CERTIFICATE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT STUDIES

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

Semester I 2010/11

Lecturer: Dr. Manfred Jantzen

Making each locality within our nation a healthy, happy, safe place to live,
work and invest

Team Members

GLORIA SAMUEL- I.D.

TEAM LEADER

YVETTTE CODRINGTON REYES- I.D. # 809100685

RESEARCHER/ ANALYST
CINDY SARAH LAKHRAM I.D. 02741312
RESERACHER/ ANALYST /DESGIN/ EDITOR
CARLA MC ENRANE
RESEARCHER
ALLISON WILLIAMS
RESEARCHER

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE

PAG
E

(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)

Quotation
Background
Introduction
Literature Review

Quotation:
Local government is the foundation of democracy if it fails, democracy
will fail.

Robert W.Flack

BACKGROUND

This paper is based on a compilation of various consultants report on the functions and legal
framework of local government in TT. It is designed around the solution execution approach
model of decision-making. Local government has a crucial role to play in creating

sustainable communities. It can lead the local community, reflecting and responding to the
needs and priorities of local people. It brings together a wide range of services to deliver the
outcomes that matter to people locally. And it is democratically accountable to all citizens,
balancing the interests of individuals and groups with those of the wider community.
This paper recognises that local government should be at the heart of our communities in the
years ahead. But it also makes clear that this role cannot be taken for granted. Both local and
central government will need to change to meet the challenges of the next ten years and to
ensure that people will look to their council as a place where things get done.

This paper offers an opportunity to build upon existing partnerships between central and
local government, with clearer lines of accountability and responsibility at each level,
underpinned by trust and confidence in the other as a partner. It also makes clear the value
of a more coherent approach across central Government towards local government, while
recognising that different services may need different approaches.

It critically looks at the current position of the Local Government system in TT which even
though plays an integral role in the development of the local communities, is plagued by a
number of inadequacies which have existed for many years . Local government is the part
of government that often has the most direct relevance to peoples daily lives and is closest
to the people. To many people when you say government they instinctively think of local
government rather than central government. It delivers many basic services such as waste
management, sanitation, water provision, primary healthcare and local economic
development. However the local government today has been highly criticized for its failure
to meet the new and increasing demands of the citizens

The objective of this research paper is to first identify these deficiencies, causes and then
through rigorous research techniques develop an entirely new model of local government
which will facilitate the sustainable development, best practices, adaptable to
environmental realities of Trinidad and Tobago as well as other issues that need to be
addresses in light of rapid global changes which is impacting of our communities. We argue
that the local government could play a crucial role in transforming the comparative
advantages into competitive advantages. We have chosen to illustrate how structural
changes in the role and functions of local government by the development of an integrated
solid waste management program can achieve this.
The second part of the project began by looking at the Community Vision outlined in the
Strategic Plan of the Siparia, San Fernando, Port-of Spain & Point Fortin Corporation, as
well as the objective of the Local Government Ministry one of the main common concepts
promoted is the Community Vision, which looks at the creation of a healthy & safe
environment. Unfortunately, the nation has been recently plagued with numerous incidents
of flooding and unsightly garbage in our Capital city. This poses health issues as well as a
financial burden on local governments.
Our objective is to highlight one particular aspect of local government function which is
Solid Waste Management and show how changes in Capital and Infrastructural Asset
Management, Financial Management, Information and Communication Technology, Human
Resource Management, Service Delivery and Environmental Management could lead to the
creation of a type of Local Government that facilitates a highly innovative, strong, vibrant ,
revenue earning system. Let us now look at the concept of local government in the nation as
well as its role and functions in terms of its challenges and suggested solutions.

INTRODUCTION
WHAT IS LOCAL GOVERNMENT?
According to the definition by Keith Miller Local government is a sub-national level of
government which has jurisdiction over a limited range of state functions with a
geographical area which a part of a larger territory. Local government in Trinidad and
Tobago is in the form of one regional assembly in Tobago and fourteen local municipalities
in Trinidad. Since the beginning of the 90s there has been the trend towards greater

devolution and ongoing reform of local to enable it to take on greater powers and
responsibilities.
Areas of Responsibility

Maintenance of all public sector buildings not under the control of other state
agencies

Monitoring the execution of works by State Enterprises, Statutory Corporations and

Public Sector Agencies, as prescribed

Provision and maintenance of local recreational facilities, etc.

Landscaping and beautification of communities

Establishment and management of Burial Grounds, Crematoria and Cremation sites

Ensuring the distribution of water in areas where there is no pipe borne supply

Provision of community policing

Waste management

Management and control of insect vector and rodents

Provision and management of public markets and abattoirs

Promotion and preservation of environmental sanitation

Promotion and, in special circumstances, undertaking local, cultural community

events and sporting activities

Monitor planning and development activities within the Municipalities

Naming of streets and numbering of houses

Disaster preparedness and management

Issuing approvals for applications for full planning permission not requiring a CEC
from the EMA for residential and smallbuilding developments and additions of any
type ,not exceeding 500 square metres and minor engineering operations as specified
by schedule

Our system of Local Government is design around the closed model of organization as
stated by Max Weber is supposed to be very efficient and reduces the chance of corruption
and mistakes due to is numerous checks and balances. We have a central government at the
head which sets our goals and releases funds once they are agreement with the local
governments programs.

The local authority has the right to speak for the area it is

responsible for, eg the Mayor of Port of Spain would only have power in PoS only whereas

a Minister has power where ever he goes. Local authorities are controlled generally by
political parties which contest elections locally, but the parties are normally local branches
of national parties.
Local Government is responsible for many function, however it may differ from country to
country. Central govt determines what they want to give Local Government. The local
government body is called a council, the political arm is responsible for making policies, the
Chief Executive Officer and staff are responsible for implementing and executing policies.
Local Government generally have the right to tax for its operation, the right to tax is critical
to the role of local authority. Local knowledge influences the decision processes. The
councillors are pivotal to the workings of local government. The scope of the work of the
Corporation is determined by the law as well as the number of agencies it has to relate to for
its operations, also Local Government is supposed to endure public accountability (Stat.
Meeting where the public is invited). They are also accountable to the electorate.
Local Government must adhere to regulations and policies, they must submit reports to the
Parliament. It is bounded by law and that means an act of Parliament or the Constitution.
Local Govt bodies are supported by an administrative staff according to the Weddicombe
report. LG has 3 important attributes.
I.

Pluralism power is spread between socially different decision making

centres

II.

