EARTH DAY, APRIL 22: GOPIO CALLS ON GOVERNMENT PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND TO IMPLEMENT EFFICIENT ENERGY USAGE

GOPIO Trinidad & Tobago

a Chapter of GOPIO INTERNATIONAL

PO BOX 2286, Chaguanas, 687-7529 Fax: 665-5984 GopioTT@gmail.com

Deosaran Bisnath, President Ena Maraj, PRO Varsha Maharaj, Secretary Oscar Ramoutar, Treasurer
Directors: Niranjan Bhaggan Robert Ramsamooj Jaganath Seeram-Maharaj

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE APRIL 22, 2009

EARTH DAY, APRIL 22: GOPIO CALLS ON GOVERNMENT PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND TO IMPLEMENT EFFICIENT ENERGY USAGE.



Earth Day, celebrated April 22, is a day designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s environment. Earth Day is a time to celebrate gains we have made and create new visions to accelerate environmental progress.



GOPIO Trinidad & Tobago urges the Government to fulfill its commitment in the Final Declaration of Port of Spain, at the Fifth Summit of the Americas, Port of Spain, on April 19, 2009, with specific reference to promotion of environmental sustainability; the development of cleaner, more affordable and sustainable energy systems; promoting access to energy and energy efficient technologies and practices in all sectors; diversify our energy matrices by increasing the contribution of renewable energy sources; encouraging cleaner, more efficient use of fossil fuels and other fuels.



GOPIO offers these specific recommendations to be implemented during the next 3 years:




- To promote usage of Solar Energy as an energy efficient source of energy and a reduction in conventional energy usage: Installation of Solar panels in at least 25 % of all Government buildings by end of 2010, and in at least 50% of all Government buildings by the end of 2011.




- In keeping with the above objective, provide incentives for the usage of Solar Panels in existing and new homes, e.g. tax deductions, and promote Solar Energy usage with programs such as 1BLOG - “one block off the grid”, a reference to the goal of rounding up groups of homeowners willing to install solar-power systems on their houses — removing the rough equivalent of one block from the national electrical grid.





- Conduct an analysis to determine the feasibility of manufacturing Solar Panels and other Solar Energy equipment in this country, with the objective of Trinidad and Tobago being the leading supplier of these items to the Caribbean, Central, and South America.




- To promote the usage of energy-efficient vehicles: increase the usage of hybrid and natural gas vehicles in the Public sector, with a near term objective of at least 25% of all Government vehicles being hybrid and natural gas by end of 2010, and 50% by the end of 2012.





- In keeping with the objective above: provide incentives to encourage use of hybrid vehicles throughout the country, e.g. by reducing motor vehicle duties and taxes on these vehicles.




- Conduct an analysis to determining the feasibility of manufacturing Hybrid vehicles in this country, with the objective of Trinidad & Tobago being the leading supplier of these vehicles in the Caribbean, Central, and Latin America.




- Cease, immediately – by denying building permits and approval - the construction of buildings in environmentally fragile and sensitive areas e.g. on or near hills, important watercourses, nature reserves, and swamplands.





- Stringent and Rigorous implementation of the Litter Act, with prosecution of offenders, even for minor offences.



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GOPIO Trinidad and Tobago, a chapter of GOPIO International, is a secular, non-partisan, registered non-profit and Non-Governmental Organization that is not associated with any political party or religious organization.





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