AGRICULTURE, LANDS, FISHERIES & BARBUDA AFFAIRS

Tomorrow is World Environment Day, a global celebration marked every year on June 5th to raise awareness to the protection of the Environment and encourage positive action and change. The celebration was started by the United Nations in 1972 and continues to be a driving force for change towards environmental sustainability. This year as the globe focuses on the issue of food wastage to reduce the amount of resources used as well as green house gas emissions in food production process, the Ministry of Agriculture encourages all residents and visitors to buy local produce and reduce the amount of food thrown away.

To engage national awareness the Environment Division has invited various sections of the society to commemorate this celebration.  Tomorrow, during the early hours of 5:30am – 8:30am, representatives of the various government ministries will assist in an island –wide Giant African Snail Hunt in Jolly Hill/Bolans and Cooks area.  Financial institutions have also partnered with the Environment Division to observe World Environment Day by wearing green and undertaking green initiatives within their respective offices. Some initiatives highlighted were carpooling or increased usage of public transportation on that day, increased recycling efforts and planting local tea bush.  The Antigua Commercial Bank, Antigua Barbuda Development Bank, Caribbean Union Bank, Royal Bank of Canada, RBTT and St. John’s Cooperative Credit Union have all indicated their support in raising awareness to World Environment Day.

Members of the public are also invited to engage in BYOB which stands for Bring Your Own Bags to the supermarket to reduce the amount of non-environmentally friendly plastic bags issued during sales.

What will you do to support World Environment Day?