Train-the-trainers workshop for enforcement officers

During the development of Guyana’s HCFC Phase-out Management Plan Stage II project, the need to train Customs Officers and other enforcement personnel and collaborating agencies in the legal framework in place to monitor and control trade in ozone depleting substances was recognised as an important element of the overall phase-out strategy.

This train-the-trainers workshop was held at the Guyana Post Office Corporation Training Room in Georgetown from June 19 – 22, 2018. There were eighteen (18) participants, twelve (12) of whom were from the Customs, Excise and Trade Administration Division of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), two (2) from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), two (2) from the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board (PTCCB) and two (2) from the Guyana Wildlife Commission. Topics covered included ozone layer depletion and the international response; national response and obligations, national import licensing system, green customs initiative, Multilateral Environmental Agreements and the role of Customs; identification of ODS and dependent technologies; safe handling, transport and storage of ODS. The workshop concluded with a simple certification ceremony and discussions on the next steps for the implementation of stage two of the training programme for enforcement officers and brokers under the Montreal Protocol programme.