Ms. Judith Campbell and DECR, Wesley Clerveaux, returns from EIA Workshop

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands; Wednesday, May 6th, 2009 - The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Judith Campbell and the Director of the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR) Mr. Wesley Clerveaux returned from a two-day workshop which was held on April 27 and 28, 2009, in Brussels, Belgium on the use of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as a Decision tool. The workshop was financed by the European Commission for the Overseas Countries and Territories Association (EU-OCTA) and facilitated participants from all the French, Dutch, English and Spanish EU Overseas Territories.

Mr. Wesley Clerveaux, second row, second from left ; Mrs. Judith Campbell, first row, second from right

Prior to the workshop, the European Commission on behalf of OCTA conducted a study on EIAs and Strategic Environment Assessments (SEAs) in all OCTs, with the following objectives:

To analyze the state of play and conduct a gap analysis of EIAs and SEAs
To gain knowledge of EIA and SEA on different sector policies
To gain more specific knowledge on what it requires to establish EIAs and SEAs
To provide an EIA/SEA manual based on best practices
To propose scenarios and/or concrete EIAs and SEAs for each participating OCT

The study was conducted mainly by a questionnaire survey; however, on-site visits were conducted to four OCTs, namely New Caledonia, The Cayman Islands, Greenland and Bonaire.

The study revealed that EIA procedures were being practiced in most OCTs. Nine OCTs have incomplete legislation and three (3) had no legal provision at all. Capacities to conduct public consultation, monitor mitigation measures, prepare terms of reference, and analyze reports were weak and inadequate in all OCTs.

SEAs on the other hand were not clearly established in any OCT. In fact it was reported that ‘no OCT has a comprehensive and functional SEA system’. However, many OCTs do practice some element of SEA in their planning processes.

The workshop featured a number of presentations on examples of current EIA/SEA procedures applied in the respective OCTs. Presentations were made by New Caledonia, Greenland, the Cayman Islands, and The Netherlands Antilles (Bonaire), and provided ideas on how to promote more SEAs. Much attention was focused on the need to sensitizing the politicians and other decision-makers on the benefits of using SEAs and EIA not only regulatory tools; but rather informative tools. EIAs should be used to inform the decision- making process, to guard against major environmental impacts; as well as to ensure the success of the project.

Mrs. Judith Campbell, immediate left with EU Officials

While attending the workshop, the Permanent Secretary Ms. Judith Campbell and the Director of the DECR took the opportunity to convene a meeting with the Managers f the EU Project on Strengthening Fishery Products – Health Conditions in ACP/OCTs Countries.

For the past two years, the DECR has been assiduously working to gain access to EU market for TCI fisheries products. This would give the plant operators a better price for their products, which ultimately result in greater earnings for the fishermen.

The EU project has 4 – modules. TCI has already benefited from the first module, whereby a health consultant carried out a survey of hygiene practices and health conditions of the fish plants. Recommendations are currently being implemented. The second module will furnish OCTs with a series of inspection related equipment for the Fish Plants.

END

May 06, 2009