Joint Network Meeting of Latin America and Caribbean National Ozone Officers

 Trinidad and Tobago is participating in the Joint Network Meeting of Latin America and the Caribbean in Panama. The session is from March 20 to 25 2023. Issues to be discussed include:

The upcoming HFC freeze and baseline in 2024 under the Kigali Amendment; Ozone and Climate Friendly Alternatives; Challenges in transitioning the refrigeration and air conditioning (RAC) sector to suitable long term alternatives; gender in RAC and disposal, among other things.

Ozone Awareness at the Gulf City Mall San Fernando

The National Ozone Unit participated in a public awareness and outreach initiative hosted by the Consumer Affairs Division at the Gulf City Mall San Fernando. Members of the public were informed of ozone layer protection, climate and ozone friendly refrigerant alternatives as well as energy efficiency in refrigeration and air conditioning.

Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Importers Stakeholder Consultation

 The Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards in collaboration with the National Ozone Unit hosted a Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Importers Stakeholder Consultation on March 16, 2023 to ensure that the sector is keep informed and up to date on ongoing and upcoming activities with regard to border control of refrigeration and air conditioning equipment as well as refrigerant. 

Training for RAC Technicians in Tobago

 The National Ozone Unit continued its efforts to keep the refrigeration and air conditioning (RAC) Technicians up to date and skilled with a two day training in Tobago covering the topics of Good Refrigeration Practices, Recovery and Recycling and Natural Refrigerant.

Traning and Sentization of Facilities and Maintenance Personnel in the Government Sector

 The National Ozone Unit continued its effort to educate facilities and maintenance officers on ozone and climate friendly equipment and practices. The session targeted personnel who are attached to Government buildings.

Celebrating Our Female Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC) Trainers on International Women's Day 2023

 

Showcasing our Female Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC) Trainer- Ms. Hazel Kanhai

 

My name is Hazel Kanhai. I grew up hearing how important it was to ‘learn a trade’ because of the job security, stability and enrichment it provided. After completing my secondary school education, I applied to do a Refrigeration and Air conditioning program at the John S Donaldson Technical Training Institute. I had no previous practical skills, but my mathematics, science and drawing skills provided the fundamental knowledge I needed.   

The Refrigeration and Air conditioning field is a predominantly male environment. I was the only female in my class. I was the only female graduating from the National Training Agency Apprenticeship programme at that time, and I was the only female in my Technical Teacher Training Internship. I can still remember the questioning looks that I would get, whenever I showed up to work on a system. However, the landscape of this picture is gradually changing. The year 2005 was the first time I was joined by another woman in training, Ms. Margaret Belfon.

I started working in the field at the Caribbean Marine Technical Services, and then at Climate Control Limited as a service repair technician, where I was the only female in both workshops. My qualifications and experience now afforded me the opportunity to serve as a Technical Vocational Instructor, both at St. Anthony’s College (an all-boys school) and then at The MIC Institute of Technology spanning a period of thirty years. During this period, I became a member of the Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (RSES) and was also certified in the Carrier General Training AC 1 & 2 (GTAC). I was also trained and certified in the Safe Handling of Ozone Depleting Substances with Air Conditioning Refrigeration Industry Association (ARIA).

Today, after so many years in this field, I am still very passionate and excited about the current and new trends continuing to impact this industry. My advice to women who want to enter this field would be to first of all, respect yourselves, keep on learning and challenging yourselves.