Participation it affords the citizens a unique opportunity to participate in the

control of local affairs.

III.

Responsiveness - in response to the local needs via the delivery of services

In modern nations, local governments usually have some of the same kind of powers as
national governments do. They usually have some power to raise taxes, though these may be
limited by central legislation. . The question of Municipal Autonomywhich powers the
local government has, or should have, and whyis a key question of public administration
and governance. The institutions of local government vary greatly between countries, and
even where similar arrangements exist, the terminology often varies. Common names for
local government entities include state, province, region, department, county, prefecture,
district, city, township, town, borough, parish, municipality, shire and village. However all

these names are often used informally in different countries & local government is the legal
part of central government.
Local government is a huge service provider education, environmental health, housing,
social care and many more, all of which benefit the local community. Local councils either
provide services directly to the public or arrange for other organisations to provide them.
Most of these services affect the daily lives of local people in a major way. The leisure
centre you keep fit in Siparia, the collection of your household rubbish, the school you or
your children go to, the care of those who are disadvantaged, the hygiene standards in your
local restaurants and shops, the range of reference materials in your local library all of
these things are the councils responsibility, plus many more

Diagram 1 Showing the main determinants in the decision-making process at

the Municipal Corp.

GOVERNMENTS VISON

Social and economic

policy framework

CENTRAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

STRATEGIC PLAN
Customer delivery plans
THE MUNICIPAL CORPORATION STRATEGIC PLANThis plan is spelled out into the budget which gives the budget division at the
ministry of finance the information which shows how the Accounting Officers
of intend to earn revenue as well as the finance that is required for us to
achieve our goals and delivery plans.

Local Government & Its Challenges

ACaribbeanPerspective
Thedawnofthe21stcenturyfindthesmall,vulnerablestateswhichcomprisetheCaribbean
Region engaged in a desperate and uphill struggle to overcome the twin monsters of
underdevelopmentandinheritedvestigesofcolonialism.Asifthesewerenotformidable

enough,globalizationandassociatedphenomenathreatentomakethisstruggleevenmore
difficult. Success or failure in this struggle could mean the difference between the
emergence ofaproudanddistinct Caribbeancivilization,whosememberstates enjoya
respectedplaceamongtheworldsnations,andcanprovidetheircitizenswithprosperity
andallthebenefitswhichmodernsocietyhastooffer;orontheotherhandadisparate
group of countries characterized by increasing social instability, a breakdown in the
governabilityofthestate,andsevereeconomichardship.

Theexistingmodelofgovernance/publicadministration,itselfalegacyofthecolonialpast,
hasproventobeincapableofmeetingthegovernanceanddevelopmentneeds/challengesof
postcolonialCaribbeansociety,orexorcizingthevestigesofcolonialism.Anewparadigm
ofgovernanceisthereforeimperativeandurgent.Thisnewparadigmmustplacesustainable
developmentandthetenetsofgoodgovernanceascornerstonesfortheconstructionofa
strong,viableandprosperousCaribbeanCommunity,blossomingintoadistinctcivilization.

Thenewparadigmmustfacilitatefullparticipationofallcitizens,especiallytraditionally
marginalized groups such as women & youth, in the processes of nationbuilding &
governance. Such a participatory framework, along with adequate scope for local self
management,willreleasetheabundantenergy,innovativespirit,leadershiptalents,vibrancy
and innate problem solving capacity which reside in Caribbean people, but which are
currentlystifledbytheexistingovercentralized,authoritarianstyleofgovernance.Infact,
thisstylehastheeffectofcausingthesequalitiestomanifestthemselvesintheformofanti
social/deviantattitudes/behaviorswhichunderminethesocialorder,andwhichhinderrather
thancontributetowardlocal/nationdevelopment.

Meaningfuldecentralizationofstatepower,manifestedintheformofstrongsystemsof
local governance, is now recognized as key prerequisites for facilitating sustainable
developmentandpromotinggoodgovernance.Itisthereforecritical thatpolicymakers,
scholars,practitionersandrelatedstakeholdergroupsintheregionseektoadvancetheir
understanding/appreciationofissuesrelatingtolocalgovernmentanddecentralization,and
forgearegionalconsensusonhowtheseconceptsandprinciplesmightbebestappliedin
theCaribbean

TheCaribbean isnotalone inrecognizing that thenewparadigm ofparticipatory local

governanceiscriticalforimprovingthequalityofgovernance,andrealizingtheobjectives
ofsustainabledevelopment.Stronglocalgovernmentanddecentralizationareessentialto
thisparadigmMostcountries aroundtheworldarethereforepresentlyengagedinsome
initiativetowardsdecentralizingthestateandenhancinglocalgovernment.Forexample,
Fivehundredandfifty(550)representativesfromfortyeight(48)countriesmetinFreeport,
Grand Bahama, 1114 May 2009 on the occasion of the fifth Commonwealth Local
GovernmentConferenceandGeneralMeetingoftheCommonwealthLocalGovernment
Forum,CLGF,hostedbytheGovernmentoftheBahamas.Theyagreedasfollows:

REAFFIRMINGtheAberdeenAgenda:CommonwealthPrinciplesforLocalDemocracy
andGoodGovernance,welcomedbyCommonwealthHeadsofGovernmentin2005and
2007aspartoftheCommonwealths fundamentalpoliticalprinciples, reinforcedbythe
AucklandAccord,andtheimplementationoftheseinstrumentsbyCLGFanditsmember
organisations; NOTING that the conference has been held for the first time in the
Caribbean,whichreflectstheregionsgrowingcommitmenttostrengtheningandreforming

local government; ACKNOWLEDGING that improving local government to better

represent communities and enhance service delivery is an essential component of the
Commonwealth vision of local government that is an enabling body, that can act as a
community leader and is empowered to forge alliances and partnerships with other
organisations to maximise resources in the interests of local development for all;
RECOGNISINGthechallengesofthecurrentglobaleconomicsituationandtheimpacton
local communities and the operations of local government; AGREEING the Freeport
DeclarationwillbuildonandstrengthentheoutcomesofAberdeenandAucklandandlook
towards to achieving the common vision of improving local government across the
Commonwealth.
Thelocalgovernmentimprovementagenda
1Localgovernmentneedstobereshapedandrepositionedinsystemsofgovernmentto
overcome capacity constraints and be confident to adopt its genuine role as part of
government.BuildingontheAberdeenAgendaandAucklandAccord,localgovernment
shouldhave as acoreobjective continuous improvement ofthequality ofservices and
governanceitprovidestothelocalcommunity.

