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Experience island paradise without the plastics as Barbados announces landmark ban
By Michelle Johnson | 11 February 2019 | Culture, Travel
The popular Caribbean island has banned single-use plastics to protect its marine life
* Experience island paradise without the plastics as Barbados announces landmark ban
The Caribbean island of Barbados has banned the importation, retail, sale and use of single-use plastic in a landmark effort to protect the island's natural resources and marine life. The remarkable government-led sustainability effort combats the environmental impact of Barbados' status as a tourist destination, attracting 623,293 visitor in 2018.
The ban is led by Barbados' Minister of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy, Kirk Humphrey, and Minister of the Environment and National Beautification, Trevor Prescod, and will come into force on 1 January 2020. The decision follows attempts by many popular destinations to halt the impact of plastic on world habitats.
"Barbados has to be a value-driven country. We have large expectations for ourselves," said Humphrey. "We have said that we want to be fossil fuel free by 2030; we want to have a renewable platform; we want to be a country that when we speak to the world we speak as an environmentally friendly country and destination. [Therefore] these are the things that we must do if our words and our actions are to be aligned. And so, we have made ourselves clear as to where we stand on single-use plastic." >>
Related: How the Isle of Man has taken conservation to an island-wide enterprise
* Experience island paradise without the plastics as Barbados announces landmark ban
Another priority for Barbados is the conservation of the island's wildlife, including the Barbados Sea Turtle Project, which has been running for more than 25 years and now boasts the second-largest hawksbill turtle nesting population in the Caribbean. Carlisle Bay in the south west is a designated marine-protected area.
"Plastic contributes to the contamination of our marine species, and the water surrounding our beautiful island, said Cheryl Carter, UK Director, Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. "Banning single-use plastics goes some way to ensuring the protection of our pristine beaches and crystal clear waters that we are famous for. Continuing to attract guests is our priority as we seek to enhance our sustainable credentials and continue to be an environmentally friendly destination."