BASSETERRE – ST. KITTS, March 5, 2022, (MMS SKN). — Acutely aware of the need to pay serious attention to the way in which people dispose of waste, the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis, through the Ministry of Environment, is encouraging its citizens to become better environmental stewards.
The Hon Eric Evelyn, Federal Minister of Environment and Cooperatives made the remarks at a ceremony in Taylors Range on Friday, March 4, to officially launch the US$1m St. Kitts and Nevis Solid Waste Management and Recycling Project.
This project is a first step towards building a coordinated framework for waste disposal practices. Hon Evelyn spoke at the ceremony, which was presided over by Ms June Hughes, Director of Environment.
The Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund, (ICDF) funds the project. He was joined by His Excellency Michael Chau Horng Lin, Resident Ambassador of China (Taiwan), who also made brief remarks. Jack Li, Second Secretary at the Embassy, supported him.
Hon Evelyn stated that this project is timely because of two main reasons. It is in line with my Ministry’s commitments to encourage our citizens and make them better environmental stewards. We are acutely aware that we must pay attention to how we dispose of our waste. Environmental degradation is caused by the ever-present, but crucial, issues of waste separation and excessive waste.
He said that the overall objective of the project was to establish a recycling program to improve efficiency and increase waste recycling by twice as much. He said that the systemic framework will serve as a foundation to create efficient and collaborative pathways between stakeholders and ultimately lead to more environmentally responsible actions by all citizens.
The Honourable Minister informed that the Ministry of Environment and Co-operatives was leading the charge to ban single-use plastics, as St. Kitts and Nevis strives to achieve UN Sustainable Goal 12, which is to ensure responsible consumption and production patterns.
Hon Evelyn said that in order to achieve this goal, it is important to think about ways we can efficiently use our resources to reduce waste in a sustainable fashion. It also points out the potential for economic innovation to sustain sustainability.
These will include the options of packaging products using environmentally-friendly material, diverse offerings of how to repurpose plastics or other products, and: The use technology in reducing trash are all ways we can reimagine how we can achieve resource efficiency.
Ms Joyce Chang Chang, Project Manager, was present to give an overview of the three year project, which began in July 2021.
The launch was attended by representatives from both St. Kitts and Nevis.
Minister Evelyn stated that she wanted to take this opportunity to thank all those who have committed to fighting waste issues and the recycling program in general. We are aware that implementing a recycling scheme will require cultural changes in attitudes and behaviours. I am confident that innovative solutions will be found thanks to the diversity of the Project Steering Committee.
The Minister pointed out that the partnership with Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund is not just about providing financial assistance, but also technical assistance. He said that it was an honor for Ms. Joyce Chang to work here and promised that she would receive guidance and support from the project steering board.
He stated that he strongly believes that this healthy knowledge-building and exchange management process is pivotal, as the country will also learn from Ms Chang. He also stated that she would also learn about the stakeholders. He looks forward to strengthening the capacities of all government institutions and all stakeholders throughout St. Kitts.
Let me once again express my deep gratitude to the Republic of China, Taiwan, for funding this project, and the International Cooperation and Development Fund, (ICDF), for authorizing and guiding the project concept and my Ministry and Department of Environment team, said Hon Evelyn. He said: We look forward to continuing our collaboration.