2 There is no single model for improved local government that will fit all situations:
improvementmustfitthepurposewithindifferentlocalcontexts.

TheTrinidadandTobagoPerspective

WHERE ARE WE TODAY?

In Trinidad and Tobago our Local Government faces several challenges as we seek to
achievesustained/sustainabledevelopmentandgoodgovernance,outofwhichtheyhope
will flow economic prosperity, social and political stability/cohesiveness, and
preservation/enhancement of the cultural identity of our people. Challenges include
overcomingcolonial vestigesandcopingwithphenomenasuchasglobalization andthe
information/technologyrevolution;wherebycitizensaredemandingvalueformoneyinan
effective and efficient manner. The existing model of governance/public administration
needssubstantialoverhaultobecapableofcopingwiththesechallenges.

Decentralization, in the form of participatory local governance, offers many advantages

whichfittheprofileofthenewmodelofgovernancerequiredforthenation.Nonetheless,
therearepotentialdisadvantagesassociatedwiththatstyleofgovernance,whichneedtobe
safeguardedagainst.Whileadvocatingfordecentralization/participatorylocalgovernanceas
themodelofchoiceforthiscountry,thefeasibilityofmodelinthesmallerstatesmustbe
givenconsiderationtobenonviable.Norisitessentialinordertoembracetheprinciplesof
decentralized,.ItmustbeacceptedthatsomeCaribbeanstateswillfindanorthodox,full
fledgedlocalgovernmentsystemparticipatorygovernance.Thecriticalfactoristhatthe
principlesofdecentralization,localselfmanagementandcitizenparticipationbewoven
intothefabricofgovernance,inamannercompatiblewiththeparticularcircumstancesof
eachterritory.Theminimumrequirementsfortheretobeasystemofgovernancewhich
reflectstheidealspromotedinthisPaperarethefollowing:

1. There must be a clear division of state functions/responsibilities into those to be

administeredatthenationalasagainstthelocallevel;suchdivisiontobedeterminedby
applyingtheprincipleofsubsidiary.

2.AutonomousLocalGovernmentshouldexisttomanageaffairsdesignatedaslocal.These
bodiescantaketheformoffullfledgedprofessionalAuthorities,suchasParish,Municipal
orregionalCouncils/Corporations,orofvoluntaryDistrict,VillageorTownCouncils.

3.ThepoliticalleadershipofLocalAuthorities,whethertheseareprofessionalorvoluntary,
shouldbefullyelectedbythepeopleonwhosebehalftheyexerciseauthority,otherwise
therewillbenolocalcontrol.

4.LocalAuthoritiesmusthavefullcontroloverallresourcesrequiredforproperdischarge
oftheirmandate.

5.Thesystemofparticipatorylocalgovernanceshouldbeproperlyclothedinanappropriate
legal framework and incorporated into the constitutional arrangements of the state, to
safeguardagainstarbitraryactions.

By the use of questionnaires, structured interviews with both burgesses and employees of
the Siparia Region, San Fernando City and the Port of Spain Corporation. The Sampling
procedure used was a stratified random sample technique. We divided the population into
quotas and gave out questionnaires and interviewed to randomly selected incumbents.

Responsibilties
Street management

Customer
Statisfaction (1-5)
2

Obstacles To achieving tasks

Unable to employ a cadre of streets
cleaners who will work continuously
through the day

Maintenance and management

of
of street markets ,

slaughterhouses,

common and recreation grounds

Social Welfare

Health
Community development and

2
3

Lack of funding to provide proper

infrastructure
Lack of funding to provide proper
infrastructure
Employees sometimes neglect
grounds that are in the rural areas ,
sometimes there is an unclear
understanding of the jurisdiction of the
corp
Lack of funding, mismanagement of
funds
Lack of qualified staff each
Corporation should have a medical
officer and registered nurse
Sometimes there is a difficulty In

culture

Infrastructure and public

utilities

Solid waste management

obtaining
extra funding for these programs.
There is a more reactive approach to
dealing with matter of public utilities
and infrastructure sometimes the
allocation for dev. Program arent spent
on the targetted area. There is also
mass allegations of corruption in this
area.
2

Lack of resources to cope the

increase in the amounts of waste
generated on a daily basis.

The use of secondary research techniques were also utilized such as report such as the white
paper , the government manifesto. The 2011 Trinidad and Tobagos budget. The results of
the findings were divided into groups or quotas according to the responses to certain
questions in order to ascertain a general perspective of local government. From this we were
able to ascertain that the population was unhappy with the performance of the current local
government system . One aspect of its function that was chosen was that of Waste
management.
Diagram (1)THE FOLLOWING IS A TABLE SUMMARIZING THE INFORMATION TAKEN FROM
THE SURVEY THAT WAS CARRIED OUT

Identification of The Critical Issues Affecting The Local Government System In

Trinidad and Tobago.
The problem affecting our local government system can be divided into two parts
(A) THE CENTRAL / MAIN PROBLEM:
(B) THE SATELLITE PROBLEMS
Current Assessment of the Local Government System
Our investigations revealed that there are quite a number of issues negatively affecting the
Local Government system which is an indication that there is a major underlying problem
that exist.
The Current Status of the Local Government System in T&T
The central problem

Today's model of Local Government System has been designed around the vestiges of
colonialism. It is a system characterized as a stable, bureaucratic, rigid, closed organization
structure. The formidable pressures of globalization, modernization and technological
advancement has now left our stable local government system incapable of meeting the
needs of our well informed citizens. Such issues if left unchanged could lead to a number of
satellite problems that are existed today.

The Challenges

The Westminster model of governance/public administration

authoritarianism, excessive concentration of power at the center.

The inability of the state to provide basic social services, amenities and quality of
life which citizens regard as acceptable.

Globalization which threatens the traditional social/ economic foundations of the

current local government system.

The technological /information revolution which creates dizzying rates of changes

and a more assertive and knowledgeable citizenry.

Concerns about corruption, lack of accountability and transparency and questionable

ethics in local government have created demands for much higher standards of
conduct in the management of public affairs.

Limited resources with which to address completing claims for social services,
national security, debt servicing and developmental needs.

in

which

Satellite Problems:

Too much reliance on government funding:

Sometimes the overall objective off the government may not be best suited for local
government to release funds for special projects that may be necessary for the development
of the locality.

