The Basel Convention Regional Centre for Training and Technology Transfer for the Caribbean (BCRC Caribbean) hosted a regional terminal workshop in support of the formal closure of the GEF 5558 project.
The workshop served to highlight and reflect on the project outputs to manage the dangers of persistent organic pollutants.
‘Stop the POPS’ regional workshop took place at the Trinidad Hilton on Monday October 3rd, 2022.
The Regional GFF 5558 project entitled ‘Development and Implementation of a sustainable Management Mechanism for Persistent Organic Pollutants in the Caribbean is a full sized project aimed at building capacity for the management of POP’s and unintentionally produced POP’s.
There are currently 8 countries participating in the workshop – Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.
A number of items which persons use daily were found to contain ‘POPS’
- PCB related issues
- Contaminated material
- Firefighting foam
- Recreational
- Stain/Water resistant items
- Flame Resistant Uniforms
The project’s overall intention is set to make persons aware of the dangers of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) which can affect pregnant women and women of childbearing age, exposure to have been proven to cause adverse effects on the mother’s health, workers in the Construction & Demolition industry are particularly at risk due to the long term exposure to the effects of POPs, firefighters and some of the equipment and PPE gear used.
The GFF5558 project is also set out to create environmentally sound waste management, disposal, proper inventory and monitoring of POP’s in the Caribbean.
To learn more about POP’s check out BCRC Caribbean website –
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