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| Minister of Family, Culture, Sports and Youth, Stephen Lashley (FP) |
Barbados will get a ???face-lift’ for its 46th anniversary of Independence and the public is being encouraged to participate.
Minister of Family, Culture, Sports and Youth, Stephen Lashley, announced yesterday that his Ministry would be partnering with a number of government departments, service organisations, and youth and community groups to facilitate a Youth Independence Clean up Project.
Mr. Lashley further disclosed that the initiative would be held on the weekend of November 10 and 11, from 6:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. He pointed out that over 35 groups had already signed up to clean the central, eastern, southern and northern zones of the island, but stressed that other interested ones should contact the Ministry of Family, Culture, Sports and Youth, at telephone numbers 621-2705 or 621-2713.
"There are groups that have indicated their willingness to get involved from all over Barbados, but we are open to receiving requests from other groups upon hearing of this exercise," he stated.
Emphasising the importance of this project he continued: "This initiative is designed to intensify the anti-littering campaign across Barbados and help persons to pay attention to our motto of pride and industry… It will certainly assist them in being proud of their own environment…
"We want to send the message that we have to ensure Barbados can achieve a status of being litter-free and that persons can assume the responsibility of caring for their surroundings. We believe that one of the best ways to do that is to have that example led by our young people."
The Minister hinted that the project was one of several which would be adopted to encourage young people to get involved in various groups and suggest other initiatives they wanted to engage in on a voluntary basis.
Station Sergeant Stephen Griffith, expressed the view that the clean-up would also assist in the crime prevention measures of the Royal Barbados Police Force. He said the clean up of properties was vital for "proper crime prevention" and expressed optimism that a reduction of crime would be evident. "We are sure that with this clean up we can begin to make our environment a lot better and safer for all the residents," Station Sergeant Griffith added.
Pastor Dayle Haynes of the Seventh Day Adventist Church said 35 Pathfinders Clubs had been mobilised to participate in the clean up on Sunday, November 11.
Some of the organisations, groups and government departments involved in this project are: the Barbados Girl Guides Association, the Barbados Boy Scouts Association, the Seventh Day Adventist Pathfinders, the National Conservation Commission, the Ministry of Transport and Works and the Royal Barbados Police Force.