- Launch of the Trinidad and Tobago Biodiversity Clearing House Website- May 20, 2005

The Ministry of Public Utilities and the Environment officially launched the Trinidad and Tobago Biodiversity Clearing House Website at the Hotel Normandie, St. Anns on Friday, May 20, 2005. The website development was undertaken by the Ministry in fulfillment of Article 18 (3) of the Convention on Biological Diversity which the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago ratified on August 1, 1996.

The feature address was delivered by the Minister of Public Utilities and the Environment, the Honourable Pennelope Beckles, who officially launched the website. The Minister noted that the date for the launch had been specially selected since on Sunday May 22, 2005 the international community would be commemorating International Day for Biological Diversity. As such, she viewed the launching of the website as a critical instrument to be used not only to raise awareness about biodiversity but to allow information sharing among the international community.

Approximately 50 people attended, including representatives of the Wild Fowl Trust, the Environmental Management Authority, Asa Wright Nature Centre, the United Nations Development Programme, the University of the West Indies, the National Reforestation and Watershed Rehabilitation Programme, the Environmental Commission, Trinidad and Tobago Solid Waste Management Company, Council of Presidents for the Environment, Field Naturalists’ Club, the Forestry Division and the Head Office of the Ministry.

Guests were given an overview of the website’s content and were encouraged to contribute information on the biological resources of the country. It was emphasized that the website, while initiated by the Ministry, could only be a success with the collaboration of the stakeholders, whose help would be necessary in providing the international community with comprehensive information on the diverse resources to be found in Trinidad and Tobago.