Poor representation by council members:

At times the council may seek only the interest of a certain sect of the community and not
all the citizens. Sometimes council members are not trained in the public sector management
and as such increases the tendency for mismanagement.

Lack of infrastructural assets:

Most rural communities are very under developed. Because the municipalities are not self
sufficient and the government expenditure far exceeds their revenue, it is often seen as a

burden on the central government. Many of the markets, play ground etc, especially in rural
districts are neglected.

Highly bureaucratic decision- making:

Even though local government is accountable and responsible of and number of tasks within
their jurisdiction there are unable to make decision freely as it must be approved by central
government (cabinet) which usually takes a long time.

The Staffing process:

This is done by the SASC and service commission, and very often the local authorities
recruit the daily rated staff. Staff is promoted and placed based on a seniority basis. Very
often the qualified staff are not placed in the right job at the right time. Hence the reason
why there is often the problem of performance deficiency amongst staff and poor customer
service.
Communication gap:
There is no direct communication between the central government cabinet and the Trinidad
municipal corporations. Poor quality of service provided to the burgesses in road works,
face to face contact when complaints are being at the Corporations.

Poor management of finance :

Too much funds are spent on entertainment. Local government is also not allowed to raise
funds independently and or obtain loans . Local government is not allowed to retain any of
their revenue earned it must be remitted to central government.

Party Politics:

Very often the areas that support the opposing party are faced with little are no allocations
and development programs.

Lack of authority to the municipal police to be able to perform their duties in the
various communities:

From the assessment of the problems affecting the local government system there is
definitely the need for a mechanism to facilitate the reconciliation between citizens
demands, available resources and various elements of the society.

Sanitary and environmental challenges

These challenges include littering, unauthorized dumping of bulk material in public

conduits resulting in flooding and water quality degradation. The creation of breeding
places for mosquitoes and rodents. Limited recycling of wastes such as metals, tires,
plastic, obsolete computers. The lack of landfill site within the boundaries of the
corporation.

While these challenges may be many and may seem daunting, team innovators are
confident that the proposed solutions can be part of a pragmatic turnaround strategy , and
recommend the following:

Understanding and addressing root causes of problems faced by municipalities.

Making local government everyone business.
Promoting good citizenship that is underpinned by governance values such as ethical
behaviour, transparency and accountability of public office, loyalty to the Municipal
Corporation Act 1990, volunteerism and community service amongst others.
Building ward-based systems and developing effective and efficient and accountable
municipalities throughout the country.
Laying a differential framework for each municipality to identify and adopt its own
improvement strategies and actions.

The strategies should among other issues, address the following:

Strengthening political accountability to citizens while building inclusive

communities that are partners in their own development and destiny.
Review the legislative and regulatory framework of local government.

Strengthening financial management and accountability.

Rooting out corruption in all forms.
Ensuring an appropriate role for traditional leaders in local government.
Identifying and addressing areas of dysfunctional amongst municipalities, through
improved managerial practices and relevant quality training and education.

New Values
During turbulent times of change its important to have strong values to guide employees
behavior.
New Goal
To ensure sustainability by continuous improvement in the delivery of service, through
the effective management of capital and infrastructural assets, financial and human
and technological resources.

Diagram (2) Having a New Shared Value To Help with Change Managment

Proposed Solutions

Municipal Management: Establish standardized procurement and inventory

management systems.

Monitor capital and infrastructural asset by implementing modern asset management

systems.

Complying with accounting policies and procedures

Monitoring, evaluating and reviewing capital and other expenditures.

Conducting public audits and cost reviews.

Developing and implementing systems to integrate and support the activities of the
Municipalities and the Ministry of Local Government.

Develop necessary databases and reporting systems to support the mission and
mandate.

Improving the administrative, technical and managerial skills to increase and

enhance the productivity levels of employees.

Social Services: Address the social aspect of sustainable communities to allay

tension between groups based on race, politics, gender, income disparity.

Develop a vibrant municipal community policing service with Ministry of National

Security.

Economic development: Facilitate the preparation of local area and regional

development plans. By working with the local contractors thereby increasing
employment and utilizing resources. Also facilitate commercially viable options in
tourism waste management and agriculture and improve market access for local
products and services.

Creation of resilient communities

It is important to note that this can only come by the devolution of authority and
resources within national policy guidelines from central government ministries such
as community development, housing social welfare, sports planning, environment
etc.

The Integrated Solid

Waste Management
Programme

Introduction to the Plan

A Theoretical Perspective

Waste generation increases with population expansion and economic

development. Improperly managed solid waste poses a risk to human
health and the environment. Uncontrolled dumping and improper waste
handling causes a variety of problems, including
contaminating water, attracting insects and rodents, and increasing
flooding due to blocked drainage canals or gullies. In addition, it may
result in safety hazards from fires or explosions. Improper waste
management also increases greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which
contribute

to

climate

change.

Planning

for

and

implementing

comprehensive program for waste collection, transport, and disposal

along with activities to prevent or recycle wastecan eliminate these
problems.
Waste means we are not getting all we can out of our economic and natural resources. When
we waste we:
rob ourselves of resources
use up landfills quickly
increase methane gas emissions
contribute to climate change

Waste prevention and diversion programs like composting and recycling let us get the most
out of our resources and protect our environment. When we reduce waste we put resources
back into the economy, make landfills last longer, save energy and cut greenhouse gas
emissions.

Literature Review
Illustrative examples of ISWM like experiences around the World
The problem of managing solid waste has started many decades ago. Human activities
create waste and it is the way these wastes are handled, stored, collected and disposed of,
which can post risks to the environment and to public health (Zurbrugg 2002: 1). Waste can
be a resource if only we could learn how to manage it properly, but since the 1960s the
problem of disposing of our mixed waste has reached crisis proportions (Ancheta
2004:308). The affluent lifestyle brought about by modernization and development
aggravates the problem of waste management. The rise of mega-cities2 in the 1990s has also
contributed to the growing problems of waste.
Given limited technology and resources, developing countries are more severely affected
by waste management problems compared to developed countries which have the privilege
of employing advanced technologies. Inefficient waste collection and the lack of disposal
facilities are a common problem in developing countries. Even though solid waste
management has been the object of many studies and policies in the past decades, still up to
the present time these solid waste management problems have continued to be a burden in
many cities and municipalities especially in developing countries.
Several plans for integrated waste management initiatives have been taken up around the world.

