‘Pesticides Board’ tapping into new resources
Trecia David, registrar of the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board (PTCCB)
Trecia David, registrar of the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board (PTCCB)

….to accommodate oil and gas sector

THE Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board (PTCCB) will be tapping into its full potential this year to accommodate the emerging oil and gas sector. This is according to registrar of the board, Trecia David, who stated that while many may assume that the board only handles the management of pesticides, it also oversees the importation, registration, management and storage of other toxic chemicals that are used in several industries and sectors in the country.

David, during an interview posted on the Ministry of Agriculture’s Facebook page, explained that the oil and gas sector has brought with it a gamut of toxic chemicals that are used by the different organisations for extraction and the different processes of gaining oil.
“One of the things that quickly had to happen was for us to adjust at the board to the point where we understood that we needed to manage these products and to do so effectively,” she said adding: “One of the things that was certainly raised as well, is the legislative mechanism to do that, and so one of the things that I know the board has discussed and agreed on is that there has to be some amendment to ensure that all stages are managed and managed properly when it comes to toxic chemicals.”

David noted that the board has been working on registering and managing all toxic chemicals that are being imported into the country and has been successful in registering more than 3,000 chemicals within the last year, some of which are being used in the oil and gas sector.

“Currently what we are doing is the registration of these products; we are working with all the companies, all the importers. Once you are an importer, the legislation says that you must be issued what you call an establishment permit.”
She further explained that the process of obtaining such a permit allows the board to ensure that importers have the capability and proper facilities to provide safe storage, along with all the necessary mechanisms in place for transport from one point to another. The registrar stated the board is looking to expand its knowledge and resources to make accommodation for the proper storage of the chemicals that are used in the oil and gas sector.

“We are looking at storage in a broader aspect of things because a lot of chemicals that are used in oil and gas are not stored here, they are stored offshore and used offshore so that dimension is something that we have to begin to explore as well, in terms of looking to effectively manage it.”

With the board’s expansion and the new addition of sectors, David stated that the entity will also be gearing its focus on building its human resources capacity.

“One of the key things that we are always cognisant about is that with every new area of the legislation that is being implemented, and with every new addition in terms of stakeholders, we have to be equipped here in terms of human resources capacity.”
David said that, over the years, the board has ensured that its staff are trained at a certain level to assess and handle disaster and risk management for both pesticides and toxic chemicals.

“One that we are going to be tapping into very shortly is the comprehensive hazardous management training and this will be for our staff here, but it’s going to be broader; we are going to be coordinating with the [Environmental Protection Agency] and the [Guyana Geology and Mines Commission] to not only have that knowledge here, but other agencies, where it is relevant as well.”

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