4th Annual Project Steering Committee Meeting (GEF ISLANDS 10279, 10472, 10258)

Mr. Anand Maraj, Director (Ag.) BCRC-Caribbean  

Mr. Anand Maraj, Director (Ag.) BCRC-Caribbean  

• Highlighted the reflective and decisive nature of the current period of project execution and the vision to transform chemicals and waste management in the region as now being realized  
• Highlighted the steadfast support of the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, particularly the Ministry of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development  

• recognized the completion of key activities that provide groundbreaking opportunities for the region such as the digital learning hub and the development of the biopesticides registration manual, which is being shared globally as an example for use in other regions, demonstrating the movement of activities from conceptual design to operational impact 

• highlighted the regional capacity that is being built through the execution of these projects through trainings and knowledge and resource sharing 

• highlighted the Mid-Term review that was recently completed for the GEF 10279 and 10472 projects to take stock of the projects’ achievements, assess the need for specific areas of strengthening and make improvements for the continued execution of the project following the midpoint 

• indicated that following the recognized achievements of the project, the next steps would be for the institutionalization of these initiatives to ensure that they are embedded, scaled and sustained within our national institutions and across the various sectors 

Ms. Oxana Perminova, Agricultural Officer, FAO    

Ms. Oxana Perminova, Agricultural Officer, FAO  

• Highlighted through the FAO, the unique circumstances facing the region and emphasized the importance of strengthening sustainable agricultural development 

Mr. Juan Alfredo Rihm Silva, Solid Waste Senior Lead Specialist, IDB 

Mr. Juan Alfredo Rihm Silva, Solid Waste Senior Lead Specialist, IDB \

• indicated that the IDB is pleased to work on the GEF ISLANDS Caribbean projects and support with building a platform for knowledge that can be shared globally 

Ms. Yolanda Cachu, Task Manager, UNEP   

Ms. Yolanda Cachu, Task Manager, UNEP 

• highlighted the global initiative aimed at supporting and building capacity in Small Island Developing States (SIDS), emphasizing the particular importance of the Caribbean component 

• underscored the significance of this meeting in reviewing lessons learned and in guiding the direction of the remaining phases of the project 

Ms. Jewel Batchasingh, Environmental Specialist, GEF 

Ms. Jewel Batchasingh, Environmental Specialist, GEF  

• highlighted the synergies with other regions participating in this global programme and underscored the importance of strengthened knowledge sharing—acknowledging the work of the Communication, Coordination and Knowledge Management (CCKM) team—so that the Caribbean can continue to share its experiences, noting that the Caribbean is more advanced than the other regions in several areas 

• highlighted future opportunities under the ninth cycle of funding by the GEF (GEF-9), encouraging stakeholders to build on ongoing and previous work to ensure sustainability 

Mr. Sanjay Singh, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development, Trinidad and Tobago

Mr. Sanjay Singh, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development, Trinidad and Tobago  

• highlighted the importance of the Project Steering Committee Meeting, which keeps projects anchored in national priorities while discussing challenges faced and lessons learnt. 

• emphasized that the success of the ISLANDS Child Projects depends on strong partnerships and shared visions between the agencies involved and ended by expressing his appreciation for the hard work of the implementing and executing agencies, as well as the NWG of the countries involved in these projects.