St. George’s, Grenada. September 17th, 2018. A recognition and award ceremony was held by the National Ozone Unit on Monday September 17th, 2018 to recognize women who are involved in the refrigeration and air conditioning sector in Grenada. During the ceremony seventeen (17) women were presented with special recognition awards. The ceremony formed part of the “Watch Me Work” initiative organised by the NOU as part of the celebrations to commemorate World Ozone Day, 2018.
Seven (7) ladies received awards for their services to the industry, either as, managers, sales clerks, procurement officers or instructors while another ten (10) who are active technicians in the field received tool-kits, valued at EC $1,600.00 each.
Preceding the award ceremony, a special symposium was organised for women who are involved in the RAC sector as well as RAC students and other females with interest in this sector. Many of the issues associated with women who operate in male dominated technical fields were addressed. Challenges, opportunities as well as successes were identified by the many speakers who presented. Among the speakers were: Ms. Shakira Boyce, RAC Instructor at the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology, Barbados, Mrs. Anya Menezes-Chow Chung, CEO at George F. Huggins and Mrs Elaine Henry-McQueen, Senior Programme Officer at the Division of Gender and Family Affairs. Also sharing on their personal experiences were: Ms Michelle Slinger an Architect for over twenty years and Mrs Samantha Hossle, an engineer at Grenada Electricity Company (Grenlec) with over fifteen years experience in the field.
#watchmework
An integral part of the day’s activity was a practical demonstration by the female technicians. They skillfully performed the task of removing an existing air conditioner at the HVAC Classroom at TAMCC, that operates with a potent high global warming, green house gas and replaced it with an environmentally safe, energy efficient alternative unit.
In line with theme for the 2018 World Ozone Day Celebration, the NOU urges these young ladies to “Keep Cool and Carry on”.
nada Cool Training which is a variation and an off-shoot of the International Cool Training organised by GIZ Proklima in Germany, is intended not only to benefit local technicians but other technicians in the Caribbean region. The premier training institution on the island, the T A Marryshow Community College has already agreed to adopt the training and to incorporate as part of the training offered to technicians.
Under the project “Cool Contributions fighting Climate Change”, executed by the National Ozone Unit (NOU), thirty (30) air-conditioning units have been provided by the German government through GIZ, to promote the use of nattural refrigerants and energy efficiency in the refrigeration and air conditioning sector. Ultimately the project would reduce Co2 emissions related to energy consumption thereby assisting the country in meeting its Co2 reduction commitments . Public and private sector entities have been selected to participate in the project.
The two teachers selected by the National Ozone Unit are, Mr. Shanel Franklyn of Boca Secondary School and Mr. Heston Mann of St. Mark’s Secondary School. These are the only two secondary schools on the island that offers refrigeration and ari-conditioning as part of its curriculum.
fe Organisation (NEWLO) in Palmiste, St. John on Tuesday 5th. Other installations have been done at the St. Mark’s Secondary School and the St. St. Andrew’s Anglican Secondary School. During the upcoming week the installation of the monitoring equipment will be completed at the remaining locations that are participating in the project. Data will be collected for a period of four (4) weeks.