GEF ISLANDS will support Caribbean Islands to strengthen Legislative and Institutional Frameworks to manage hazardous chemicals and wastes.
One of the requirements for the successful and sustainable management of hazardous chemicals wastes is a robust legislative and institutional framework. The geographical and logistical limitations experienced by small island developing states in dealing with such wastes further highlight the need for suitable legislation.
To this end BCRC Caribbean held a virtual Inception Workshop on 14 April 2023 to initiate legislative and institutional framework activities as part of the ISLANDS Project in the Caribbean.
The workshop formally kicked-off activities under Output 1.1 of the project- “The legislative and institutional framework is developed to support the environmentally sound management of hazardous chemicals in materials, products and wastes at national and regional levels in the Caribbean” with the Legislative and Institutional Framework Consulting Team.
Under this output, there are three activities that include:
- Conducting a detailed assessment of the current situation in each of the 12 project countries with regard to their legislative and Institutional Framework to manage specifically end-of-life vehicles, e-waste, plastics and mercury-added products;
- Developing a draft regional model policy and model legislation; and
- Developing national strategies and roadmaps to support the implementation of these model policies and legislation.
Representatives of the National Working Groups from the 12 participating project countries (Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cuba, Dominica, The Dominican Republic, Guyana, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago) were in attendance. Remarks were provided by, Ms. Jewel Batchasingh, Director of the BCRC-Caribbean, as well as Ms. Yolanda Cachu on behalf of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Ms. Fiona Pompey Handl, Lead of the consulting team that will be spearheading the work under this activity.
The consultancy will span 24 months, from April 2023 to March 2025. Subsequent to this kick off meeting, the consultants are now tasked with conducting the assessment phase for the activity, where they will engage with stakeholders through national consultations.
BCRC-Caribbean’s Director, Jewel Batchasingh thanked all stakeholders for their support of the activity thus far and looked forward to its successful execution as part of the wider programmes towards protecting human health and the environment.
For more information, please contact Ms. Laura Teixeira via email at laura.teixeira@bcrc-caribbean.org and/or Ms. Rachel Ramsey via email at rachel.ramsey@bcrc-caribbean.org
About ISLANDS
The Implementing Sustainable Low and Non-Chemical Development in Small Island Developing States (ISLANDS) Programme is a $515-million, five-year initiative backed by the Global Environment Facility (providing $61 million), supporting 33 Small Island Developing States in four regions – the Atlantic, Caribbean, Indian and Pacific to reduce and manage toxic waste in their territories. ISLANDS is led by the United Nations Environment Programme, in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and the Inter-American Development Bank.
About the UN Environment Programme
The UN Environment Programme is the leading global voice on the environment. It provides leadership and encourages partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.
About the Global Environment Facility
The Global Environment Facility is the largest multilateral fund working to enable developing countries to invest in nature. It supports the implementation of international environmental conventions on biodiversity, climate change, chemicals, and desertification. Since 1991, it has provided more than $21.7 billion in grants and blended finance and mobilized an additional $119 billion in co-financing for more than 5,000 projects and programmes.
About the BCRC-Caribbean
The BCRC-Caribbean is one of 14 global regional and coordinating centres established under The Basel Convention. The Centre serves 15 Caribbean countries that are Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam, Stockholm, and Minamata Conventions and assists them with implementing their international obligations to manage wastes and chemicals and protect human health and the environment.
Downloadable PDF version of this press release: ISLANDS_Caribbean_PR_Legal Inception Workshop