Housing and Environment Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal says a Forestry Authority will have greater autonomy and independence than a traditional division. He said it could create about 100 jobs. He said the authority will focus on "cutting edge" scientific areas in the field of climate change and the environment. He was speaking to the media after delivering the feature address at the formal opening of the 2nd annual National Biodiversity Research Poster and Paper Symposium at the Ambassador Hotel, Long Circular yesterday. On Monday and last Friday, scores of workers from the division protested in Port-of-Spain against the establishment of an authority.
Moonilal assured president of the Public Services Association Watson Duke on Monday that workers' jobs would not be affected. Moonilal said a steering committee would be set up to have dialogue with the union. Yesterday, Moonilal said the division existed for over 100 years and there was need for transformation. "We have decided to establish a steering committee to look at changes in the Forestry Division in line with our National Policy which we have adopted; and we intend to invite the trade unions as soon as Carnival is finished. "We will settle down and participate in ongoing discussions." He again gave the commitment that no worker would be dismissed or retrenched.
He said: "The work has become much more and there is a need to have more scope. "There is a greater need for institutional capacity which a traditional division may not have so that the intention is to create an authority just as we have the Environmental Management Authority, Housing Development Corporation. "These types of statutory agencies that can carry out more work, greater scope, greater autonomy and independence." In his speech, Moonilal said Cabinet had approved three policies-The National Forest Policy, The National Protected Areas Policy and the National Climate Change Policy. He said the polices demanded local capacity building and institutional strengthening to facilitate successful implementation.