The Chairman of the Environmental Management Authority (EMA), Mr. Doolar Ramlal, together with members of the Authority’s Board of Directors and the management team, including Directors Dr. Rebecca Gookool-Bosland and Mr. Avinash Phagoo, recently met with the Honourable Devesh Maharaj – Minister of Justice, Permanent Secretaries and Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice and members of the Environmental Commission of Trinidad and Tobago (ECTT). The meeting focused on strategic collaborations between the entities and advancing amendments to the Environmental Management Act Chap 35:05 (EM Act), with environmental justice identified as a central guiding principle.
The engagement provided an opportunity to review the existing legislative framework, including the EM Act and its subsidiary legislation, and to identify areas requiring strengthening and modernisation to ensure environmental governance in Trinidad and Tobago remains effective, transparent and responsive.
Key matters discussed included noise management, access to environmental justice, mediation and involvement of the EMA within the court process, assessment methodologies, and improved coordination among agencies involved in environmental regulation and enforcement, including the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) and Regional Corporations. Emphasis was also placed on enhancing procedural clarity and reinforcing institutional collaboration between the EMA and the ECTT.
The proposed amendments aim to strengthen the effectiveness of the EM Act, clarify institutional roles and ensure that environmental protection mechanisms are sustained, particularly in addressing the imminent climate-related challenges. A structured programme of public consultation is expected to form a key component of the reform process, allowing stakeholders, civil society organisations, industry representatives and community groups to voice their input in updating the legislative framework.
Under its Line Ministry, the Ministry of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development, the EMA remains committed to working collaboratively with the Ministry of Justice and the ECTT to promote sustainable development and uphold the principles of environmental stewardship and justice to build an environmentally sustainable and transparent governance framework.
Back Row (From left to right): Ms. Alexia Soogrim – Legal Officer I, Mr. Maurice Wishart – Manager, Legal Services, Ms. Aleisha Fournillier – Corporate Secretary, Mr. Avinash Phagoo – Director, Mr. Wayne Rajkumar – Managing Director (Ag.) – all of the EMA, Mr. David Alexander – Deputy Chairman, Ms. Ryane Rollock – Member and Ms. Cindy F. Khan – Registrar – all of the ECTT.
