The Honourable Camille Robinson-Regis, Minister of Planning & Development has committed the Government’s willingness to present Trinidad and Tobago’s first Voluntary National Review (VNR) on Sustainable Development to the High Level Political Forum (HLPF) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York in July 2020.
The VNRs share each UN member states’ experiences, successes, challenges and lessons learned with a view to accelerate the implementation of the global Sustainable Development Agenda. As part of its follow up and review mechanisms, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development encourages member states to ‘conduct regular and inclusive reviews of progress at the national level, which are country-led and country-driven’.
Participation in the VNR is voluntary as the name suggests and Trinidad & Tobago’s participation emphasizes our dedication to fulfilling the SDGs, which are also the driving force behind Trinidad and Tobago’s National Development Strategy : VISION 2030.
Trinidad & Tobago’s National Development Strategy (Vision 2030) outlines the foundational principles which define the way we must operate and interact with each other as citizens.
The process of information and data gathering is an inclusive one and will be “A Call to Action’ for Citizens, Youth, Business, Academia, Civil Society Organisations, NGOs and Civil Society Groups to share your views on matters of national development and the SDGs.
Some of the major activities of the VNR Project will include:
- Stakeholder consultations
- Data collection and management
- Preparation of the VNR report
- Preparation of the final VNR presentation
The preparation and presentation of the VNR requires an all-of-government and all-of-citizen approach to ensure the review process is inclusive and participatory at all levels and creates a feedback loop for Government to share its commitment to making development happen.
The Ministry of Planning & Development will be the main coordinating body, and will coordinate state and non-state agencies and other stakeholders who play integral roles in national development.
This is another way the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is working towards national development providing advantages to Trinidad and Tobago that can help to accelerate implementation of projects, strengthen policies and government institutions as well as mobilise multi-stakeholder support and participation locally and abroad for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Sustainable Development Goals are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.
