The Toco Foundation, which is a partner of GWP-C, works to influence communities in Toco and surrounding areas through a range of personal development services, sector focused economic development and environmental preservation programming.
Approximately five years ago, the Foundation endeavoured to develop a programme to ensure water security in the communities it serves. After a long-awaited approval of its application submitted for funding from the Green Fund, the Toco Foundation plans to install rainwater harvesting systems in fifty households in the rural villages from Matura to Matelot all on the north-east cost of Trinidad.
The Green Fund which falls under the Ministry of Housing and the Environment is the National Environmental Fund of the country of Trinidad and Tobago. The grant facility is available to community groups and organisations engaged in activities focusing on remediation, reforestation or conservation of the environment.
On May 14th, 2012, the Toco Foundation signed the Memorandum of Agreement with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago to receive the TT$17 million from the Green Fund, which will be disbursed over a four-year period to support the rainwater harvesting project.
Representatives from Global Water Partnership-Caribbean (GWP-C), its partner the National Institute of Higher Education Research, Science and Technology (NIHERST), government agencies and other organisations attended the signing ceremony.
Providing the welcome address at the ceremony was Mr. Richard Laydoo, Programme Coordinator of the Green Fund Executing Unit who described the very stringent application approval process. He explained that approval of applications would continue to be as thorough as it is because the Green Fund is capitalised by a tax on the gross sales of companies in Trinidad and Tobago.
Mr. Inshan Meahjohn, Chairman of the Green Fund Advisory Committee (GFAC) who also provided remarks at the ceremony, stated that the GFAC is pleased to see the new found interest in environmental projects by community groups and organisations. Having been installed a little over eleven months ago, he explained that the GFAC has been extremely busy and have already recommended six applications for certification with a combined value of TT$44, 868, 521.
Senator the Honourable Verna St. Rose-Greaves, Minister of Gender, Youth and Child Development provided remarks at the signing ceremony. The Minister highlighted the vital importance of literacy in community development and expressed how pleased she was that the Toco Foundation’s RWH project would serve communities.
She also spoke of a National Youth Volunteer programme launched by the Ministry of Gender, Youth and Child Development and indicated that it would be good to see the link between the Youth Volunteer programme and the RWH project.
Mr. Reynold Cooper, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Housing and the Environment gave the feature address at the event. Mr. Cooper stressed that water is at the heart of sustainable development. He also pointed out his Ministry’s efforts to develop a coastal management plan for Trinidad and Tobago. Moreover, he commended the Toco Foundation for their work and their new project.
The Toco Foundation will receive an initial disbursement of funds in the amount of TT$4 million to start the RWH project.