The collaborative effort requires input from stakeholders and concerned citizens.
The Saint Lucia Solid Waste Management Authority (SLSWMA), through small-scale funding assistance from the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), is seeking to develop a strategy for solid waste management.
A consultant has been contracted to undertake the development of the strategy which will serve to guide the work of the SLSWMA during the next 10 years. The consultant, Karen Luken of Economic Environmental Solutions International, LLC (EESI) along with the staff of the SLSWMA will this week seek the input of a broad base of stakeholders and concerned citizens toward the development of the strategy.
A stakeholder consultation led by Ms. Luken will be held on Oct. 20 at the Palm Haven Hotel, Rodney Bay. The consultation is expected to run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The process also involves a series of focus group discussions targeting solid waste recyclers, constituency councils, waste haulers, legal representatives, technical staff, and former general managers of the SLSWMA. Focus group meetings are expected to run from 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon and 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. for the week, with the exclusion of Oct. 20.
Input from stakeholders, concerned citizens and groups is important to the process to ensure that the eventual output is acceptable to the government and people of Saint Lucia and contributes to an overall improvement to solid waste management on the island.