CRMMN FINAL WORKSHOP

The Department of Analytical Services has for the past two years executed a project entitled “Facilitating Capacity-Building for Managing Mercury in the Caribbean” funded through the Specific International Program of the Minamata Convention on Mercury. The terminal workshop for the project was held on 26th September, 2023. The facilitators were Dr Linroy Christian – Director of Analytical Services within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Trade and Barbuda Affairs; Dr David Evers – Executive Director and Chief Scientist Biodiversity Research Institute; Dr Katrina McSween, Post-Doctoral Fellow Air Quality Research Division Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Presentations and matters discussed were:

· An Overview of the SIP Project: objectives and outcomes

· Caribbean Fish Mercury Findings

· Passive Air Monitoring

· Human Hair Study

· Bats and Birds

· Cosmetics

· Next Steps Sustainability of the Network Science to Policy Future Projects Cooperation and Collaboration

In attendance were Senator the Honourable Kiz Nathaniel, Ms Sandra Joseph – Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Agriculture, representatives from Forestry Unit, Bureau of Standards, Chamber of Commerce, Department of Environment, National Solid Waste Management Authority, PAHO, members of staff from Analytical Services and virtually partners of the project from Geneva, Belize, Canada, St. Lucia, Suriname and the USA.

Online Attendees were:

Name Agency Country
Alexandra Stefffen Environment Climate Change Canada Canada
Dennis Wip Faculty of Technology, Electrical Engineering, University of Suriname Suriname
Franklyn Connor St. Kitts & Nevis Bureau of Standards St. Kitts & Nevis
Gerda Wesenhagen Faculty of Technology, Electrical Engineering, University of Suriname Suriname
Helen Yurek Biodiversity Research Institute Maine, USA
Katrina Mac Sween Environment Climate Change Canada Canada
Laura Texeira Basel Convention Regional Centre- Caribbean Trinidad
Leonides Sosa Department of the Environment Belize
Marianne Bailey Minamata Secretariat Geneva
Mark Burton Biodiversity Research Institute Maine, USA
Michelle Astwood Minsitry of Natural Resources Guyana
Tahlia Ali Shah Biodiversity Research Institute Maine, USA
Vanessa Sabajo Ministry of Spatial Planning and Environment Suriname
Yasmin Jude Department of Sustainable Development, Ministry of Education, Sustainable Development, Innovation, Science, Technology and Vocational Training Saint Lucia