Workers set out on national project to ‘clean and green’

Government has embarked on a major highway beautification project that will employ over 70 workers.

During a press briefing today to launch the project along Highway 4, Minister of Environment and National Beautification Adrian Forde announced that 71 workers were transferred from the Ministry of Transport and Works (MTW) to clean and green along Highways One to Seven.

Forde said the workers will be responsible for installing a variety of grasses and other plants to prevent the soil along the stretch from eroding. He said citronella grass will also be planted in an effort to reduce mosquito-borne illnesses.

“We intend to make this small country the most beautiful place in the western hemisphere,” he said.

The minister noted that an important aspect of the project is that Government has found work for the young men and women at a time when the country is faced with financial constraints. He said it cannot be missed that Barbadians are being employed to take care of Barbados.

He also explained that his ministry was working with the Ministry of Small Business, Energy and Entrepreneurship to form a cooperative to allow the young men and women on the highway beautification initiative to form their own businesses to work with government to maintain the project.

“They are going to create clusters. We have started clusters with the ministry responsible for entrepreneurship and small business to have these 71 workers go into various groups so that they could set up their own businesses and engage Government at a contractual level.

“That is the idea because when I was Minister of Youth, almost 70 per cent of school leavers had an unequivocal desire to be entrepreneurs. So we are giving people the opportunity to own their own business, own a piece of the rock and own Barbados,” Forde said.

Chairman of the National Conservation Commission Rudy Grant said he hoped the project motivates the average Barbadian to also beautify their surroundings. Grant said there are still too many complaints of persons littering.

“Through our efforts, we will ensure that the highways continue to be beautified and that all of the other areas in the country as well are also beautified, but we want to encourage Barbadians to also play their part,” Grant said.

Minister Forde explained that there are 720 persons working on a week-on, week-off basis cleaning communities across the island, with an additional 100 persons attached to the Botanical Garden project. (AH)