First Stakeholder Consultation Meeting under the Prevention of Marine Litter in the Caribbean Sea (PROMAR)
The Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA), in partnership with the Ministry of Planning and Development, in its capacity as the Political Partner for the Prevention of Marine Litter in the Caribbean Sea (PROMAR) Project, launched the Prevention of Marine Litter in the Caribbean Sea (PROMAR) Project Inception Hybrid Meeting and Stakeholder Consultation at the Institute of Marine Affairs on April 23, 2025. The PROMAR Project is being implemented in the Latin American and Caribbean region of which Trinidad and Tobago is one of several recipient countries.
Aimed at reducing the flow of single-use packaging waste from terrestrial sources entering the Caribbean Sea through policies, pertinent legislation and institutional capacity for plastic waste managment, this First Stakeholder Consultation Meeting featured the Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Planning and Development, Ms. Candace Ramsaran, Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Institute of Marine Affairs, Mr. Ermath Harrington, and Director of the Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA), Dr. Ava Maxam.
L_R: Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Planning and Development; Dr. Ava Maxam, IMA Director; Ms. Wendy Nelson, IMA Senior Research Officer
The event gathered together representatives from ministries, policymakers, education professionals, non-governmental organisations and civil society working in the field of waste management to discuss the importance of and priorities for establishing and expanding circular economy solutions for the prevention of plastic waste entering the Caribbean Sea.
Delivering the feature address at the PROMAR Project Launch, Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Planning and Development, Ms. Candace Ramsaran, stated that marine litter has become an environmental challenge of global concern and remains a clear and present threat to the environment, human well-being and marine life. She highlighted that the Meeting could not have come at a better time.
“In our beautiful twin-island state of Trinidad and Tobago, marine litter and plastic debris are now ubiquitous in almost every beach and shoreline with tides of litter and trash washing up onto our shores. Studies have shown that an estimated 129,000 metric tonnes of plastic are being brought in annually of which a significant portion of this waste ends up in the marine environment adversely affecting marine ecosystems, the fishing industry and tourism”, she said.
Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA), Mr. Ermath Carrington, spoke of the value of the PROMAR Project to the region and Trinidad and Tobago in delivering the welcoming remarks at the Project Launch. “This stakeholder meeting is an apt forum for sharing the project vision and fostering the cross-fertilisation of ideas. In order to reduce the flow of plastics from entering our waterways and seas, this Project Meeting is important as we need to build strategic alliances to address plastic pollution challenges”, he said.
Providing further context to the Meeting, the Director of the Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA), Dr. Ava Maxam, stated, “The Linear Approach is still prevalent in the region where plastics are used once and discarded, often ending up in landfills or entering our oceans, an approach that is quite unsustainable and should become a relic of the past. The significance of this PROMAR Project is to embrace the circular economy approach that aims to reduce, reuse and recycle plastics, thereby reducing the flow of single-use packaging from entering the Caribbean Sea.”
The Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary Ms. Candace Ramsaran, further underscored the Government’s commitment to formulate policies and implement plans required to decelerate the adverse impacts of pollution waste.
According to the Deputy Permanent Secretary, “The Government’s Integrated Solid Waste Management Policy advocates waste should be managed in an integrated management system that minimizes land-filling and promotes recycling and source-separated organic waste management.”
Sustainable waste management is crucial for achieving many of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The activities under the PROMAR Project support the following United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
- SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation
- SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production
- SDG 14 – Life below Water
- SDG 15 – Life on Land
The PROMAR Project, which is led by the Institute’s Senior Research Officer and Project Leader, Ms. Wendy Nelson, signals IMA’s commitment in developing strategies for local action and raising awareness by supporting initiatives that foster and promote the Circular Economy in waste management.
You May Also Like
