Clean and Green initiative begins in St James

Access to green spaces is important in maintaining a high quality of life.

This was the message delivered by Member of Parliament for St James Central, Kerrie Symmonds, at the start of Friday’s Clean and Green initiative in his constituency.

The initiative will see a plot of land, which is located near the Good Shepherd Primary School in Fitts Village, and which was used as a playpark before being abandoned several decades ago, transformed into a modern play area.

During his brief remarks, Symmonds said it was important for green spaces to exist in all communities, as they help maintain the mental and physical health of those who use these areas.

“You cannot have a good quality of life if you cannot enjoy nature and some green spaces. It enables you to get a little exercise, it enables Gran to take out the little children and make sure they can get a little enjoyment running about and playing in a safe space, not finding themselves on a block getting in trouble, growing up where there is some comfort and peace of mind – all of those things contribute to the quality of your life,” he said.

“It is a bad thing when a community is left out of that opportunity, for not a year or two years, but for decades.”

Minister of Environment and National Beautification Adrian Forde said a variety of trees would be planted in the area.

“We promise as a country that we are going to lead as it relates to small island developing states, and we have a commitment not only to preserve our biodiversity but to ensure that land degradation as we know it, that becomes a thing of the past,” Forde said.

“Barbados must have a land-based solution, post-COVID, to have a green economic recovery. That is part of Government’s commitment.” (SB)