Delegation from Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

Represented by Universitas Padjadjaran

Position Paper for the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean The topics before the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean are: Development of New Capacities in the Region Through More Responsive Higher Education System; Indigenous Peoples and Sustainable Development: the Role of Culture Towards the Preservation of Biodiversity; and Incentives for Maximizing the Contribution of Natural Resources to Regional Development. Republic Trinidad and Tobago is dedicated to collaborative multilateral approaches to support cooperation to a further economic and social development among Latin America and the Caribbean and with other nations of the world. I. Development of New Capacities in the Region through More Responsive Higher Education System Trinidad and Tobago is alarmed that rapid changes in the economy and in the nature of work in this new age have forced nations to transform education and training systems to produce individuals that can contribute productively. We support the integrated strategy between UNDP, UNESCO, and International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) to develop new capacities in the region through more responsive higher education system in its attempts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.1,2 Trinidad and Tobago designates Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) whom is regulated and evaluated by National Training Agency (NTA) to develop national occupational standards which clearly define the competencies which are required for effective workplace performance. The agency is of the implementation of the Caribbean Vocational Qualifications and the use of Caribbean Community approved Regional Qualifications Framework, 3 making Trinidad and Tobago is still in the same coordinate along with other Caribbean Territory. We believe that higher education is a major stepping stone for every individual, thus we remind of our major goals of the education system, a seamless education system, whereby students could transit smoothly from one level to another, especially from secondary to tertiary level. 4 Trinidad and Tobago also support ways to increase the participation of the youth for tertiary school, by implementing the Youth Training and Employment Partnership Programme (YTEPP) for out of work youth, a class that conducted in schools after-hours. Basic skills are provided in a number of areas in an attempt to make the individual more employable or better able to open a small business or to boost the interest for tertiary school. Along with ensuring the readiness of each participant, Trinidad and Tobago adopts the Parliament Act no. 16 of 2004, that established the Accreditation Council of Trinidad and Tobago (ACTT).3 Our nation is committed to further harmonization and strengthening of the regulatory frameworks, system, and coordinating mechanisms for quality assurance and accreditation of tertiary education, TVET and life-long learning. This is facilitated through full implementation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which was signed between Accreditation Council of Trinidad and Tobago (ACTT) and the NTA in 2010.5 Trinidad and Tobago applauds the recent efforts made by the United States that establish the international system, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) utilized by the National Centre for Education Statistics (NCES). Our nation calling all state to make the national system to be compatible with other regional and international systems, such as the in the United States.4 Trinidad and Tobago also urges a formal policy for more effective governance, coordination and management of the sector, if it is to achieve its objectives within the national development landscape. The policy outlines a comprehensive set of initiatives for the advancement of tertiary education, TVET, and lifelong learning through the development of a coherent, effective and integrated sector that provides multiple pathways for all citizens to navigate successfully through a seamless education and training system. This policy seeks to establish integrity, relevance, quality, access, accountability and performance as hallmarks of the educational system to ensure that social and economic needs are met, and fulfill the expectations of a nation that is in transition to a competitive, knowledge-driven, and sustainable society. This policy vision is need to be in consonance with UNGA adopted resolution 57 of December 2001, to put in place a United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DSED), spanning from 2005 to 2014, with UNESCO designated to lead the DESD initiative.

