Environmental, - Home .:. Sustainable Development ...

1 IiEnvironmental,Economic and SocialWell-beingfor today and tomorrowJune 2012 Ministry of Planning and the EconomyiiiiiiiiiiPrefaceThis document entitled Working for Sustainable Development in Trinidad and Tobago comes at an opportune time in the nation s developmental journey as we seek to create a more resilient and prosperous nation that adheres to the fundamental principles of Sustainable Development . As a Small Island Development State (SIDS) which has traditionally depended on our natural resource base, we are extremely vulnerable to external economic shocks.

2 Additionally, the land space of our twin island republic is relatively limited and planning for future built Development must therefore be sensitive to our fragile ecosystems and long term sustainability concerns. Development that is Sustainable and environmentally sound will mitigate challenges that, as a small island state, we inevitably face. Sustainable Development will ensure that our economic goals are met, while ensuring people-centred involvement and environmental preservation. The government of Trinidad and Tobago is steadfast in its commitment to develop this diverse nation with Sustainable Development at the core of our national policy agenda.

3 The concept of Sustainable Development is built into the founding policy framework, the Manifesto, which articulates the seven (7) pillars of Development for the nation. Arising from the Manifesto, the Medium Term Policy Framework (MTPF) 2011 2014 highlights five (5) main priorities for the Development of Trinidad and Tobago and addresses issues critical to the advancement of our nation. This Sustainable Development report is a companion piece to the MTPF and, together with the Manifesto 2010, these three (3) documents constitute the policy and action framework for the government of Trinidad and Tobago.

4 Our Ministry of Planning and the Economy drives and coordinates our developmental thrust and has established a Results Based Framework to measure progress on achievement of objectives and Sustainable Development report is also aligned with the seven (7) thematic areas which the Rio +20 Conference has identified as being of priority. These seven (7) areas include decent jobs, energy, Sustainable cities, food security and Sustainable agriculture, water, oceans and disaster readiness. The MTPF priorities closely reflect those identified by Rio+20. This close alignment between our priority areas and those of Rio+ 20, demonstrates the extent to which national policy and global focus on enlightened practice are aligned.

5 IvivThe outcomes of the Rio +20 Conference will be taken into account as our national policy agenda evolves, as indeed we have taken the Millennium Development Goals, in policy making so far. Trinidad and Tobago is committed to being a beacon of light in the world through good governance practice at facilitate this process we recognise that collaboration at all levels of society is a necessity. The government of Trinidad and Tobago will work cohesively with private institutions, NGOs and civil society, labour and business, to ensure that our priority areas are understood and have buy in and that our objectives are met.

6 We will work together as a people and through our collective efforts bring about progress within the framework of Sustainable Development good practice, not only for ourselves, but for our children and their children and grandchildren. The vision of my Government is that through creativity, innovation and collaboration, we shall prosper together . This is supported by our national mission which is to achieve economic inclusiveness in an innovation-driven economy, with greater equity, more meaningful participation and a rising tide of prosperity for all. Working for Sustainable Development makes it clear that the Government of Trinidad and Tobago will be managing progress of our nation and Development of our people within the framework of Sustainable Development of Trinidad and Tobago, in keeping with our 2010 Manifesto pledge.

7 We appreciate that the facts indicate that much yet needs to be achieved. But the facts also indicate that we have achieved much and that we are on the right path. I, therefore, now make the commitment of accelerated progress in service of the Sustainable Development of Trinidad and Tobago. Honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Minister of Trinidad and Tobago vvForewordThis document seeks to present truthfully an assessment of where Trinidad and Tobago is, at the present time in pursuit of the clearly identified objective of Sustainable Development .

8 What we have done in this report is identify what has been achieved, what are the areas in which we need to catch up and what we might usefully focus on as opportunities for action. The Government of Trinidad and Tobago recognises that all plans for national Development relating to resource allocation and utilization must incorporate the concept of sustainability in order to ensure long-term economic, social and environmental stability. To this end we have aligned all our policy documents accordingly and established a Results Based Framework for measuring progress and the achievement of targets.

9 The strategy for the Sustainable Development of Trinidad and Tobago is built upon seven (7) developmental, interconnected pillars articulated in the Manifesto (2010), and further elaborated on in the Medium Term Policy Framework (2011-2014). These seven (7) pillars are: People-Centered Development ; Poverty Eradication and Social Justice; National and Personal security ; Information and Communication Technologies; A More Diversified, Knowledge Intensive Economy; Good Governance and Foreign Policy. The Medium Term Policy Framework, which leveraged on these seven developmental pillars of the Manifesto (2010) embraces a vision of Innovation for Lasting Prosperity all contextualised within a larger framework of Sustainable Development .

10 The vision articulated is that through creativity, collaboration and innovation, prosperity for all will be achieved. This document which will guide Trinidad and Tobago s participation at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro (Rio +20 Conference on Sustainable Development ), June 2012, will become the third installment in a suite of policy related documents guiding government policy in Trinidad and Tobago. The other two (2) being the Manifesto 2010 and the Medium Term Policy Framework (MTPF) 2011 to 2014. In addition, Strategic Plans have been developed by each Ministry with priorities established by each Ministry and with clusters of Ministries responsible for the achievement of overarching goals.