Pledge to make the sustainability gains

The Trinidad & Tobago Green Building Council (TTGBC) is restating its commitment to helping develop a greener, more sustainable Trinidad and Tobago. This is being done in commemoration of World Habitat Day on Wednesday. In a news release, the organisation stated that the theme of this year’s World Habitat Day, Changing Cities, Building Opportunities, was in keeping with the TTGBC’s own mission to transform the way T&T’s buildings and communities are designed, built and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life for all who live and work in the country.

 

 

“The TTGBC feels that in this our 50th anniversary of independence as a nation, Trinidad and Tobago can look back at our built heritage with pride in what we have accomplished, but we also need to consider how the cities we have created can be improved so that they become more than merely bricks and mortar, but places of life that bring joy to our people and improve productivity, that are internationally competitive and economically viable, and that complement the natural environment,” the release stated. The TTGBC has promised to continue to advocate for the inclusion of sustainable building practices into the National Building Code, facilitate professional training and education opportunities in the area of sustainable buildings, and create greater public awareness.

 

 

The TTGBC elected a new executive at its AGM on June 27. “At the meeting, incoming President Roger Salloum addressed the membership with an enthusiastic pledge of his commitment to advancing the ideals of the TTGBC, and challenged the rest of the new executive as well as the members present to join him on a mission to raise awareness, build membership and become advocates of responsible development and management of infrastructure and the built environment.” The new executive team comprises industry leaders in design, manufacturing, construction, operations and maintenance, and project management, each bringing years of experience in their respective fields to the table.

 

 

The team includes Roger Salloum, treasurer Mandilee Newton, secretary Chad Lue Choy, Gillian Fraser, Sharen Bidaisee and Devanand Ragbir. Government agencies, companies, NGOs, individuals and students are all urged to join the TTGBC so that all stakeholder interests are represented. Interested parties can contact the executive at [email protected] or at facebook.com/ttgbc.