Escazú
Flooding in parts of North-east Trinidad on October 5, 2022. Photo: ODPM/Twitter

Trinidad and Tobago urged to sign on to Escazú Agreement

Despite having a leading role in the formation of the Escazú Agreement, the first regional environmental treaty for Latin America and the Caribbean for environmental protection and human rights, Trinidad and Tobago has yet to ratify the legal instrument.

And coming from a year in which this country experienced unprecedented flooding resulting in millions in damages, and even the loss of life, the Escazú Agreement is a tool that is deeply needed in the bid to mitigate and adapt to climate change and its effects.

The aim of the Agreement is to guarantee the full and effective implementation in the region of the rights of access to environmental information, public participation in the environmental decision-making process, and access to justice in environmental matters.

In November, after over a week of continuous rain, this country experienced flooding at an unprecedented level. Flood waters rose as high as 10 feet (three metres) in some areas, proving challenging for disaster relief crews trying to reach those affected, and in the hardest hit areas, like Mafeking, a community in the south-eastern side of the country near Mayaro. Officers from the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard and Defence Force called in boats and heavy-duty trucks in order to render aid and reach the most affected citizens.

On November 29, official government reports through the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government indicated that there had been over 30 flood incidents, over 51 landslides and four reports of damaged structures across 12 administrative districts. While the adverse weather alerts were discontinued that afternoon, the Riverine Flooding Alert remained effective at Orange Level (High Risk) and was extended until two days later.

For another five days, approximately 100,000 people remained affected by the flooding and remained under threat and at risk from further rainfall events.

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley described the event as ‘a weather emergency’, and the made it known that the Cabinet had authorized the release of TT$150 million to help repair roads, clean rivers and compensate farmers and homeowners who fell victim to floods.

Escazú

A total of TT$100 million was allocated for urgent repair work on roads damaged by floods and landslides, TT$40 million for a national flood relief programme and TT$10 million for farmers who lost their crops in flooded fields.

The intensity of these floods was described as ‘unprecedented’ by the Opposition, who even noted that the last major flooding event in 2018 was less impactful as flood waters receded quickly and clean-up efforts were swift.

This flooding event was prolonged with communities being submerged for days. While much of the national infrastructure was intact, several rural communities experienced the destruction of their road networks.

Questions naturally arose as to what would lead to such an event taking place. Weather anomalies aside, which are the result of climate change, many persons also pointed to the fact that the country was a victim of itself, with several construction projects not adhering to national infrastructural standards and being built in low-lying areas.

Dr Don Samuel, a civil engineer and lecturer, spoke with TV6 in December about the devastating floods and said that the country is suffering from an ‘infrastructural crisis’.

It was pointed out that this country did not adhere to proper drainage systems, and maintenance of said systems. It was also noted that a major contributor would be various housing projects that are being built on low-lying areas, without proper approval.

“Are the designs that are approved and are they sufficient and are the contractors or developers doing something other than what is approved? Because approval is just one stage you will need building inspectors to ensure that there is the monitoring of the works. So, you will have Town and Country, and the Drainage Development, who would grant certain approvals, and I want to be clear, I’m not blaming contractors, but I think that what we need to look at is if the designs are being adhered to,” Samuel said.

At the time, then-acting Commissioner of Police McDonald Jacob noted that in addition to this, there were issues with illegal quarries in the country which he believed could also be having a serious effect on the flooding being experienced.

Nicole Leotaud, Executive Director, Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI).

Speaking with the Express last week, Nicole Leotaud, Executive Director of the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) explained that the Escazú Agreement has been commended both regionally and internationally for its strength in terms of its regulatory and policy mechanisms.

“The Escazú Agreement would be a key step forward for environmental conservation in our country, helping us to combat key issues such as climate change and reduce socio-environmental conflict. It would strengthen environmental policies and projects through greater transparency and citizen voice in decision-making. The Escazú Agreement would also support a greater role for civil society as key advocates and partners in a whole-of-society approach to sustainable development,” Leotaud explained.

As a result, she called on the State to ratify the agreement.

She noted that in September 2019, CANARI was one of 60 civil society organizations working across Trinidad and Tobago that sent an open letter to Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley calling on the Government to sign and ratify the Escazú Agreement.

“We noted that Trinidad and Tobago had played a leading role in the negotiations of the Escazú Agreement and was widely commended for having strong legal, regulatory and policy mechanisms in place to support the implementation of this internationally ground-breaking treaty. The Ministry of Planning and Development responded in October 2019 advising that the issue of the signing and ratification of the Escazú Agreement was under active consideration by the Cabinet. However, we are not aware that any decision has yet been made by Cabinet on this matter,” Leotaud said.

It was noted that with this tool, citizens will be able to access information on the state of the environment and how it may be impacted by particular projects; be consulted and participate in decisions that could affect our environment; and even seek reparations in the courts if the environment is adversely affected, or if their views are not considered.


This story was originally published by the Trinidad and Tobago Express, through the Caribbean Climate Justice Journalism Fellowship, which is a joint venture between Climate Tracker and Open Society Foundations.