For example, Nova Scotia leads Canada in solid waste resource

management. In 1995, Nova Scotia created a Solid Waste Resource
Management Strategy. Five years later, as a result of this strategy, Nova
Scotia was the first province in Canada to cut in half the amount of waste

they

send to landfills. Nova Scotia continues to be recognized as a

national and international leader in waste diversion with a disposal rate

that is almost 50% lower than the Canadian average.

According to Genuine Progress Index (GPI) Atlantic, Nova Scotias waste

management strategy creates benefits worth at least $31 million a year.
These include
new businesses
new jobs
longer-lasting landfills
energy and resource savings
less air pollution including greenhouse gases

The

proposed

Integrated

Solid

Waste

Management

(ISWM)

is

comprehensive waste prevention, recycling, composting, and disposal

program. An effective ISWM system considers how to prevent, recycle,
and manage solid waste in ways that most effectively protect human
health and the environment. ISWM involves evaluating local needs and
conditions, and then selecting and combining the most appropriate waste
management activities for those conditions. Hence the reason why we
believe that the ISWM should be decentralized and planned and executed
under the municipal corporations.

The major ISWM activities are waste prevention, recycling and

composting,

and

combustion

and

disposal

in

properly

designed,

constructed, and managed. Each of these activities requires careful

planning, financing, collection, and transport, all of which are discussed
in this and the other fact sheets. The main tenet of the proposed model is
to turn our waste materials into a resource. Local government role in this
program is to plan, implement and execute an entirely new program of
waste management. It is design to encourage a thinking that is beyond
the use of mere landfills. The "integrated solid waste management"
(ISWM) concept was established to expand existing solid waste
management initiatives.

Problem Identification
Why the need for the programme?

The existing solid waste systems in Trinidad and Tobago do not adequately fulfill the need
for the provision of environmentally sound management of the nations wastes. We live on
a small island with limited land mass and, therefore, cannot continue to abuse our
environment indefinitely without suffering the adverse consequences.

It is, therefore,

imperative that we urgently seek to establish creative and cost effective systems to meet the
countrys waste management needs.
Trinidad and Tobago has one of the most diversified and industrialized economies in the
English-speaking Caribbean primarily as a result of the countrys reserves of petroleum and
natural gas. The availability of relatively cheap energy has contributed to the development
of heavy industries such as iron and steel, cement, methanol, LNG, nitrogen and phosphate
fertilizers, specialty chemicals and petrochemicals. Trinidad and Tobago also has a wide
variety of small scale manufacturing industries which include wood preserving and wood

products, textiles, leather/tanning, printing, plastics, PVC, chlorine, sulphuric acid, battery
manufacturing, metal fabrication, electrical machinery and components, metal fabrication
and shipbuilding/repair. There are nineteen (19) industrial estates in the country, with Point
Lisas being the largest comprising eighty-five (85) tenants.
The heavy economic reliance on the petrochemical, industrial and manufacturing sectors as
well as wastes generated by the countrys three (3) major hospitals, twenty (20) private
clinics and forty (40) medical laboratories, vehicles, the agricultural sector and domestic
activities, results in the production of a large amount of hazardous waste. In this regard we
feel that the Basel Convention, will be invaluable for providing technical and financial
assistance to developing systems to manage and dispose of the hazardous waste which we
ourselves generate in an environmentally sound and cost effective manner.
This is extremely important to us since despite the fact that Trinidad and Tobago generates a
large amount of potentially hazardous waste; the options for waste disposal are limited with
no dedicated hazardous waste landfill or disposal facility on the island. Wetlands in Caroni
have been similarly affected by the development of Point Lisas Industrial Estate. Portions of
the Caroni and South Oropouche Swamps have been used for land filling of solid waste.

Diagram # 3

The indiscriminate and excessive application of agro-chemicals to agricultural lands has

impacted unfavourably upon wetland ecosystems at Caroni, Nariva and Oropouche. Organic
waste from poultry and livestock farms is also washed into wetlands via rivers and drains.
The unplanned and unregulated use of land for industrial purposes has also resulted in the
discharge of harmful effluent including heavy metals and other toxic waste into wetlands.
Oil spilled onto land or leaked from defective pipelines drains into the South Oropouche
Swamp via the South Oropouche River. Silt from wash plants associated with quarry
operations has been proven to affect plant and animal life at Fishing Pond and Caroni
Swamps.
With respect to domestic sources of pollution, malfunctioning sewage treatment plants
installed to service residential developments in Trinidad and Tobago have discharged

inadequately treated sewage into drainage channels which flow into wetlands at Caroni and
Bon Accord. Household solid waste disposed into watercourses is also transported into
wetlands to the detriment of their ecosystem.
From the diagram above showing the map of Trinidad and Tobago one cannot help but the
geographical distance between rural communities and the various landfills. Landfills in our
country today are a total mess and do not possess the capacity to hold the increasingly large
volumes of waste that are generated on a daily basis. According to statistics from the
SolisdWaste Management Company Limited approximately one thousand tonne of waste is
brought to the landfill site at the Beetham estate by both private contractors and municipal
corporations. The location of the Guanpo landfill is of great environmental and health
concern as its location is ideal for run of into the Gunapo rivers and by a large other main
water courses. It has also been identified that the Solid Waste Management Company
Limited is proven to be incapable to deal with the growing amount of waste.
Our so-called landfills sites are an open dump this is a hazard because of its potential for
producing leachate, becoming a rodent and insect breeding ground, and its general health
dangers. Our landfills that do not comply to sanitary standards and should be closed, the
image many people have of waste management is the image of the open dump.
This is one misperception of waste management as it relates to landfills that encourages a
groundswell of opposition whenever a landfill is to be sited.
Today's technically engineered; sanitary landfills are a distant relative of the open dumps of
the past. Modem sanitary landfills are designed to protect the environment by containing
and isolating waste. Current landfills require extensive planning, engineering, monitoring
and

supervision

both

by

law

and

public

demand.

The sites for landfills are carefully selected based on studies done by engineers and
hydrogeologists. Sites are selected both for their hydro-physical and their geographic
characteristics. Some of the features that the engineers examine are depth of natural clay
liner, depth of bedrock, level of groundwater, aquifer system if any, and watershed.
Landfills in Ohio are required to have a heavy plastic liner or impermeable "membrane."

