Sarika Maharaj CV_January 2016

SARIKA MAHARAJ
CURRICULUM VITAE
Bio Data:
Gender: Female
Citizenship: Trinidad and Tobago
Date of Birth: 18th
July, 1974
Address: Sosconosco Road #2, La Pastora, Upper Santa Cruz, Trinidad and Tobago
Home telephone: (868) 676-8141
Mobile: (868) 374-9207
E-mail: sarikamaharaj2011@gmail.com
Career focus: Contributing to sustainable development with a focus on integrated natural
resource management.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
February
2012
to
September
2015
FISHERIES DIVISION, Ministry of Land and Marine Resources,
35 Cipriani Blvd, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
Fish Inspection Officer of the Fisheries Monitoring, Surveillance and Enforcement
Unit (FMSEU)
Main Duties and Responsibilities included:
1. Developed, coordinated and implemented the work program of the FMSEU;
2. Ensured compliance of fishers with the national fisheries laws and policies;
3. Ensured compliance with regional and international agreements including management
recommendations issued by the International Commission on the Conservation of Atlantic
Tunas (ICCAT);
4. Supervised subordinate staff who conducted sea patrols; inspections of fish landing sites;
fishing vessels and transshipment ports and vessels, for compliance with fisheries
legislation and policies and other fisheries management arrangements;
5. Conducted and supervised investigations with respect to breaches in fisheries
legislations and policies;
6. Attended Court Proceedings on behalf of the Fisheries Division on matters related to
compliance with fisheries laws and regulations;
7. Developed relevant databases and co-ordinated data collection and entry activities and
ensuring quality control of the data;
8. Disseminated information and provided technical assistance to fishers, fishing
associations, law enforcement officers, attorneys-at-law and members of the public on
fisheries law and regulations;
9. Supported the development and implementation of projects of the FMSEU and the
Division;
10. Contributed to the development of technical documents for, and the implementation of
work plans of the Fisheries Division;
11. Contributed to the review of draft legislation and policies of the Division and external
Sosconosco Rd #2, La Pastora, Santa Cruz
Tel: (868) 676-8141 (Home), (868) 374-9207 (Mobile)
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SARIKA MAHARAJ
CURRICULUM VITAE
agencies;
12. Requisitions and expenditure of funds for the Unit;
13. Developed reports on Unit performance, achievements, expenditure of funds and
budgetary requirements;
14. Human Resources matters related to employment contracts, performance evaluation
and monthly salary payments;
15. Collaborated with other Divisions within the line Ministry and with external agencies
with respect to authority/jurisdiction for monitoring, surveillance and enforcement
activities as well as other matters in the fishing industry and maritime affairs;
16. Provided support and information to other law enforcement agencies, namely the
Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, for investigations and court matters.
17. Operational Liaison in Fisheries Division for:
- Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard;
- Trinidad and Tobago Police Service in relation to request for information of fishers and
fishing vessels;
- INTERPOL-National Central Bureau for Trinidad and Tobago: Fisheries Crime Working
Group
- Protocol between Barbados and T&T on common procedures relating to the arrest of
crew, or detention of fishing vessels, in each other country’s territorial waters.
18. Participated in conferences and meetings both locally and abroad on matters related to
Fisheries Monitoring, Surveillance and Enforcement as well as other matters in the fishing
industry and maritime affairs;
Major Achievements from February 2012 to September 2015 included:
1. Redesign of the logo and uniform of the Unit, in collaboration with the Office of Law
Enforcement Policy, to enhance the professional image of the Unit and to comply with
legal requirements with respect to uniform of persons with powers of arrest;
2. Contribution to the strengthening of institutional collaboration with relevant national
entities, specifically the Forestry Division; Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, Coast
Guard and Air Guard; Office of Law Enforcement Policy; Customs and Excise; Ministry of
Public Health; Environmental Management Authority; Water and Sewerage Authority and
Chaguaramas Development Authority.
