The Environmental Protec-tion Agency (EPA) has handed over four computer systems to four participating institutions in the National Biosafety Clearing House (BCH) Project which is expected to inform policy related to biosafety issues.
In a press release the EPA said it is the Focal Point for the Convention on Biological Diversity and the BCH. It did not identify the four institutions.
The EPA said it conducted a second training workshop for the BCH Taskforce including the National Competent Authori-ties under this national project. Dr Anurag Sinha, an IT Regional Advisor from the United Nations Environ-mental Project (UNEP) – GEF Biosafety Unit facilitated the training. The EPA said participants were introduced to the techniques for accessing, inputting and managing data through the Management Centre of the BCH Central Project at the workshop hosted on February 12-15.
As a result, the National Competent Authorities will be equipped to input and submit data and information relating to Biosafety issues in the country while the EPA will be responsible for the validation of data that will be uploaded to the web portal of the Secretariat to the Convention on Biological Diversity. EPA staff were also trained to use the Hermes programme which is vital in developing the National BCH website.
The Secretariat developed this application tool to guide both technical and non-technical users responsible for administering, maintaining and accessing the website.
The EPA said the workshops are vital in enhancing awareness of the BCH and Guyana’s obligations to the project.
The project aims to monitor the Living Modified Organisms and Genetically Modified Organisms entering or leaving Guyana.
Additionally, the BCH portal will provide the necessary information to guide the relevant parties to make informed decisions. It will also be used to share information for trans-boundary movement which will strengthen border control, policy integration and institutional coordination to address biosafety issues. The national project is being implemented over one year. It is expected to be completed by month-end.
