Air Quality Testing - Conducted an assessment of the indoor air quality of the Central Administration Building, British Virgin Islands.

Training - CEHI, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Family Affairs and Gender Relations of St Lucia, the Caribbean Development Bank, Pan American Health Organisation, Health Caribbean and Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Quebec, hosted a training course in Environmental Health Impact Assessment (EHIA).

The course was part of a planning exercise geared toward the development of a comprehensive, region-wide EHIA programme.

It was designed to develop the skills of health and planning officers and private consultants in the preparation and review of environmental health impact assessments related to both public and private sector projects.

Environmental Testing - Conducted an assessment of the impact of hydrocarbon pollution on the marine environment

Water Testing Equipment - Additional water testing equipment was supplied to beneficiary agencies in BVI in order to reinforce their water testing capabilities. Equipment was supplied to the Environmental Health Department of the Ministry of Health.

Water Quality Testing - Supplied equipment for water quality testing and upgraded the water quality monitoring system.

Waste Management - Landfill sites on Tortola, Jost van Dyke and Anegada were inspected by the Scientific Services Officer and the GTZ Long Term Adviser, with a view to the monitoring of leachates. The incinerator on Tortola was also Inspected to determine the requirements for monitoring of smokestack emissions. Samples of the quench water used to cool the ash from the incineration process were taken for analysis of heavy metals.

The Institute also trained a Public Health Inspector in the " Operation and Maintenance of Waste Water Treatment Plants".

Information Services - Implementation and training was done for the Water Quality Monitoring System. The system is now being used by the Water and Sewerage Department. It is expected that GIS technology would soon be incorporated into the system in the British Virgin Islands.

Laboratory Infrastructure - The Ministry of Health was advised on the safety and suitability of the continued use of malathion as a vector control agent.

Environmental Monitoring - Equipment for water quality testing purchased through the CEHI/ENCORE Project was shipped to the Water and Sewerage Department. The Scientist /Coordinator visited and provided in-country training to 10 persons and focused on the manipulation of the DREL 2000 kit for the determination of free and total chlorine, iron, chromium, copper, cyanide, nitrate and phosphate. This training involved participation from both the public and private sectors. This is a first for the region and resulted in an enhanced relationship between the private and public sector dealing with water quality issues.

Waste Management - Meetings were held with local authorities in the British Virgin Islands regarding municipal solid waste disposal. Discussions focussed on the implementation of a monitoring programme for the incinerator operating in Tortola. Implementation of the programme was delayed due to the absence of air cooling equipment required to allow sampling of stack emmissions. Follow up will take place in 1996.

Environmental Monitoring - Equipment and chemicals ordered during late 1994 were received at CEHI. The equipment was tested at the Institute and freighted to the Water Services Department and the the Public Health Department of the Ministry of Health.

Waste Management - Follow-up advisory services were provided to support the local authorities in the British Virgin Islands regarding Municipal solid waste disposal on three islands, namely Tortola, Virgin Gorda and Anegada. This was done within the Environmental Health Improvement Project (EHIP) in February 1994.

During this period, the Sanitary Engineer along with the GTZ Long Term Adviser visited the disposal sites on Virgin Gorda and Anegada along with the Acting solid Waste Manager and the Permanent Secretary. Follow up discussions were carried out related to the Consultancy services provided and recommendations presented to the Government in 1993.

Discussions related to setting up a monitoring program for the newly installed incinerator on Tortola were also carried out and a formal request from the Government was received in this regard. No monitoring could be started by the end of the year due to unforeseen circumstances.

Environmental Monitoring - The Scientist/Coordinator visited the British Virgin Islands to gather information on Water Quality Monitoring in the country. The agencies which participated in this assessment are as follows:

Information gathered included: in-country technical expertise; laboratory facilities; on-going monitoring programmes; potential impacts; water quality regulations; treatment and disinfection; equipment required; training required; data storage, processing and dissemination. Additional information, especially in the area of laboratory equipment is to be provided by some agencies.