of the country.
- The Government intends to build two more wastewater
treatment plants around Chaguanas and San Fernando.
- Work to commence shortly on the implementation
of a system to improve municipal waste collection
in Trinidad and Tobago. Further, tenders will be
re-opened for the consultancy for new cost-effective
solid waste disposal facilities for the environmentally
sound management of waste. With this consultancy,
the closure and rehabilitation of the Beetham Landfill
will be priority.
- The scope of the two community-based environmental
projects, the Community Based Environmental Protection
and Enhancement Programme (CEPEP) and the National
Reforestation and Watershed Rehabilitation Programme
will be revised with a view to CEPEP making a greater
contribution with respect to environmental issues.
kramnarine@trinidadexpress.com
Trinidad
Express
Wednesday, August 22nd 2007
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