The liner covers the natural clay or imported clay liner of a site which is ideally located over
a bed rock. The goal of contemporary sanitary landfills is to safely contain and isolate waste
It is also important to note that the rapid changes or rather increases in the volume and types
of solid and hazardous waste as a result of continuous economic growth, urbanization and
industrialization in our once rural area such as Point Fortin , is becoming a major problem
for our national and local governments to ensure effective and sustainable management of
waste yet our waste management program at the local level hasnt change
There is also a heightened awareness by the government to be more vigilant in eradicating
littering on the streets and the recycling of waste materials. Lets us now look the Proposed
Strategic Plan for the Integrated Solid Waste Management Programme (ISWMP).

Diagram (4) The Need For the Program Can be Summarized By the Following Diagram

METHODOLGY

In order to get data for this paper the following research methods employed were the
method was the use questionnaires as well as structured interviews with both burgesses and
employees of the Siparia Region, San Fernando City and the Port of Spain Corporation. The
Sampling procedure used was a stratified random sample technique. The population size
was one hundred.
We divided the population into quotas and gave out questionnaires to randomly selected
incumbents. These questionnaires were used to assess the performance of the municipal
corporations in the area of solid waste management, and availability of committed and
qualified workforce. At the same time we ran a quick interview asking questions pertain to
the current waste management systems as well as suggested ways for improvement.
It was also noted that without the commitment of the Corporations human resources, the
organization will never be able to achieve its objectives. For this reason staff was also ask to
answer a few questions as it relates to motivation and their perception of working within
local government.
It was a bit difficult to get expert knowledge about Solid Waste Management hence the use a
secondary data was very valuable in this aspect. The analysis of secondary research was use
for information pertaining to modern trends in waste management in our nation taking from
SWMCOL. The analysis of waste management models used Nova Scotia, Canada and
internationally .

FINDINGS OF THE STUDY

The incumbents that were interviewed and completed questions were asked
questions based on the current solid waste management strategy. It was aimed
ascertaining whether or not the community understood the concept of intergrated
solid waste management and why is it so important. The level of local government
involvement was also assessed. The types of waste that collected and the volumes
that were being collected was also of crucial importance to the development of a new
program. This data was collected throught the secondary data collection method.

Purpose
To prevent the incidence of flooding in the waterways due to the clogging of drains
by bulky waste.
To prevent the unsightly and unauthorized dumping of bulky waste in the roadside.

Objective

To collect items made from plastic e.g plastic bottles and cups.

To collect unauthorized bulk materials such as derelict vehicles, tyres, discarded

household items and obsolete computers.

Action

Numerous complaints were made by customers regarding the unsightly bulk waste
deposited at the Corporation's roadway.
Complaints were recorded by Complaints Clerk and forwarded to the Public Health
Inspector.
The Public Health Inspector conveyed a meeting with Sanitation Overseers, who
were required to investigate the matter.
Sanitation Overseers were required to conduct a site visit of the periphery of the
Community.
Sanitation Overseers submitted a report to the Public Health Inspector.
At the Public Health Committee Meeting the report was addressed by Council
Members.
Emanating out of the report, Council Members conveyed town meetings with their
constituency since it was a problem in communities, the resident viewpoint were
necessary, their ideas were pertinent and the matter needed to be addressed.
The community were educated by the Public Health Inspector of the importance of
the proper separation of plastic materials from other household items. Further, the
residents were requested to report any unsightly derelict vehicles, tyres etc. as well
as to notify the corporation whenever the need arise to dispose of bulk waste.
Residents were informed:
That the Corporation should be contacted via telephone or informal visits
made to the Corporations whenever the need arise to dispose of bulk waste.
That a fee of one thousand dollars will be fined for careless and unauthorized
dumping of bulk waste.

The New Role of Local Government in Waste

Management

Local governments main responsibilities in managing community waste will be to :

arrange for waste to be collected regularly from households

store, recycle, or dispose of waste properly.

Other roles will include educating and informing their community of ways they can help
manage waste. The waste hierarchy refers to the "3 Rs" reduce, reuse and recycle, which
classify waste management strategies according to their desirability. The 3 Rs are meant to
be a hierarchy, in order of importance

Regional plans - sharing the costs

Corporations in smaller communities can improve the quality of their waste management
services, and cut their costs, by developing waste plans with nearby councils. A regional
waste plan could allow councils to share staff, equipment, and facilities. For example, two
or more councils could work together to:

run one vehicle to collect rubbish in all their communities

hire one driver or team to handle the collection

set up a single recycling centre

set up a single centre for handling dangerous goods.

A regional waste plan can also help deal with waste problems along a council boundary,
such as the mosquito creek in south Trinidad or other rivers.

Waste collection

In larger regional centres, local governments can contract commercial operators to collect
household waste. For small communities, it can be difficult to interest commercial operators
in providing a regular collection service. In Corporations that provides the local waste
collection service, the following points can help make it efficient.

Weekly household waste collection

Provide each household with a standard size bin.

Have waste collected on the same day each week.

Let households know what types of waste should be, and should not be, placed in
their bins. (Perhaps place stickers on the bins.)

Ensure that the vehicle collecting the bins is the right design. Can bins be safely
lifted and emptied? Is the collected waste secure so it will not fall off as the vehicle
moves?

Ensure that the people collecting the waste have the right training. Do they know
safe ways to lift and empty bins? Do they know what to do if they find dangerous
goods in household waste?

Check that the council rubbish tip is designed to make unloading the collected waste
safe.

A council levy can be placed on each household to help pay for the collection service.

Special collections (community clean-ups)

Special collections help households get rid of larger items or dangerous goods rather than let
them rot or rust in yards, pollute the land or harm the community. Special collections can be
done at intervals throughout the year. Advise households well in advance of the date for
these special collections and the types of waste being collected.
Local Government could tie these collections in with a special event, such as Clean Up
day campaign. A clean-up could also be held the week before a sporting or cultural
gathering hosted by your community. This will have many positive effects, including
increasing the sense of pride the community has in its town and impressing the visitors!

Waste disposal (council rubbish tips)

Every council must provide a safe, secure location where collected rubbish can be dumped,
and where community members can take extra household rubbish. Before Local
Government build, open or run a tip, we must be trained and knowledgeable about the laws.
These laws aim to protect the environment (the land, water, air and other things) from
pollution and contamination.

Important: To run a council tip, we may need an environmental licence from the
Environmental Protection Agency from central government. This licence lists the things the
council must do to make sure its tip doesnt pollute the environment.

