What is Sustainable Development? 

Sustainable Development (SD) has been defined in many ways, but the most frequently quoted definition is from the Brundtland Report: "Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It contains within it two key concepts: - the concept of needs, in particular the essential needs of the world's poor, to which overriding priority should be given; and - the idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology and social organization on the environment's ability to meet present and future needs."

National Development Agenda for Trinidad and Tobago To date the Ministry of Planning and the Economy has developed a Medium term Policy Framework which outlines the national development agency for T&T incorporating 7 interconnected pillars for SD.  These are designed to engineer a significant policy shift with consequences for SD for the country, and represent a new approach for policy planning. 

7 Interconnected Pillars for SD 

The Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) had been mainstreamed into Trinidad and Tobago's long-term development plan.

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The 7 interconnected pillars for SD are: People Centered Development Poverty Eradication and Social Justice National and Personal Security Information and Communication Technologies A More Diversified Knowledge Intensive Economy - Good Governance - Foreign Policy -

7 Interconnected Pillars for SD cont’d 

People Centered Development - focuses on improving our education system and maintaining a seamless link for continuous learning.

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Poverty Eradication and Social Justice – introduces strategies to reduce the income inequality that exists and provide a social safety net for the poor and vulnerable.

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National and Personal Security – centers on human security and the maintenance of law and order. Addressing the social conditions that serve as incubators for criminal activity and the reform of the prison and justice systems will be critical.

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Information and Communication Technologies – serves as the backbone which supports our educated population, maintains effective communication locally and globally and promotes timely information sharing and management.

7 Interconnected Pillars for SD cont’d 

A More Diversified Knowledge Intensive Economy – emphasizes the expansion of other productive sectors in the economy through the continued development of existing sectors and the establishment of new areas that span the creative, technological and manufacturing sectors.

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Good Governance – focuses on ensuring transparency, accountability and effective representation through institutional strengthening, enhancing democracy and strengthening execution and delivery capacity.

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Foreign Policy – maintains and develops bilateral and multilateral relations ensuring that our foreign policy supports our objectives for the achievement of sustainable development.

Achieving Sustainable Development 

At the national level, sound environmental, social and economic policies, democratic institutions and an enabling environment are the basis for sustainable development.

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Implementation has been nationally driven and has been grounded in an effective and stable decisionmaking and planning environment - integrated into the national planning systems and processes for allocation of resources and responsibilities implemented within the national institutions inclusive but not limited to: Government Ministries and Agencies, Non Governmental Organisations, Community Based Organisations, and academic institutions

National Planning Process For Sustainable Development 

National planning in Trinidad and Tobago is centralized in the Ministry responsible for Planning.

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In this Ministry separate divisions are responsible for physical planning and social and economic planning (such as the Town and Country Planning Division (TCPD) and the Socio-Economic Policy Planning Division (SEPP).

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Planning in the island of Tobago falls under the Secretary of Planning and Public Administration, who is the Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA).

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The Ministry with responsibility for the Environment is responsible for environmental policy planning. The EMA also plays a pivotal role in the environmental integrity of development projects through the granting of Certificates of Environmental Clearance (CEC) that may require the preparation of Environmental Impact Assessments.

Hindrances to Achieving SD  

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Lack of national understanding of concept by citizens; Lack of capacity (i.e. skills and opportunities) for citizens to participate in decisions that affect their well-being and livelihoods; Human capacity requires strengthening for monitoring and evaluation, particularly in the area of data collection; Security, a multidisciplinary concept, continues to be a challenge, (including environmental degradation, food security, HIV/AIDS, personal safety, narcotics and small arms trafficking) and impacts on the country’s development, particularly on the economic sector and tourism. High level of vulnerability to external shocks (global economic downturn) and prevailing environmental factors, such as weather conditions, requires policy review for medium and long-term milestones.

NATIONAL FOCAL POINT FOR SD -

The responsibility of sustainable development was held within the Planning aspect of the Ministry of Planning, Housing and the Environment.

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As at July 2011 Ministry of Planning and the Economy, was assigned by Cabinet to be the National Focal Point, with responsibility for all Sustainable Development Issues a portfolio formerly held by the Ministry of Planning, Housing and the Environment.

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As a result the Ministry of Planning and the Economy is focal point for the: ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Commission on Sustainable Development, Agenda 21, Barbados Programme of Action, Mauritius Strategy and Johannesburg Plan of Implementation