EnviroRightsTT Town Hall Participants. Credit: CANARI.
On Wednesday, 25 June 2025, the Barataria Regional Complex buzzed with energy and purpose as over forty civil society leaders, legal experts, government agency representatives and youth advocates came together for the EnviroRightsTT Civil Society Town Hall. Hosted by CANARI in partnership with Environment Tobago and funded by the European Union (NDICI/CSO/2023-449-480), the Town Hall focused on strengthening participatory environmental governance and access rights in Trinidad and Tobago.
Environmental justice needs us all
Kicking off the day, Dylis McDonald, Senior Technical Officer at CANARI, welcomed participants and set the tone for open dialogue, learning and collective action. That spirit of unity was echoed in a rousing keynote by His Honour Sunil K. Sookraj, Chairman of the Environmental Commission, who emphasised that environmental protection requires everyone’s involvement:
“Environmental governance requires a whole of society approach… Civil society is undoubtedly important in ensuring environmental justice.”
Unlocking the tools for access and advocacy
In the first panel, moderated by Ardene Sirjoo of The Cropper Foundation, experts broke down the public’s right to environmental information and justice, covering mechanisms such as the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Environmental Commission processes and the Environmental Management Authority (EMA). Panellists included Rishi Maharaj of EquiGov Institute, His Honour Sunil Sookraj, Wayne Rajkumar from the EMA and Dennis Sammy, Chair of the Council of Presidents of the Environment (COPE). The conversation demystified these tools and equipped civil society to use them more effectively.
A right, not a privilege
In a compelling address, Michelle Braithwaite-Joseph, Regional Representative of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), framed the right to a healthy environment as a fundamental human right:
“The reality is that a clean, healthy and sustainable environment is not a privilege. It is a human right… This is not just an environmental agenda. It is a justice agenda, and we must treat it as such.”
This message set the stage for a second panel exploring rights-based approaches to environmental justice and youth perspectives on advocacy. This discussion featured Cherisse Braithwaite-Joseph (The Cropper Foundation), Michelle Cazabon-Mannette (SpeSeas) and Britney Nurse (RenewTT), moderated by Dylis McDonald.
Media matters
Journalist Ryan Bachoo reminded the room of the media’s powerful role in shaping public understanding and holding decision-makers accountable. His insights highlighted how storytelling can drive real-world action on environmental issues.
Turning talk into action
The afternoon came alive with interactive “action stations” where participants engaged in hands-on problem-solving on FIOA requests, public participation in CEC and EIA processes, legal action and advocacy strategies. These stations, facilitated by experts including Senator Anthony Vieira (Attorney-at-Law), Rishi Maharaj (EquiGov Institute), Michelle Cazabon-Mannette (SpeSeas), CANARI Technical Officer, Niamh Vaughan and Bertrand Bhikarry (Environment Tobago), were not just informative but truly transformative.
Together, participants tackled pressing concerns, shared lived experiences and began shaping practical plans that will guide future project activities and capacity building under the EnviroRightsTT initiative.
Building the movement
The day ended not with a conclusion, but a call to action: to stay connected, keep pushing for transparency, justice, and sustainability and ensure that everyone in Trinidad and Tobago has the right and power to protect their environment.