Contaminated land (including rubbish tips)

Under the Environmental Protection Act 1994, local governments must identify and
manage contaminated land in their areas. Councils must also notify the Environmental
Protection Agency about that land.
Under the Environmental Protection Act 1994, operating a council rubbish tip is classed as
a Notifiable Activity. The land where a tip is located is Contaminated Land. Council must
NOWregister the location of a rubbish tip with the Environmental Protection Agency.
After our council registers land with the EPA as Contaminated Land, the Council must
maintain a record of this land (for land-use planning and decisions on development
applications). Community members who want information about land recorded on the EMR
or CLR should be asked to contact the EPA.

Litter
There are laws against littering, and councils can fine offenders. However, the best longterm strategy for beating a littering problem is community education, especially with antilitter programs for school children.
Litter creates hazards. Broken bottles and tins, for example, can injure people. Dengue
mosquitoes breed in water trapped in bottles.
People are more likely to drop litter in places that already have litter lying around. As well
as community awareness campaigns on litter, councils can reduce
litter by providing permanent or temporary bins in places such as:

outside community stores

at sporting fields

at cultural and special events

in parks and other family gathering areas

The bins should prevent animals or birds scavenging in the

rubbish, and keep out rain and wind.

Asbestos

Councils that own houses in their communities are responsible for repairs and maintenance
of the buildings. Councils need to be aware of what is required when repairing or
demolishing a house that contains asbestos.
Asbestos can create serious health problems if the fibres come loose from sheeting and are
breathed in. Asbestos is most likely to be found in the roofing or walls of buildings built
before the late 1980s. Demolishing or repairing buildings that contain asbestos should only
be done by suitably trained and licensed professionals. These contractors must now hold a
licence to work with asbestos. You might also find asbestos in an old rubbish tip or it could
be brought into the community in second-hand building material. The state
governments Workplace Health and Safety website has important information on:

what laws apply

what asbestos is and where it is found

how to identify asbestos

health risks

working with asbestos.

Contractors' rubbish
When hiring a building contractor to work on a project in the community, the council should
demand that the contractor removes all rubbish after the project is completed.
To ensure this is done, the council could get a cash bond from the contractor, or withhold
final payment until the site is inspected by the EMA or other officer and declared 'clean'.
These conditions should be clearly written into the contract so that the contractor knows
what is expected. A building contract should also state that the rubbish is to be disposed of
legally at a proper waste or recycling facility or even taken back to where the contractors
come from. This will increase the life of the council tip.
Removing building rubbish is especially important for island communities where land area
is limited.

Suppliers' rubbish
When ordering material or equipment from suppliers, the council should require the
supplier to minimise packaging. Where possible, council should require that the
supplier take back the packaging for recycling or disposal. This will also increase the
life of the council tip.

The Financial Aspect

A Proposal on How the Programme Should be Funded

One may ask how is local government going to be funded in this new waste
management venture? And there lies the on-going dilemmas of local government
finance; Grant versus Tax; and Property versus Income tax.
Thinking from first principles, we suggest that firstly the government would have to
approve a change in the constitution
1. The power to spend should be equated with the duty to tax (at least at the margin).
2. The less mobile a factor of production, the more suitable a subject it is for local
taxation.

To illustrate the principle , lets first imagine a square country, Ruritania, divided into four
square local government areas, imaginatively called Ruritania NW, Ruritania NE, Ruritania
SW, and Ruritania SE. The population is evenly spread across the country; furthermore, so
is wealth and income. The people, companies, and properties in each of the four local
government districts contain the identical mix of rich and poor. Fiscal federalism in
Ruritania is easy. The national government is responsible for defence, overseas aid,
macroeconomic management, and foreign relations, which account for 20% of public
expenditure. It levies tax on corporations domiciled in Ruritania, which yields 20% of tax
revenue, and exactly covers its liabilities. The four local authorities deliver health, personal
social services, social protection, transport, housing, fire, police, environmental protection,
trading standards, and waste management. (Oh, and coastal protection too did I mention
that Ruritania is an island and each local authority has an equal share of its coastline?). The
local authority functions cost 80% of public expenditure, which is exactly covered by their
taxes (the main ones being income tax, property tax, and VAT). In Ruritania, the power to
spend is exactly equated with the duty to tax. Each taxing authority has the power to raise
taxes (and spending), or to cut spending (and taxes), according to its citizens preferences.
Northwest could build a doomed shaped theatre much like Nappa and Northeast a network
of parks. Both of them would have to raise local taxes to pay for them. Southwest could
close its loss-making municipal museum and Southeast could start charging for rubbish to
be cleared. Both of them could reduce local taxes. Everybody would know who was
responsible for which batch of services, and whom to blame if things went wrong. Hence
the importance of devolution. Trinidad is not like Ruritania. Local authorities differ hugely
in wealth, population, area, and physical characteristics. The central government, which
does pay for 75%, attaches strings to its grant, while saying that it is strongly in favour of
(new) localism. To combat this there is an extensive equalisation programme, which
attempts to equalise both for councils unequal tax base and for the relative needs of their
citizens. So long as wealth and income are unevenly spread, (i.e., presumably, for ever),
there will always be an equalisation programme. Therefore for (at least) this reason, it will
never be exactly true that each local authoritys tax yield equals its spending responsibilities.
You cant match taxing power and spending power exactly. The next best thing is to try to
match them at the margin. This means that if the authority decides to spend a dollar extra, it
must raise a dollar extra in tax; and if it decides to spend a dollar less, it has a mound
available to give back to local taxpayers. In theory it should be possible for the centre to
give each authority a block grant, while the marginal decisions are up to the authority
Timeframe
The expected timeframe for this new to be new model to be on stream will be
approximately in four to six months time. In the short term there is the need to
sensitize the public about proper bulk disposal by the use of advertisement, and town
meetings which allow opportunities for suggestion to be put forward. However this
process is actually an on-going one. Moreover, there will be a consistent assessment
of performance and then if necessary a re-evaluation of the implemented program.

Effectiveness
Progress can be measured by litter Wardens and Sanitation Overseers who are given
the responsibility of overseeing the particular areas that they have been assigned. On
completion, they are required to submit a progress report to the Chief Executive
Officer and the Public Health Inspector.

Critical Success Factors

Management:

Chief Executive Officer

Public Health Inspector

Staff and Authority: Council Members

Sanitation Overseer
Complaints Clerk
Residents
Secretariat
Resources Used: Human Resources, Training In Safety and Environmental Law
Pens

Paper

Computer Hand bills

CONCULSION

Once managed properly, these challenges can be transformed into opportunities.