II. Indigenous Peoples and Sustainable Development: the Role of Culture towards the Preservation of Biodiversity Trinidad and Tobago is fully aware that biodiversity is playing a vital role in maintaining essential ecosystem services, however it is threatened by a number of interlinked factors, including habitat loss through conversion, alteration and contamination of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems from intensive economic activities. Because maintaining biodiversity has economic, social and environmental positive impacts on local and global population, addressing the drivers of its deterioration, along with ensuring its sustainability, requires equitable, evidence-based, participatory, cross-sectoral policies and action. Trinidad and Tobago acknowledges the importance of biodiversity and their responsibilities towards it, might want to consider implementing policies in accordance with Article 10 of the Convention for Biological Diversity (CBD). Improving, expanding and creating greater connectivity between protected areas could, in this regard, help accelerate the regions progress towards meeting this goal. 6 Trinidad and Tobago fully supports the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Article 3, that rule and suggest every party to avoid adverse impacts on biological diversity, respect the cultural practices that enhance and in the same corridor with the conservation, support the local population, and encourage the cooperation between governmental and private sector to sustain the conservation efforts. 6 In terms of conserving biological diversity, Trinidad and Tobago believes that protected areas are presented as one of the regions most important policy measures, not only do protected areas play a role in conserving species and habitats, they also deliver ecosystem services, are considered important in climate change adaptation and mitigation and dispense a range of valuable social benefits. These are the following statements Trinidad and Tobago encourage all states to enhance protected area (PA) effectiveness in Latin America and Caribbean, (1) increasing conservation in marine and freshwater areas that are still largely underrepresented. (2) Effectively integrating indigenous and local communities in PAs management, including, where relevant, by promoting Indigenous and Community Conserved Areasii (ICCAs) (3) Promoting the links between conservation and development goals, using land-use planning as a fundamental tool (4) Improving research capability and strengthening links between research and decision-making frameworks (5) Strengthening the capacity for managing Pas.7 III. Incentives for Maximizing the Contribution of Natural Resources to Regional Development Trinidad and Tobago views that when properly managed, natural resources can effectively contribute to sustainable and equitable development. However the abundance of natural resources has both the potential to stimulate an economy or to hamper its development. Trinidad and Tobago believes that how riches can turn bad has been commonly referred to as the resources curse or paradox of plenty. The poor performance of some resource-rich countries can be explained by a number of economic factors.8 Trinidad and Tobago supports the Secretary-General of Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) and ECLACs cooperation agreement from which ECLAC was called upon to research and publish a report on natural resources, resulting in the publication titled Natural Resources within the Union of South America: Status and Trends for a Regional Development Agenda, which identifies and elaborates on the ways in which states can utilize economic and legal tools in order to manage ownership and distribution of revenue derived from the exploitation of mineral, water and hydrocarbon resources.8 Trinidad and Tobago reminds to all states that there is a demand to adopt a political economy approach to identifying incentive-compatible reforms, as well as promoting initiatives that can enhance domestic incentives towards a pro-development path in resource-rich countries.

References 1. De Lisle J., et. al. Is The Trinidad And Tobago Education System Structured To Facilitate Optimum Human Capital Development? New Findings On The Relationship Between Education Structures And Outcomes From National And International Assessments. University of the West Indies. St. Augustine. 2009. 2. United Nations Development Programme. A World of Development Experience. 2013 3. International Bureau of Education. World Data on Education: Trinidad and Tobago. 7th Edition. UNESCO. 2010. 4. Ministry of Education Republic of Trinidad & Tobago. National Report on the Development of Education in Trinidad and Tobago, Quality Education for All Young People: Challenges, Trend Priorities . 2004. 5. Republic of Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Science, Technology, and Tertiary Education. Policy on Tertiary Education, Technical Vocational Education and Training, and Lifelong Learning in Trinidad and Tobago. 2004. 6. United Nations Environment Programme. Global Environment Outlook: Policy Options for Latin America and the Caribbean. Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean. Nairobi. 2012. 7. Bovarnick, A., Alpizar, F. and Schnelli, C. The Importance of Biodiversity and Ecosystems in Economic Growth and Equity in Latin America and the Caribbean: An economic valuation of ecosystems. United Nations Development Programme. 2010. 8. United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean. Natural Resources within the Union of South America: Status and Trends for a Regional Development Agenda [Report], 2013. 9. Bilal, S. Briefing Note The dynamics of reforms in resources-rich countries: Towards incentive-compatible approaches. European Center for Development Policy Management. 2013.