???The Government of Barbados is committed to the development of a green economy.???
Minister of the Environment and Drainage, Dr. Denis Lowe, stressed this today while speaking at the Enviro Waste Expo (formerly the 4 R???s Fair) at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre.
Stating that the current energy bill was approximately $870 million per year, he said Government was seeking to put various green energy projects on stream, in an effort to reduce the fossil bill.
???Plans are already in place to develop the Mangrove Pond Green Energy Complex in Vaucluse, St. Thomas, which includes a waste- to-energy plant, a land fill, energy-producing wind and solar farms, and a new and modern headquarters, administration and workshop building for the Sanitation Service Authority, ??? he said.
The Minister also stated that the Ministry had already successfully implemented a corporate greening programme involving all of the tenants at the Warrens Tower II building in Warrens, St. Michael.
???This corporate greening initiative???was whole heartedly embraced by all of the nine tenants of the building,??? he remarked. Additionally, Minister Lowe congratulated the efforts made by schools in encouraging students to live in a more ecofriendly way.
He noted, however, that there was still a need to further educate young people about the importance of green living.
???Many schools across the country are also involved in a greening initiative and we congratulate those schools for their efforts, and we certainly encourage the Ministry to continue to provide the support necessary to enable these programmes to succeed,??? he said.
This year???s Enviro Waste Expo had over 30 exhibitors, including students from primary and secondary schools.
jamal.weekes@barbados.gov.bb