AGRICULTURE, LANDS, FISHERIES & BARBUDA AFFAIRS

National Celebrations to mark World Environment Day were met with much enthusiasm. The Environment Division coordinated national awareness by partnering with various agencies within the Government ministries as well as with members of the financial sector. The celebration began with an early morning snail hunt across the island with two teams simultaneously hunting in Jolly Hill and Burma. Due to insufficient volunteering, the Cooks site was not covered. Teams consisted of representatives from the Establishment Department, the Royal Police Force, Antigua Barbuda Development Bank, Plant Protection Unit and the Environment Division. Approximately 2000 Giant African Snails were collected between both sites during the hours of 5:30am and 8:30am.

Celebrations continued with a variety of media interviews emphasizing the theme for World Environment Day:  Think. Eat. Save. Reduce Your Food print. Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Housing, Lands and Environment, Mr. Robelto Isaac delivered a feature address on behalf of the Honorable Minister Hilson Baptiste to commemorate World Environment Day.

A presentation of certificates to the various institutions that participated in raising awareness to World Environment Day was made to commend their efforts. Most notably were the St. John’s Cooperative Credit Union, Antigua Commercial Bank, and the Antigua Barbuda Development Bank. The St. John’s Cooperative Credit Union used green ribbons to create World Environment Day pin-ons, which were distributed to staff and customers. They also created a small display, which highlighted the theme for World Environment Day. Staff members of the Antigua Commercial Bank were decked out in green uniforms to highlight World Environment Day in addition to recycling money boxes to decorate their offices and grow plants. Instead of using commercial tea bags, ACB utilizes locally grown tea-bush plants that are also used as decorative plants. The Antigua Barbuda Development Bank participated in the early morning snail hunt and also used the opportunity of World Environment Day to have their entire team wear green uniforms. The Caribbean Union Bank also wore green with a stronger focus on reducing paper waste within the office as part of World Environment Day.

Royal Bank of Canada and RBTT are both globally apart of the Blue Water Project, which aims to provide drinkable, swimmable, and fishable water for all. Blue Water Project activities will begin next week.

The theme for World Environment Day coincides with the culmination of Agriculture Week and the launch of the Buy Local Campaign within the Ministry of Agriculture, Housing, Lands and Environment. The Environment Division encourages residents to continue awareness to the protection of the environment by adopting eco-friendly lifestyles that conserve the environment; buying locally; becoming energy efficient and reducing food waste.