ST. LUCIA: Some Caribbean territories have instituted bans on plastics, and other countries are considering replicating the success of these initiatives.
Hon. Dr. James Fletcher, Minister for Sustainable Development, Energy, Science and Technology, has convened a meeting to discuss the vexing problem of plastic litter disposal on the island.
Saint Lucia has long grappled with the improper disposal of plastic litter. The indiscriminate disposal of plastics – from shopping bags and beverage bottles to Styrofoam containers – has created serious environmental issues.
A Returnable Containers Bill was drafted a few years ago, but has not yet been brought to Parliament. While the Ministry of Sustainable Development remains optimistic that the bill will be finalized soon, it views the problem of plastic waste as severe enough to seek a solution prior to passing legislation.
Recently, some Caribbean territories – Antigua and Barbuda and Guyana – have instituted bans on plastic grocery bags and Styrofoam storage containers, and other countries are looking at the success of these initiatives to determine whether they should follow suit.
The Ministry of Sustainable Development, Energy, Science and Technology believes any solution must have support from a broad cross-section of society in order to be successful, which is why it is bringing together all relevant bodies to discuss possible solutions.
The meeting will be chaired by the Minister for Public Service, Sustainable Development, Energy, Science and Technology, Hon. Dr. James Fletcher, and will be held on April 15, at 10 a.m., in the Training Department of the Ministry of the Public Service, Information and Broadcasting, in the Sir Stanislaus James Building on the Waterfront.
Saint Lucia has long grappled with the improper disposal of plastic litter. The indiscriminate disposal of plastics – from shopping bags and beverage bottles to Styrofoam containers – has created serious environmental issues.
A Returnable Containers Bill was drafted a few years ago, but has not yet been brought to Parliament. While the Ministry of Sustainable Development remains optimistic that the bill will be finalized soon, it views the problem of plastic waste as severe enough to seek a solution prior to passing legislation.
Recently, some Caribbean territories – Antigua and Barbuda and Guyana – have instituted bans on plastic grocery bags and Styrofoam storage containers, and other countries are looking at the success of these initiatives to determine whether they should follow suit.
The Ministry of Sustainable Development, Energy, Science and Technology believes any solution must have support from a broad cross-section of society in order to be successful, which is why it is bringing together all relevant bodies to discuss possible solutions.
The meeting will be chaired by the Minister for Public Service, Sustainable Development, Energy, Science and Technology, Hon. Dr. James Fletcher, and will be held on April 15, at 10 a.m., in the Training Department of the Ministry of the Public Service, Information and Broadcasting, in the Sir Stanislaus James Building on the Waterfront.