3. Presentation of fisheries laws at meetings with 29 fishing communities to reiterate laws
and mobilise compliance with laws and policies that govern fisheries management;
4. Establishment of the country’s Statistical Document Programme for the International
Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) for Bigeye Tuna;
5. Operational and procedural documents, including systems for conducting inspections
and investigations; templates for inspections of vessels and landing sites; reporting form
for inspections of vessels and landing sites and reporting form for lost, stolen or damaged
equipment;
6. Establishment of databases on fishing vessels; fishers; fishing gear and de-registered
fishing vessels ;
Tel: (868) 676-8141 (Home), (868) 374-9207 (Mobile)
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SARIKA MAHARAJ
CURRICULUM VITAE
7. Execution of a survey to determine type and number of multifilament and monofilament
(gillnet) nets being used in Trinidad and target species for each type;
8. Coordination of inspections of the country’s non-artisanal and artisanal (pirogue)
trawler fleets of 35 and 103 vessels, respectively in 2013, 2014 and 2015 to update the
Division’s record of fishing vessels; to ensure adherence to fisheries laws and policies;
9. Execution of Phase I of the National Vessel Census 2015 in the west and south coasts;
the Census sought to update the Fisheries Division’s record of local artisanal fishing
vessels (18 feet and over in size), regardless of registration status, in preparation for the
implementation of the new Fisheries Legislation. The Census was organized into two
phases. The first phase is the document collection and verification exercise, followed by
the second phase which involves actual inspections of vessels and their engines;
10. Pilot project with 2 service providers for a Vessel Monitoring System;
11. Identification and facilitation of specialized training for officers of FMSEU;
12. Success in the Supplemental Police Examination of November 2013, which is a
prerequisite for being precepted and conferred with powers of arrest;
13. Training in:
- control tactics for law enforcement officers and use of tactical kit (handcuffs, baton and
Talon);
- methodology for identification of fish species and specifically in identification of major
commercial fish species;
- identification of marine turtle species;
- ‘Supervising Safely’ for supervisors and managers;
- ‘Dealing with Difficult Customers’;
- Cabinet Note writing;
- Instituting criminal proceedings and included a day of observation of court
proceedings in the Port of Spain Magistrate Court;
-Police science and procedures for law enforcement officers, facilitated by the Office
of Law Enforcement Policy of the Ministry of National Security;
- Existing legislative framework for protection of sea turtles, namely the recent
designation of sea turtles as Environmental Sensitive Specials, made under the
Environmental Management Act 2000 and
- Effective Supervision: Skills for Law Enforcement Officers
14. Key person involved in the review and amendment process for the Fisheries
Management Bill 2015; Fisheries Control of Demersal Trawling (Amendment)
Regulations; and policy documents from several external agencies;
15. Representation of the Fisheries Division at:
- over 85 external meetings with other local government agencies, research institutions and
non-governmental organisations;
-CRFM/ ACP Fish II regional validation workshop to update the Draft Manuals for
Prosecution and Enforcement of fisheries laws in CARIFORUM States, Grenada, 16 to
17 October, 2013. Drafted country brief on enforcement of the legal and policy
framework for prosecution and enforcement of fisheries laws prior to workshop;
- the 1st Annual Exposition for International Woman’s Day in 2013 to showcase women
in law enforcement hosted by the Carenage Police;
Tel: (868) 676-8141 (Home), (868) 374-9207 (Mobile)
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SARIKA MAHARAJ
CURRICULUM VITAE
- a capacity building workshop on the 2009 FAO Port State Measures from 24 to 28
March 2014 in Port of Spain and
- a Regional Validation Workshop to review template documents for legislation and
procedures to implement sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS) as part of the
fisheries component of the implementation of the SPS measures of the 10th
European Development Fund (EDF) programme: “Support of the Forum of
Caribbean States in the implementation of the commitments undertaken under the
Economic Partnership Agreement”, held in Barbados from 24 to 25 August 2015.
