Methyl Bromide Sensitisation Training

The National Ozone Unit held two sessions of Methyl Bromide Awareness Training for the Plant Quarantine Division of the Ministry of Food Production, Housing, Land and Marine Affairs, Trade, Industry and Investment and the Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago who deal specifically with plant quarantine and fumigation.  

The sessions were facilitated by Mr. Anthony Ramdeen (Consultant for the Methyl Bromide Phase-Out Project) and Dr. Marissa Gowrie (National Ozone Officer) on March 23, 2012 and May 18, 2012 at the El Socorro Office of the Ministry of Housing and the Environment (now Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources). 

The purpose of the training was to increase the awareness of various stakeholder groups on the Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) and Methyl Bromide, their usage and the alternatives available.  

Dr. Marissa Gowrie (National Ozone Officer) addressing the participants

Mr. Anthony Ramdeen, Project Consultant, demonstrating fumigant 

detection equipment to the participants

Ozone Awareness at ABS

The National Ozone Unit (NOU) continues its education of the air-conditioning and refrigeration sector on the Montreal Protocol and the impending phase out of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) scheduled to begin in January 2013, through its lectures and outreach activities. 

The NOU most recently conducted training and awareness raising at Abel Building Solutions (ABS) at its Mount Hope Offices for the entire engineering department including senior staff, technical professionals and procurement officers.

Attendees were informed about the phase out targets for HCFC as well as the elements of the HCFC Phase out Management Plan (HPMP) which include equipment provision, further training in good refrigeration practices, retrofitting of equipment, and the establishment of a certification programme for technicians.  

To learn more about ABS, you can visit the company's website.

From L-R: Dr. Marissa Gowrie (National Ozone Officer), Mr. Adam Sabga (General Manager; ABS ) and Mr. Winfield Clamens (one of the founders the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry Association)