While the international conversation has been almost singularly focused on COVID-19 over the past year, Minister of the Environment and National Beautification, the Honourable Adrian Forde, has made it clear that Barbados’ determination to create a sustainable environment will not be reduced.
In fact, Minister Forde told the House of Assembly this morning when debate on the 2021-22 Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure resumed, that all sections under his portfolio will be turning on a single axis — a clean and green Barbados.
Under the “green” heading, he explained, the commitment to plant a million trees remained strong, recognising that increasing the stock of tress would assist in a major way in reducing the volume of carbon monoxide in the atmosphere, creating a healthier environment.
In similar vein, Minister Forde added, the Sanitation Service Authority is leading the charge on achieving all the Ministry’s plans under the “clean” heading. A major plank of this will be the creation of genuine community garbage hubs as part of a community-based approach to beautification and environmental preservation.
He told the House that his aim was to make Barbados the cleanest country in the western hemisphere, and the promotion of the island’s natural flora and fauna would be an integral part of this effort. He spoke of plans to promote the cultivation of plants such as citronella grass, rosemary, basil and lavender and other species that help to fight pests such as the mosquito.
Minister Forde explained that during the coming financial year the pace of work on the National Botanical Gardens would be stepped up, and Barbadians would witness a transformation of the lands on the southern side of Waterford Bottom where the international section of the gardens has already started to take shape.