Citizens’ Educational Needs in an at-Risk Environment in Trinidad, West Indies

Subject Areas : Agricultural Extension

Cherisse Oliver ¹ , Wayne G. Ganpat ² , Wendy-Ann P. Isaac ³

1 - Graduate Student and Lecturer, Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension Faculty of Food and Agriculture, The University of the West Indies Trinidad, West Indies
2 - Graduate Student and Lecturer, Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension Faculty of Food and Agriculture, The University of the West Indies Trinidad, West Indies
3 - Lecture, Department of Food Production Faculty of Food and Agriculture, The University of the West Indies Trinidad, West Indies

Received: 2015-12-25 Accepted : 2015-12-25 Published : 2012-07-01

Keywords: knowledge, Compliance, Environmental Laws,

Abstract :

Trinidad is a small island developing state caught between the need to engage rapid development while respecting and preserving the environment. This study assessed citizens' education needs related to the environmental laws of Trinidad and Tobago. It focused on a densely populated, at- risk area of the country referred to as the East-West (E-W) corridor. Two hundred (200) persons living along the E-W corridor were randomly selected and surveyed using a structured interview schedule to determine their knowledge of three environmental areas: the Litter Act, the Water Pollution Rules and the Public Health Ordinances. It was determined that overall total knowledge of the environmental laws was moderate. The overall knowledge of environmental laws correlated significantly with sex, location of residence and community type. Knowledge regarding the Water Pollution Rules correlated significantly with sex, religion and economic status and knowledge regarding the Litter Act correlated significantly with sex, location and education level and the knowledge regarding the Public Health Ordinances correlated with religion and education level (all at P≤ .05level of significance). Recommendations are for increased education programmes specifically designed to target the intensive residential communities and schools along the corridor. The internet should be the main education tool. [Oliver et al. Citizens’ educational needs in an at-risk environment in Trinidad, West Indies. International Journal of Agricultural Science, Research and Technology, 2012; 2(2):69-75].

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