Jamaica - Caribbean Environmental Health Institute

INTRODUCTIONThis workshop was the 7 th such training session to be held with the aim of sensitizingpersons involved in agro-processing in a small medium or micro-sized operations, onthe fundamentals and benefits of Cleaner Production (CP), under the USAID fundedand CARICOM administered project: Cleaner Production for Small, Medium andMicro Enterprises and the Tourism Sector. CEHI partnered on this occasion with thelocal agency, the Scientific Research Council (SRC).Participants of this workshop hailed from a number of different local Small, Mediumand Micro-Enterprises (SMMEs) as well as from local agencies responsible for agrodevelopmentin this sector e.g. the Jamaica Business Development Agency (JBDC)and RADA (Rural Agricultural Development Agency). There were alsorepresentatives from the Ministry of Commerce, Science and Technology and fromthe Ministry of Health.The approach to this workshop was amended slightly relative to the others held in theseries as many of the participants had been exposed to CP training in a workshopconducted previously by SRC as part of a project to promote competitiveness amongSMMEs. This workshop was therefore seen as an opportunity to build on the previousone and to encourage participants to take some more practical steps towardsimplementation of CP in their businesses.OPENING CEREMONYThe opening ceremony was chaired by Ms. Julia Brown, Divisional Manager, ProcessDevelopment at SRC, who delivered a warm welcome to CEHI and participants.Remarks were made on behalf of CEHI by Mrs. Patricia Aquing, ProgrammeDirector. Mrs. Aquing expressed CEHI’s pleasure at the opportunity to collaboratewith SRC and she went on to outline the many linkages between CEHI and Jamaica,e.g. the Integrated Watershed and Coastal Areas Management (IWCAM)Demonstration Project and the role of Minister Junor on CEHI’s Board, among otherthings. She also provided some background information on CEHI and on the project,and brought participants up to speed on all CEHI’s initiatives in Cleaner Production.Dr. Audia Barnett, SRC’s Executive Director, also delivered remarks, expressing herpleasure at the opportunity to work with CEHI. She described the workshop as timelyand charged attendees to participate fully for the duration of the workshop.Remarks were also made by Mr. Reginald Budhan, Senior Director of Policy,Planning & Research, Ministry of Commerce, Science and Technology on behalf ofDr. Jean Dixon, Permanent Secretary. He expressed special gratitude to USAID fortheir support of SMMEs in their efforts to become more competitive. He focused onthe increased involvement of the public as an environmental watchdog, and pointed tothe benefits to larger businesses that improve their environmental performance at acost that is offset by the premium prices that they can then command, and the increasein market share that they can enjoy. He lamented the plight of SMMEs, particularly inSIDS as they try to compete in a trade arena influenced by the links between largemultinational businesses and standards setting organisations, while also dealing with