Phase 1 Of The Programme Will Include An Assessment Of The Coastal Situation And Engagement Of Stakeholders

Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago – In a strategic step toward mapping a sustainable solution to combat the problem of coastal erosion and coastal flooding, the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (GORTT) launched the Comprehensive National Coastal Monitoring Programme (CNCMP). History was marked on Friday May 24, 2019 at an event hosted by the Ministry of Works and Transport (MOWT), Coastal Protection Unit (CPU), which took place at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad. The CPU, in partnership with the Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA) and the Tobago House of Assembly (THA), Division of Infrastructure, Quarries and the Environment (DIQE), embarked on the programme to support the monitoring of the state of Trinidad and Tobago’s coastal areas and to serve as a central repository for coastal data.

Phase 1 of the CNCMP was initiated in January 2019 with an immediate objective to establish a framework for the successful implementation of the programme. The CNCMP aims to achieve innovation in service, by providing a tangible and efficient facility to deliver value to a wide cross-section of Trinidad and Tobago’s society. In his feature address at the launch, the Minister of Works and Transport, Senator the Honourable Rohan Sinanan, affirmed that with more evidence-based data, “…engineers, scientists and other decision makers who work in the area of coastal protection will be able to move ahead and make more insightful and informed decisions on the future of our coastal regions around Trinidad and Tobago.” Ultimately, the CNCMP will promote the adoption of environmentally and economically sustainable solutions to preserve and protect the coast. The inaugural CNCMP event also featured a welcome by Mrs. Candice Gray-Bernard, Director of the CPU, and remarks by Dr. Ahmad Khan, Director of the IMA, and Councillor Kwesi Des Vignes, Secretary of the THA, DIQE, with closing remarks offered by CNCMP consultant, Mr. Nazeer Gopaul of Coastal Dynamics Limited. Highlights of the event included the signing of a letter of intent between the MOWT and CNCMP project partners, the IMA and DIQE, as well as the opening of a CNCMP coastal erosion and coastal flooding photo exhibition.

During the twenty-month implementation of Phase 1 of the CNCMP, a National Coastal Assessment (NCA) will be conducted to obtain a rapid overview of the current coastal situation in Trinidad and Tobago including the identification of shortcomings and gaps in information. The foundation of the NCA will be built on existing coastal information and data held within governmental agencies and other entities such as the Ministry of Planning and Development, the IMA and DIQE. Additionally, coastal communities and other key stakeholders will be engaged in order to gain an understanding of the value of the coast and perceptions and understandings of coastal erosion, coastal flooding and climate change to citizens of Trinidad and Tobago. To this end, the CPU has launched the ‘Have Your Say’ campaign to encourage Trinbagonians to have their voices heard by visiting the MOWT website to either register to participate in the CNCMP community engagement and consultation activities (bit.ly/CNCMPRegister2HaveYourSay) or to share their thoughts and experiences via the CNCMP Coastal Social Survey (bit.ly/CNCMPCoastalSocialSurvey). Trinbagonians may also join in the movement to preserve and protect the coasts by posting photo and/or video content of coastal hazards such as fallen trees, land slippage, cliff failure, retreating shorelines, threats to coastal infrastructure and assets, and coastal erosion and coastal flooding on social media using the hashtag #CoastalWatchTT. In addition, Trinbagonians wishing to learn more about coastal erosion may do so via the MOWT’s #CoastalErosionFacts social media posts.

Photos courtesy the CPU