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Minister of State in the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Patrick Todd??
Cognisant of the impact on the environment by pollutants, a Government minister has pledged to build a green economy through the enactment of a number of environmental policies.
Minister of State in the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Patrick Todd, made this declaration today while addressing the Ministry of Health’s Environmental Health Department’s, Healthy Exposition, ahead of the official celebrations to commemorate World Environment Day, tomorrow, Saturday, June 5. The event was held in Independence Square, The City.
Emphasising the significance of a green economy, he said this was necessary in order to protect the island’s coastal waters and drinking water supply.
Mr. Todd stressed: "We must facilitate the development of renewable energy resources such as wind, sun, biomass, solid and liquid waste and environmental friendly forms of fossil-based fuels such as natural gas.
"In addition, we must promote the recycling of solid and liquid waste, while protecting the purity of our water supply. We must also ensure the efficient construction of roads and infrastructure through the application of best-practices that complement environmental and infrastructural technologies."
Apart from the strategies outlined, the Minister of State implored the church, the trade union movement and other members of civil society, to work with government in this regard. "….all elements of civil society must work together to ensure that our goal of strengthening our physical infrastructure, preserving our natural environment and changing the energy base of the economy, is accomplished," Mr. Todd emphasised.
The exposition is a practical, interactive method, of informing the public about the environmental services available in the public and private sectors.??jwilson@barbados.gov.bb