Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is marking the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer (World Ozone Day) with a renewed commitment to protecting the ozone layer and an investment in the next generation of refrigeration and air-conditioning professionals.
The theme for this year is “Global Action for a Cooler Planet: Celebrating 10 Years of Sustainable Cooling under the Kigali Amendment.”
During the commemoration of World Ozone Day, held at The University of the West Indies Global Campus in Kingstown, the National Ozone Unit (NOU) announced the introduction of 10 full scholarships for students entering the Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Programme at the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Community College, Division of Technical and Vocational Education.
The initiative forms part of the government’s wider efforts to build the technical capacity required as Saint Vincent and the Grenadines transitions toward more sustainable cooling technologies and implements its commitments under the Montreal Protocol and Kigali Amendment.
Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation and Sustainable Development, Hon. Dr. Kishore Shallow, said the investment demonstrates how environmental commitments can be translated into tangible opportunities for Vincentians.
“Protecting our environment must go hand in hand with creating opportunities for our people. These 10 scholarships are a practical investment in our young people, equipping them with skills for employment while building the technical capacity our country needs for the transition to sustainable cooling. This transition also supports our wider development agenda across agriculture, the blue economy, tourism and the new economy,” Minister Shallow said.
The scholarships will cover full tuition and basic refrigeration training tools. Recipients will also have the opportunity to retain their scholarships for the second year, subject to successfully meeting the required criteria following their first year.
Director of the Sustainable Development Unit and National Ozone Unit Janeel Miller said the Unit’s work extends beyond meeting international environmental obligations to ensuring that Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is positioned to benefit from the opportunities associated with the global transition.
“Our responsibility is to ensure that Saint Vincent and the Grenadines continues to meet its obligations under the Montreal Protocol and Kigali Amendment while also positioning our country to access the opportunities that come with this transition. This requires ongoing work to strengthen our regulatory and institutional systems, build technical capacity, support training, and engage our partners and stakeholders. The scholarships are one example of how we can turn our international commitments into practical opportunities for our nation,” Miller said.
Through the Sustainable Development Unit and National Ozone Unit, the government continues to strengthen national systems for the licensing, monitoring, and reporting of controlled substances, while supporting training and awareness for technicians, customs officers, importers, distributors, businesses, and consumers.
World Ozone Day is celebrated with a series of activities, including demonstrations and displays of new and emerging technologies in the refrigeration and air-conditioning sector. As part of the week-long celebrations, 24 Customs and Excise officers will receive training from the World Customs Organisation during a 4-day Customs Training workshop. A broad cross-section of stakeholders, including representatives from technical and educational institutions, the Customs and Excise Department, the corporate community, students, and consumers, will come together to discuss the collaborative approach required to advance sustainable cooling in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