April 2011
to
March 2012
INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT
Provided on a consultancy basis, support in the areas of Organizational Development and
Project Proposal Development for:
a. Fondes Amandes Community Reforestation Project and
b. Asa Wright Nature Centre
July 2006
to
January
2011
THE CROPPER FOUNDATION, Fernandes Industrial Centre, Laventille, Trinidad
Programme Officer for the Community Technical Assistance Programme
Built on an Assessment of the Northern Range (EMA S.O.E, 2004) and its pilot sustainable
living project for a community to develop a Programme ‘To support communities in
realising, formulating and making progress on their development vision that can potentially
be transformative for their natural and socio-economic context, while contributing to the
national development process.’
1. Developed a Strategic Plan for the Programme 2010-2013
2. Designed and developed a framework for the Programme
3. Implemented and managed five main aspects of the Programme:
a. identification and development of Projects
b. identification and mobilisation of financial support for the Programme and
its Projects;
c. identification and arrangement for recruitment, management and support
of technical assistance to the projects as required
d. identification, engagement and mobilization of communities for
participation in projects
e. management and support of all stages of the projects and the preparation of
necessary supporting documentation;
4. Designed and Managed the project ‘Implementing Sustainable Farming Practices
in Trinidad’s Northern Range Communities’.
5. Created and maintained a database of resources for communities.
6. Supported other programmatic and administrative work of the Foundation as
needed.
7. Managed organisation’s events: local, regional and international seminars,
workshops, conferences; public lectures; 10 year anniversary activities and social
events.
April 2004
to
May 2006
THE CROPPER FOUNDATION, Fernandes Industrial Centre, Laventille, Trinidad
Community Development Project Officer
Worked with the President of The Cropper Foundation to develop the Foundation’s work in
contributing to Sustainable Development (both nationally and regionally), with particular
reference to contributing to sustainable and integrated approaches to community
Tel: (868) 676-8141 (Home), (868) 374-9207 (Mobile)
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SARIKA MAHARAJ
CURRICULUM VITAE
development.
1. Conceptualized, designed, coordinated, delivered, evaluated and reported on the
Bon Air North Sustainable Living Project initiated by The Cropper Foundation in
April 2004 and funded by the UNDP GEF/SGP.
2. Conceptualized and coordinated an outreach project that sought to expand on the
Bon Air North Project with 63 other squatter communities in the Northern Range.
3. Assisted with policy-related events which sought to follow-up on a Scientific
Assessment of the Northern Range.
4. Assisted the President of the Foundation in research related to matters which
constituted her portfolio (including preparations for international meetings and
presentations).
5. Supported other programmatic and administrative activities at The Cropper
Foundation
6. Lead Author on the Responses Chapters of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment
Sub-global Volume (March 2004 – March 2005). Attended two writing
international Workshops for the advancement of the chapter (Alexandria, Egypt,
March 2004 and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sept 2004).
8. Managed organisation’s events: local, regional and international seminars,
workshops, conferences; public lectures and social events
Sept 2003
to
March
2004
THE CROPPER FOUNDATION, Cascade, Trinidad
Research Assistant– Ecosystem Assessment
1. Researcher and author for an environment/development project undertaken as part of a
global initiative known as The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) –
www.millenniumassessment.org:
- An Assessment of the Northern Range of Trinidad: ‘People and the Northern
Range’
2. Member of the Steering Committee for the above project
3. Assisted the President of The Foundation in research related to matters which
constituted her portfolio (including preparations for international meetings and
presentations)
4. Supported other programmatic and administrative activities at The Cropper
Foundation.
Jan 2000
to
July 2002
EXPORT-A-BOAT.COM, Boca Raton, FL, USA
Manager
Started and managed an Internet boat brokerage company that located, bought and shipped
pre-owned boats to client specification. The company was based in South Florida and was
the first to provide this type of service to clients in the Caribbean, Central and South
America.
