Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. August 21, 2026. The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), the region’s sole public health institution, enhanced the knowledge and skills of Nutrition and Dietetics interns at the Faculty of Food and Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Economic and Extension (DAEE) at the University of the West Indies (UWI), St. Augustine campus, Trinidad & Tobago, through a specialised food safety training programme. DAEE provides students enrolled in the BSc Human Nutrition and Dietetics programme an opportunity for advanced micro credential trainings to enhance the skills.
This training, requested by DAEE, was aimed at strengthening the practical knowledge and professional competencies of these young Dietetic professionals, togethering with providing internationally recognised certification to augment their academic qualifications. The two-and-a-half day training focused on enhancing the understanding of food safety principles, including proper food handling, hygiene and sanitation, prevention of food contamination and food borne illnesses, minimising time and temperature abuse during the flow of food cycle and the importance of maintaining safe practices throughout the food chain.
The training was facilitated by a multidisciplinary CARPHA team consisting of Mr. Keston Daniel, Coordinator Visitor-based Surveillance, Regional Tourism and Health Program (THP), Dr. Sastee Kissoondan, Senior Technical Officer – Planning & Coordination in the Office of the Executive Director, and Ms. Frieda Mohammed, Standards & Training Officer, THP.
Mr. Keston Daniel, opened the training on Day 1 and indicated that, “CARPHA’s THP is proud to collaborate with the UWI in equipping future Nutrition and Dietetics professionals to champion food safety and protect public health. This partnership reinforces our shared commitment to building healthier and safer Caribbean communities”.
The training delivered by CARPHA was the internationally renowned ServSafe® Train-the-Trainer Advanced Food Safety Certification Course under the National Restaurant Association. A total of thirty-five (35) participants successfully completed the training and examination. Upon meeting the certification requirements, participants will receive an Advanced Food Safety certificate valid for five (5) years. Equipped with this globally recognised credential, these emerging Nutrition and Dietetics professionals will possess greater credentials making them more marketable and better positioned to promote food safety best practices and contribute to reducing the risk of foodborne disease outbreaks across the Caribbean.
About CARPHA-THP
CARPHA’s THP is a multifaceted programme that pioneers work for improving sustainable Caribbean tourism and health security, whilst engaging and collaborating with CARPHA Member States. The THP adopts a multisectoral approach for improving the resilience of the tourism industry and, by extension, the health sector of each participating country through surveillance, response, guidelines, capacity building, standards, policy, advocacy and partnerships, and a travellers’ health award and app. The THP strengthens regional and national health systems and enhances the health of visitor and resident populations by seeking to address the health, safety, and environmental sanitation threats to tourism. The programme has built capacity and equipped countries with regional tools that supports preparedness and response to public health threats. https://carpha.org/THP/Background
Photo Captions:
Photo Caption: Mr. Keston Daniel, Coordinator Visitor-based Surveillance, Regional Tourism and Health Program (THP) and Dr. Sastee Kissoondan, Senior Technical Officer – Planning & Coordination in the Office of the Executive Director, (both left) are flanked by Nutrition and Dietetics interns and Ms. Frieda Mohammed, Standards & Training Officer, THP (far right) following the successful training of the ServSafe® Train-the-Trainer Advanced Food Safety Certification Course.
-END-