Consultants have completed solid waste studies on five gullies across the island as the Government’s gully ecosystem and restoration project starts to take shape.
Minister of the Environment and National Beautification Adrian Forde gave the brief update on Tuesday as he tabled a resolution on the Barbados National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2020 in the House of Assembly.
Though not disclosing the findings of the studies, Forde told his colleagues that the consultant had completed solid waste assessments at Whim Gully in St Peter; Blackmans Gully in St Joseph; and Welchman Hall Gully, Jack-in-the-box Gully and Bridgefield Gully in St Thomas.
“That consultant is doing a very good job so far. We have done five gullies so far in terms of having the solid waste assessment,” reported Forde.
“We are saying that we are going to build out the gullies. We have started to do the assessments already and in quick time we will be starting to do the cleaning of the gullies as mandated by our ministries,” he said, as he again called on residents to stop their illegal dumping.
Officials are hoping that the gully ecosystem and restoration project, which was introduced around the middle of this year, will contribute to the island’s tourism product and serve as a space for locals to recreate.
Stressing that the restoration of gullies was an important part of the island’s reforestation efforts, Forde said in addition to his ministry working closely with the Ministry of Tourism to develop a “touristic project”, officials will be encouraging residents to also enjoy those spaces and get involved in their maintenance.
“In every single gully that we are having these projects in, we are going to use a local community and the players in the community to be part of a group so that they help to manage these gullies, so they become part of the development of these gullies,” said Forde.
The Environment Minister also indicated to Parliament that stricter laws were coming to ensure the protection of the island’s trees. (MM)