Jan 1998
to
Dec 1999
BAKER HUGHES LIMITED, Trinidad and Tobago
Senior Logging Specialist
1. Assisted in targeting and confirmation of zones rich in hydrocarbon (oil and natural
gas).
2. Monitored all drilling parameters for a safe and successful well.
3. Responsible for analyzing and reconfiguring geological formations in real time during
drilling operations.
Tel: (868) 676-8141 (Home), (868) 374-9207 (Mobile)
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SARIKA MAHARAJ
CURRICULUM VITAE
4. Worked on several ‘Wild Cat’ exploratory wells off the East coast of Trinidad.
5. Required to work in the field for extensive periods at a time.
July 1995
to
Dec 1997
WOLFGUARD SECURITY COMPANY LTD., Kingston, Jamaica
Director
1. Started and co-managed a company that provided quality security services for hotels,
commercial buildings and social functions.
2. Involved in managing several areas of the business:
- Marketing; public relations; training; human resource management and financial
management.
- Supervised 200 employees and three branches located throughout Jamaica
ACADEMIC BACKGROUND AND RESEARCH
Aug 2002
to
Aug2003
THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES
St. Augustine, Trinidad
Master of Science, Science for the Management of Tropical Environments
Dissertation topic
‘An Assessment of the Linkage between Water Supply and Human Well-Being in the Petit
Curucaye Community’
An investigation to identify, qualify and quantify the linkages between water availability
and quality and human health, with a view to recommending options for improving
community health.
Course content:
Characterisation of Natural Environments (A); Characterisation of Man-Made
Environments (A); Identification of Environmental Problems (B); Scientific Approaches to
Environmental Management (A); Introduction to Environmental Management (A);
Managing Environmental Data (A); Pollution Monitoring, Control and Abatement (A);
Development Impact Assessment and Control (A)
Aug 1992
to
May 1996
THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES
Mona , Jamaica
Bachelor of Science in Zoology, Minor in Geology
Second Class Honours
Course content:
Zoology: Vertebrate Zoology, Invertebrate Zoology, Animal Physiology, Population
Genetics and Evolution, Ecology, Functional Organisation of Animals, Coastal
Management, Freshwater Ecology, Terrestrial Ecology, Marine Ecology, Oceanography
and Marine Biology and Statistical Analysis.
Geology: Introduction to Earth Sciences 1& II, Introduction to Petrology, Advanced
Sedimentology, Advanced Paleontology, Metamorphic Petrology, Hydrogeology,
Geomorphology, Structural Geology and Geological Mapping, Structural and
Environmental Geology, Seismology and Caribbean Geology.
Tel: (868) 676-8141 (Home), (868) 374-9207 (Mobile)
6

SARIKA MAHARAJ
CURRICULUM VITAE
Sept 1990
to
July 1992
POLYTECHNIC SIXTH FORM GOVERNMENT SCHOOL
St. James, Trinidad
Advanced Level (Cambridge) Courses
Zoology (B) Geography (C) Botany (B) General Paper (A)
Sept 1985
To
July 1990
ST. FRANCOIS GIRLS’ COLLEGE
Belmont, Trinidad
Ordinary Level (CXC) Courses
Mathematics (I)
English Language (I)
English Literature (I)
Spanish (III)
Biology (I)
Chemistry (II)
Physics (II)
Geography (I)
SUMMARY OF EXPERIENCE, SKILLS AND TRAINING
Experience
 Law enforcement
 Legislative drafting and review
 Coordination and supervision of work of subordinate staff
 Project cycle management
 Project design
 Community-based natural resource management
 Capacity building
 Organisational development
 Institutional strengthening
 Participatory planning
 Team building and team work
 Network and alliance building
 Community mobilization
 Conflict mitigation, prevention and response
 Advocacy
 Facilitation
 Leading discussion groups and chairing of meetings
 Supporting technical and multi-stakeholder steering committees
 Event management (local, regional and international seminars, workshops, conferences, public lectures,
cocktail receptions)
 Business management
Special Training
 Police science and procedures for law enforcement officers, facilitated by the Office of Law
