Sub-regional Caribbean Network Meeting Paramaribo, Suriname April 2014

The Sub-regional Caribbean Network Meeting took place in Paramaribo, Suriname, from 7 – 10 April 2014. The 14 member countries of the Sub-regional Caribbean Network (Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Ozone Secretariat, the Multilateral Fund Secretariat and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, USEPA) were represented at the meeting.  In addition, experts from the refrigeration sector participated remotely delivering presentations on refrigerants and standards, the European F-gas regulations, certification schemes for servicing technicians, and strengthening of refrigeration associations. The meeting was organized by UNEP OzonAction Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (ROLAC) in collaboration with the Government of Suriname.
 
The meeting focused on building capacities of National Ozone Officers and promoting the exchange of experiences and lessons learnt during the implementation of their hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) phase-out strategies. Countries also reviewed and discussed topics related to national implications of the recent decisions of the Meeting of the Parties (MOP) to the Montreal Protocol and the Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund; progress and challenges on the implementation of HCFC phase-out management plans (HPMPs); legislative and enforcement approaches to meet the Montreal Protocol compliance requirements; and trends in market availability and industry demands for energy efficient, ozone and climate friendly refrigeration and air conditioning alternatives for the Caribbean region.

Trinidad and Tobago was represented at this Meeting by Ms. Neera Singh of the National Ozone Unit. A group photo is shown below. More info can be obtained at http://www.unep.org/ozonaction/News/Features/2014/CaribbeanclosertomeetingMPcompliancetarget/tabid/838791/Default.aspx