NIHERST, as the current host of the CCST Secretariat has been involved in the projects listed below.

• SIMBIOSIS

• RICYT Public Perception of Science in the Caribbean

• Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM)

• Teacher Training for the Integration of Information Technology (IT) into the Caribbean Classroom

• Enhancing Flood Disaster Preparedness in the Caribbean

• Capacity Building In Biosafety For The Caribbean

• Creating Employment & Wealth for Youths in the Caribbean

SIMBIOSIS

Goal

To establish a mechanism for the provision of technical and informational support which is required to facilitate the exchange and transfer of information in the fields of biotechnology and food technology throughout the Caribbean.

The objectives of the SIMBIOSIS project were:

1. to develop and strengthen SIMBIOSIS in the Caribbean into an operational on-line knowledge/information network in the sectors of food technology and biotechnology; and 

2. to establish a mechanism for the provision of technical and informational support which is required to facilitate the exchange and transfer of information in the fields of biotechnology and food technology throughout the Caribbean.

The Caribbean countries which were involved in the SIMBIOSIS network include:

Antigua and Barbuda Bahamas Barbados Belize Dominica

Grenada Guyana Jamaica St. Lucia St. Kitts and Nevis

St. Vincent Suriname Trinidad and Tobago

Log on to the SIMBIOSIS network at www.ccst-caribbean.org/simbiosis

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Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM)

The UNCED Agenda 21 document offered recommendations for the protection and supply of water, emphasising the concept of integrated action for the development, management and use of water resources. Upon this directive, the Caribbean Council of Science and Technology (CCST), in conjunction with NIHERST (The National Institute of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology) in Trinidad and Tobago and the Commonwealth Science Council (CSC) have sponsored workshops and the participation of Caribbean countries in SWIN (Small Island States Water Network).

In the year 2000, the CCST, CSC and NIHERST hosted two regional workshops: one on IWRM in Small Island States and the other on Stakeholder Participation and Conflict Resolution in IWRM. The workshops resulted in the adoption of a regional strategy and programme of action. Notably, there has been formulation of strategies for public awareness and education, strengthening institutions and co-ordination, legislative and policy development and financing in the development of an Integrated Water Resource Management Project. 

The overall goal of the IWRM project was to encourage the adoption of integrated approaches to water resources management across the region by providing the necessary technical support to countries to develop and implement frameworks for Integrated Water Resource Management. This project will look towards not only the development of a basic framework but also the development of a basic policy for Integrated Water Resources Management strategies through the hosting of stake holder meetings and further development of national water management studies and profiles. 

The countries which took part in the IWRM project are:

Bahamas Barbados Dominica Grenada

Guyana Jamaica Nevis St. Kitts

St. Lucia St. Vincent Trinidad and Tobago

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Enhancing Flood Disaster Preparedness in the Caribbean

The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA) along with the CCST executed the project entitled “Enhancing Disaster Preparedness in the Caribbean”. The Disaster Preparedness Programme of the European Commission (ECHO) funded the project.

There were two components of the project:

1. Development and Adaptation of a Model Contingency Plan for Floods in St. Lucia:
   This component was intended to provide CDERA-participating states with the tools to enhance the managerial and operational capability for the flood hazard in the region. The Model was developed such that each country could modify it to suit their situation. 

2. Flood Hazard Mapping in Dominica and development of a Flood Alerting System:
   This involvement was intended to improve risk and vulnerability assessment of flood prone communities along the Roseau Basin by strengthening the communities’ capacity to respond. Hydrologic analyses were conducted and a Community Disaster Preparedness Training workshop was held in Dominica. The workshop included a session on map interpretation and the Flood Early Warning System was initiated.

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Capacity Building in Biosafety for the Caribbean

This regional project was implemented by the Caribbean Council for Science and Technology (CCST) with the sponsorship of the Perez-Guerrero Trust Fund for Economic and Technical Cooperation Among Developing Countries. This project was of significant benefit to Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda, Guyana and St. Lucia.

Within recent times the advances in biotechnology have brought considerable benefits to humanity mainly in such fields as agriculture, medicine, and the environment. In fact, it is believed that the 21st century will witness a biotechnology revolution with increased investment in research, development and marketing for new biotech-products and processes. Despite its benefits, however, modern biotechnology products and processes may have adverse impacts on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, health, environment, and socio-economic interests. 

Biosafety therefore has been a subject for negotiations at three global fora: the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) - Agenda 21 (Chapter 16), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) - Articles 8 (g) and 19 (paras. 3&4), and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago are Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity. Trinidad and Tobago was the second Caribbean country to ratify the Cartagena Biosafety Protocol on 5 October 2000. Antigua and Barbuda is the other Caribbean signatory to the said Protocol (May 2000). Other Caribbean countries to access the Protocol are Barbados (September 2002), and St Kitts and Nevis (May 2001).

	Related Links
	ICGEB Biosafety
	Biosafety Information Network and Advisory Service (BINAS)
	Biosafety Bio Track
	IRB- International Register on Biosafety

Compliance with national and international regulations on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) requires multidisciplinary expertise and ability to deal with scientific uncertainty in ways that allow technological development which does not compromise human and environmental health. Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago as Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, and Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago as a signatory to the Cartagena Biosafety Protocol, do not have the human resources and institutional capacity to implement their obligations at national, regional and international levels. There is a lack of critical mass of professionals, not only in the region but internationally, to deal effectively with the complexity of issues related to the assessment and management of biological risks.

Apart from their commitment to the Convention on Biological Diversity, Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago have a greater stake in biosafety issues than other Caribbean countries from the standpoint that they have made a significant investment in the development of a research capability in biotechnology. This technology is seen as making a major impact on the revitalisation of the national and regional agricultural sector through the improvement of planting materials and the development of new food and horticultural products for exports. The application of modern biotechnology will also extend to animal production. These countries are also significant importers of food and have significant manufacturing bases that use biological processes. Some countries, for example Trinidad and Tobago, also see biotechnology as a new niche area for which foreign investment is being encouraged. Hence support for these countries will be emphasised in this project but this will not be to the exclusion of other countries. 

This project will not only help to equip the above named Caribbean countries with some of the required technical expertise and institutional capacity to satisfy their international obligations but will also protect the public’s health and well being. The development of human resources for biosafety management will be effected through a training workshop in the areas of risk assessment and management of GMOs and their products, which should promote the establishment of institutional arrangements and operational mechanisms for biosafety management. The project will complement initiatives currently being undertaken under the UNEP-GEF Project on the Development of National Biosafety Frameworks.

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