Alexander Bruzual
Alexander Bruzual is a journalist with 14 years of work history in journalism & media operations. He has proven strong communication skills, with a specialty in print and digital mediums. With a background in International Relations and Criminology, Alexander has pursued a career in the intersection of social and security issues locally and internationally. Alexander has generated exclusive crime stories for Trinidad and Tobago’s One Caribbean Media – including Trinidad Express and TV6 – on national security issues with their local & international impacts.
slot thailand slot88 joker123 zeus slot slot mania habanero idn slot jdb slot slot gacor maxwin slot thailand slot thailand slot thailand slot thailand sv388 slot kamboja idn slot slot ovo habanero slot petir slot dana slot maxwin slot ovo starlight princess live casino slot zeus pg soft slot olympus ibcbet maxwin slot thailand slot pgsoft slot slot mahjong zeus slot digmaan slot mania slot pulsa jdb slot slot777 slot shopee slot spade gaming slot thailand slot thailand fafaslot nolimit city slot princess fafaslot fafa slot slot princess slot gacor slot thailand slot mahjong slot gopay slot88 slot toto slot server thailand slot thailand slot77 slot gacor slot thailand slot server thailand slot thailand akun gacor slot maxwin slot gacor slot thailand slot kakek zeus Pg Soft Maxbet Ibcbet Starlight Princess Slot Ovo Joker123 Mahjong Ways 2 Sv388 Sbobet Slot Dana Slot Thailand Slot Thailand Digmaan Sv388 Joker123 Mahjong Ways 2 Slot Dana Slot Gacor Slot Anti Rungkat baccarat roulette sicbo casino online sv388 tembak ikan online sbobet slot macau slot thailand slot thailand slot88 situs slot wwg slot wm casino tembak ikan slot thailand slot wala meron slot nolimit city slot pg slot gacor slot88 slot50000 slot mahjong slot thailand 66k bet slot daftar judi slot online indonesia slot mahjong ways slot thailand mahjong ways slot gacor slot mawin slot gacor slot gacor slot gacor slot thailand slot thailand slot gacor slot ovo slot gacor slot gopay slot gacor slot gacor slot thailand slot gacor judi slot slot thailand slot thailand slot thailand slot mahjong ways 2 slot pragmatic slot demo pragmatic slot demo pg soft demo slot pragmatic slot gacor 4d slot pg soft pgslot pgsoft pgsoft sv388 slot88 pgsoft slot thailand slot88 slot thailand slot gacor slot ovo slot dana fafaslot slot ovo slot jepang judi slot gacor slot rusia Situs Daftar Judi Slot Mahjong Ways 1 dan 2 PG Soft Online PG Soft : Daftar Situs Judi Slot Online Gacor Slot Kakek Zeus RTP Slot > Daftar Situs Judi Slot Gacor Mahjong Ways 2 PG Soft : Daftar Situs Judi Slot Online Gacor Terbaik Situs Slot Online Gacor Dan Agen Slot Pragmatic Play Terpercaya Slot Gacor: Situs Slot Online Pragmatic Play & Bocoran Pola Slot Situs Slot Online Terbaik Terpercaya dan Terbesar di Indonesia Slot Kakek Zeus Daftar Link Slot Olympus Terbaru Slot Dana Daftar Judi Slot Online Indonesia Paling Gacor di Indonesia Sabung Ayam Online Sv388 Daftar Situs Judi Slot Online SLOT88 SLOT PG SOFT GACOR Bandar Slot Daftar Situs Judi Online Terbaik & Terpercaya Gacor power gaming sv388 lucky neko slot gacor slot gacor slot88 slot kakek slot pg slot kakek zeus slot dana slot maxwin slot server luar negeri slot thailand Link Daftar Situs Judi Slot Deposit Dana 20RB Tanpa Potongan Power Gaming : Situs Slot Gacor Online RTP Pragmatic Play Power Gaming : Situs Slot Gacor Online RTP Pragmatic Play Power Gaming : Situs Slot Gacor Online RTP Pragmatic Play Link Daftar Situs Judi Slot Deposit Dana 20RB Tanpa Potongan Slot Pragmatic - Link Alternatif Judi Slot Online Gacor Kakek Zeus Power Gaming : Situs Slot Gacor Online RTP Pragmatic Play Daftar Slot Dana Power Gaming : Situs Slot Gacor Online RTP Pragmatic Play lucky Neko Daftar & Login Slot PG Judi Slot 88 Online Power Gaming : Situs Slot Gacor Online RTP Pragmatic Play Power Gaming : Situs Slot Gacor Online RTP Pragmatic Play Power Gaming : Situs Slot Gacor Online RTP Pragmatic Play Power Gaming : Situs Slot Gacor Online RTP Pragmatic Play Power Gaming : Situs Slot Gacor Online RTP Pragmatic Play Power Gaming : Situs Slot Gacor Online RTP Pragmatic Play Power Gaming : Situs Slot Gacor Online RTP Pragmatic Play Power Gaming : Situs Slot Gacor Online RTP Pragmatic Play Power Gaming : Situs Slot Gacor Online RTP Pragmatic Play Power Gaming : Situs Slot Gacor Online RTP Pragmatic Play Slot Mahjong Ways 2 Mudah Jackpot Paus di PG Soft Hari ini 2023 Lucky Neko Situs Slot Gacor Pgsoft Hari Ini Slot Pragmatic - Link Alternatif Judi Slot Online Gacor Kakek Zeus SITUS SABUNG AYAM SV388 ONLINE DAFTAR LINK LOGIN APK AGEN SV388 Daftar Judi Slot Online Indonesia Paling Gacor di Indonesia SBOBET Login Agen Judi Bola Sbobet Mahjong Ways | Slot PG | Slot Mahjong Ways 2 | Slot PGsoft | Daftar Slot Mahjong Situs Joker123 | Joker123 | Joker Gaming | Daftar Slot Joker Power Gaming : Situs Slot Gacor Online RTP Pragmatic Play Agen Daftar Situs Judi Slot Online Terpercaya Slot Kakek Zeus : Daftar RTP Judi Slot Online Gacor Gampang Menang Joker123 Game Slot Gacor Joker Gaming Casino Online Indonesia Power Gaming : Situs Slot Gacor Online RTP Pragmatic Play