Enforcement Policy of the Ministry of National Security (May-June 2014);
 Distinction in NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety (November
2011-June 2012)
 Short course on Event Management hosted by The University of the West Indies Open Campus,
Tel: (868) 676-8141 (Home), (868) 374-9207 (Mobile)
7

SARIKA MAHARAJ
CURRICULUM VITAE
Trinidad and Tobago (June-July 2011),
 Train the Trainers Workshop in Small and Micro Enterprises facilitated by The National Financial
Literacy Programme of Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago (March 2010)
 International Training Programme on ‘Planning for Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Development’ at
the National Institute of Rural Development, Hyderabad, India (January to February 2008)
 Participatory Forest Management Training of Trainers undertaken by CANARI (June 2007)
 Diploma 1 in Business Management from the Association for Business Executives (ABE) via the School
of Business and Computer Studies, Trinidad and Tobago (May – October 2006)
 Certificate in ‘Project Management for Business Professionals’ from the School of Business and
Computer Studies, Trinidad and Tobago (February 2006)
 Designed, coordinated and analysed the results of a socio-economic survey conducted in the community
of Bon Air North, Arouca, Trinidad (August 2004)
 Participant in an international conference entitled ‘Bridging Scales and Epistemologies: linking local
knowledge with global science in multi-scale assessments’ held in Alexandria, Egypt (March 2004)
 Participant at Writers’ Chapter Advancement Workshops conducted by the Millennium Assessment in
Alexandria, Egypt (March 2004) and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (September 2004)
 Coordinated a Joint Seminar between Department of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies, St.
Augustine and the Hindu Prachar Kendra: Children of the Rivers, Tradition and Science (June 2003)
 Intermediate level courses in digital photography and relevant software (November 2000)
 Capacity building courses relevant to Oil and Gas Drilling: Pore Pressure Analysis; Drilling
Engineering; Wireline Logging (January 1998-December 1999)
 Certificate in Environmental Impact Assessment from the UN and USEPA (1995)
Skills
 Excellent organizational skills
 Excellent communication skills (written and verbal)
 Excellent interpersonal skills
 Adept at public speaking, including delivery of technical presentations and participation in television
and radio programmes
 Analytical, able to provide highly accurate interpretation of pertinent data
 Well developed research skills
 Able to work extensively in the field
 Dedicated and self motivated with excellent problem solving capabilities
 Ability to act quickly, decisively and effectively. Extremely resourceful and capable in high pressure
and field emergency situations
SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS
Northern Range Assessment 2005. Report of an Assessment of the Northern Range of Trinidad, Trinidad
and Tobago: ‘People and the Northern Range’. Environmental Management Authority State of the
Environment Report 2004. Trinidad and Tobago.
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005. Responses to Ecosystem Changes and their Impacts on Human
Well-Being: Findings of the Sub-global Assessments Working Group. Ecosystems and Human Well-
being, vol. 4. Island Press, Washington, DC. (Authors of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment
received the 2nd
prize of the International Zayed Prize 2006)
OTHER DOCUMENTS
‘Creating Community’ (2005). A profile of a squatter community, Bon Air North- its social and ecological
changes observed in the community, present baseline data and its vision for future development.
Information was based on qualitative and quantitative data, obtained from a socio-economic survey
Tel: (868) 676-8141 (Home), (868) 374-9207 (Mobile)
8

SARIKA MAHARAJ
CURRICULUM VITAE
conducted by the residents in 2004 as well as from interviews.
Tel: (868) 676-8141 (Home), (868) 374-9207 (Mobile)
9

Sarika Maharaj CV_January 2016

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