Only a system that possesses openness to the environmental factors, an empowered
government working in its full capacity, empowered and mobilized citizens which
posses the characteristic of social cohesiveness, flexibility, resilience, and dynamism,
will be able to successfully withstand these threats and be able to grasp the
opportunities.
Such a prospective also requires a transition to a more participatory mode by
management such an approach. insist that process is an important as the outcome.
That what a new model of local government achieves is informed and influenced by
how we proceed.

In concrete terms it means that the human resources at the municipal level is not just
the employees but the residents of the municipalities, the ultimate stakeholder or
customers.
If we accept that the residents or customers are the owners, then clearly they must be
provided with real opportunity to inform the decision making process and set the
framework for perspectives on productivity.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Miller, K. (2002) A presentation to the Caribbean Conference on Local Government

and Decentralization

Ministry of Local Government, 2008. A Green Paper on Local Government Reform.

Cornelius Price, Decentralization Coordinator, Ministry of Local Government.

Local Government Reform: Roles & Responsibilities of Local Government

Bodies.

Home Business

Need to protect T&Ts wetlands

In October this year, Housing and Environment Minister Roodal Moonilal announced that at the end of the year, the
Government intends to pass the Beverage Container Bill. Thousands of our Cleaning Up The Mess fans on our facebook
page, and citizens were relieved. It would mean an end to dumping some 50 million plastic bottles a month in our dumps. But
its the end of the year and we are anxious for action. Apart from legislation, it is the absence of data on the level of our

pollution, especially from our industrial estates, that is worrying. There can be no checks and balances without transparency.
This week we present to you the second in a three-part series on Cleaning Up The Mess by Trini Eco Warriors, (TEW) a
vibrant environmental NGO. In thisprepared second guest column one of the warriors, Stephen Broadbridge, a wildlife
writesphotographer, film producer, and owner of Caribbean Discovery Tours exclusively for Guardian Medias Cleaning Up
The Mess series on why you should care.
Published: Fri, 2010-12-31 18:45

Stephen Broadbridge

A few months ago we (Kyle De Lima, Marc de Verteuil and Stephen Broadbridge) formed an environmental
facebook group called Trini Eco Warriors for the purpose of highlighting concerns we three had about wrongs
being committed against our valuable flora and fauna. Within a very short time, we had assembled more than
5,000 facebook friends and noticed very active discussion. T&OneT seems to be becoming far more conscious
of the natural environment. can see this from the frequency of articles appearing in the media, even though
some seem to be as filthy with littering. But what is this concern about? Why is it important to all of us to care for
our environment? How does it actually effect us if we were to just destroy everything? T&Ts flora and fauna are
presentlstrain. Every dry season, we watch blazing forests, y under tremendous with no attempt to catch or
prosecute the arsonists. Then the rainy season comes and we wonder why our streets are flooded and our
properties are damaged. It is known that forested mountains retain water. Removing forest causes faster run-off
and siltation, resulting in massive flooding, damaging homes, businesses and agriculture. Every negative action
we take will eventually lead to a negative reaction though not always as obviously apparent as the flooding we
experience every rainy season. Trinidads wetlands, notably Nariva and Caroni swamps, provide refuge for
many endangered creatures and provide us with recreation and food while protecting our coastline from erosion
and pollution.
They have an economic value by attracting thousands of tourists and providing nurseries to many of our
commercially caught fish, shrimp, oysters and lobsters. Despite all these benefits, very little resources are
allocated to protect our wetlands. Caroni Swamp is as large as 40 square miles, yet there is only one small
game warden boat to police this area and it has been without an engine for some years now.
Large companies drain their polluting chemicals into rivers flowing into this precious mangrove ECO system.
Sections of Nariva Swamp are regularly burnt and on the western side large areas of forest were cleared and
drained in the 80s to make way for large rice plantations. The forested peninsula that juts out into Narivas flood
plains is regularly hunted, even though it is a RAMSA site and is supposed to be accessed only by people with
permits issued by the wildlife department. More wildlife officers need to be employed. There are just not
enough. Poachers often move undetected and illegal fishermen burn pieces of the forest so they might have
clear patches to fish. In the process, much wildlife is burnt to death and habitat destroyed. It is important to note
that many medicines in the pharmacy originated in their natural form from nature.
Much important research has been done in Nariva, most recently the Tungara frogs (physalaemus pustulosus)
bubble nest was found to be an excellent anti-bacteria that would not cause damage to cell tissue as present
day medicine does. It may turn out to be an important new burn medicine.It is certain that as research continues
many more important medicines will be discovered. That is of course if we have not destroyed everything first.

As the water flows from our rivers through the swamps, it enters our oceans. T&Ts marine environment yields
much food and employment for our people. It is the most frequented for recreation, yet oil companies and
industrial estates at the EMAs admission, appear to be largely self regulated. In the absence of data, this
means that the population is not fully informed of the pollution created by these industries. While we are not
pointing fingers, it is clear that more transparency and checks and balances are required regarding their
activities which directly impact on the environment. Fish catches are unregulated and all marine turtles, even
though endangered are hunted legally in the hunting season and illegally out of hunting season. I have never
understood how we have a hunting season for an endangered species in the first place.
It is important to note that turtles eat jellyfish. Jellyfish eat fish. Less turtles mean more jellyfish. More jellyfish
means less fish in the sea. The more obvious financial benefit of turtle would be seen in tourism. Any hotel near
a healthy turtle nesting beach is likely to be full most weekends of the nesting season. In Matura, in particular,
Nature Seekers hotel is packed with researchers and foreign students who spend US dollars on food, tours,
transport, airfare, accommodation, souvenirs and taxes. Grande Riviere hotels enjoy similarly high room
occupancy. Turtles are simply worth more alive than dead. Its time we completely outlaw the unsustainable
practice of hunting our marine turtles. Trinidad and Tobago are two small islands. There are limits on what we
have. We need to be a lot more careful in managing our natural resources and realise that our natural
environment is important to the quality of our lives. We must not allow either industry or individuals to destroy
our country like thieves in the night.
This Sunday on Cleaning up the Mess, on CNC3 at 10.30 am and 6 pm our Ira Mathur and our Multi Media
Cleaning Up The Mess crew bring you interviews and images from the Beetham dump and interviews with UWI
lecturers Dr Dr Judith Gobin, Marine Biologist.Azad Mohammed, Eco-toxicologist, and andSend in your
photos and comments to cleaningupthemess@guardian.co.tt join our facebook page on
http://www.facebook.com/cleaningupthemess?ref=ts