Georgetown : The Guyana Government in the move for a green economy will be banning Styrofoam products from June 2014.
According to Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Robert Persaud, the move is just part of a comprehensive menu of initiatives by government to move Guyana further along the path to a green economy. Minister Persaud said that internationally many countries are moving towards ending their usage of the product, noting that, “if government does not act, it will be failing in its responsibility to manage the environment”.
He called for all stakeholders at a consultation last evening to assist with a comprehensive public awareness campaign to highlight the measure, and also acknowledged the need to enhance enforcement. The latter will be addressed through closer ties with other agencies, such as the Guyana Revenue Authority and the Guyana Police Force, which both operate at border crossings.
Emphasising the public’s role at the consultation held at Duke Lodge, Minister Persaud said there was need for persons to have a greater sense of civic duty and responsibility. He recalled that in years past, there were many small industries which resulted in the production of bi-degradable packaging such as paper bags in which many Chinese restaurants sold food. This could see several persons obtaining employment, once the opportunity presents itself for the local manufacturing sector to produce paper – based packages.
Plans are being made for the hiring of traffic wardens as part of the effort to address the improper disposal of garbage and several regulations outlining penalties via the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be tabled before the National Assembly. Minister Persaud is optimistic that the policy measures will be supported by the Parliamentary Opposition.
Government has long recognised the detrimental effects of not only styrofoam, but also those of plastics. Minister Persaud explained that due to obligations under Caricom’s Common External Tariff, the ministry had regulations developed, under the Customs Act, with the Finance Ministry’s assistance, and moved to have them made legal by introducing them to the National Assembly, but the political opposition voted incomprehensibly against them.
In brief remarks, acting Minister of Tourism Irfaan Ali said that the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment should be congratulated for its bold initiative, and noted that a change in mindsets was needed, as was a regime to offer tax incentives so that persons could also see some of the benefits of adjusting to the new changes.
The views of all stakeholders should be taken into consideration and strong leadership will be needed to enforce the policies governing the ban, Minister Ali added.
You must be logged in to post a comment.