Minister of the Environment Denis Lowe

Plans are on stream for the observation of Environment Month to be celebrated next???? month under the theme: ???Living Sustainably to Achieve a Green Economy???.

A number of departments under the aegis of the Ministry of the Environment, as well as private sector agencies, are expected to stage events to observe the month, which also features three United Nations (UN) environmental days.

The celebrations will officially get under way next Wednesday, June 3, with a 10:00 a.m. ceremony at the Bay Street Esplanade. Minister Denis Lowe will deliver the feature address to launch the month.

World Environment day will be the first UN Day to be observed on Friday, June 5, and a series of events will be staged by private sector entities to mark this occasion.

On Sunday, June 7, motoring representatives are expected to launch the ???Make Cars Green??? initiative, an international environmental campaign aimed at reducing the impact of motoring on our planet. Details of the actual launch will be provided as the event nears.?? Further information on this international programme may be obtained by visiting the website www.makecarsgreen.com

World Oceans Day?? is?? the second UN?? day to be observed?? on?? Monday?? June 8,?? and a rescue simulation by Barbados Lifeguards at Enterprise (Miami) Beach, Christ Church?? beginning at 10:00 a.m. , will be?? the key activity planned?? to mark its observance.

Activities to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Queen???s park will be a key feature of this year???s Environment Month celebrations. An official ceremony to signify the milestone will be held on Wednesday, June 10, beginning at 10:00 a.m. in the Park. Following the ceremony, Barbadians will be invited to come and enjoy lunch in the ambience of the historic venue, as many local delicacies will be on sale. A free lunch-time concert will also be the order of the day.

Later that evening, historian, Dr. Pedro Welch, will deliver the first in a series of public lectures on the history of Queen???s Park beginning at 7:30 p.m.

On Sunday, June 14, Queen???s Park will again take the spotlight when its anniversary church service comes off at 4: 00 p.m. at the St. Michael???s Cathedral.??

Following the service, there will be a procession from the Church to the Park where worshippers will have the opportunity to mingle as well as enjoy old time delicacies, including ice-cream, comfort, black bitch, sugar cakes, glasseys and the like. They will also be serenaded with music by the Royal Barbados Police Force Band.

World Desertification Day is the third UN day to be observed on Wednesday, June 17.

As part of the activities to mark the month, the Ministry will also be hosting a series of Green Readings at select locations across the island. These will feature local writers and their work, which have been influenced by the environment.??

In?? addition?? to assisting schools in tree-planting exercises, and?? hosting?? tours of its plant nursery and propagation workshop?? during the month, the NCC will also be staging plant sales at Queen???s Park and its Codrington House, St. Michael Headquarters on Friday and Saturday, June 26 and 27 from?? 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day.

cgaskin@barbados.gov.bb

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