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Gov’t urged to make 'green legislation' a priority in 2022

- Director of Green VI, Ms Sarah Penny calls on VI public to lobby Gov’t for action
Director of Green VI, Ms Sarah Penny is urging the Virgin Islands (VI) government to ensure that proposed green legislation takes top priority for tabling in the House of Assembly in the 2022 legislative year. Photo: VINO
 Appearing on the January 25, 2022, edition of JTV Big Story, Ms Penny made the push for the legislation, by calling on the VI public to lobby the government towards action. Photo: VINO
Appearing on the January 25, 2022, edition of JTV Big Story, Ms Penny made the push for the legislation, by calling on the VI public to lobby the government towards action. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - Director of Green VI, Ms Sarah Penny is urging the Virgin Islands (VI) government led by Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) to ensure that the tabling of proposed green legislation takes top priority in the 2022 legislative year.

Appearing on the January 25, 2022, edition of JTV Big Story, Ms Penny made the push for the legislation, by calling on the VI public to lobby the government towards action.

Public urged to call for action 

“Tell your ministers, tell your district representatives, tell your church, tell your friends, tell everybody that this is something that we want and make sure that we start to raise our voices,” she urged. 

Included in proposed green legislation, is the Container Deposit Bill which proposes taxes to be added to every plastic beverage container that comes into the country.

Ms Penny explained, “When you bring it back to our recycling centre, you get that money back and this is something a lot of us know and understand from living in a lot of other countries around the world. You get your deposit when you bring your bottle back,” she detailed.

“The big thing is we need everybody to get behind this legislation because it only works if the public understands,” Ms Penny added. 

“We have been a part of the process which is why we are really happy to see it come up in the Speech from the Throne again this year, which is setting priorities on the part of the Government.”

Ban on single-use plastics 

According to Ms Penny, back in 2018, the Ministry of Health and Social Development commenced the inclusion of Green VI in the process of drafting cabinet papers on the subject and she said a ban on plastic as presented to the government is a very specific proposal.

“Its disposable single-use non-compostable plastic food ware. So that’s your Styrofoam boxes because a lot of people don’t realize those are plastic and they are probably the most toxic plastic that is out there… straws, forks, knives, bags,” she added.

Ms Penny described it as “quite tragic” that some supermarkets reverted to the free distribution of plastic bags after participating in a campaign that saw customers shopping with their own bag, purchasing a recyclable bag or in some cases paying for plastic bags.

However, she complimented two supermarkets, SupaValue and AValue for never returning to providing customers with plastic bags.

8 Responses to “Gov’t urged to make 'green legislation' a priority in 2022”

  • ok (29/01/2022, 13:50) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    watch this movement
    • @ok (29/01/2022, 18:21) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      I am
    • CallinUout (30/01/2022, 11:32) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
      Hypocrite! calling for de gov to give push legislation whilst u destroying de green economy, collecting million$$$ then taking da material from dem recyclers who know what to do, steelin people idea, then trying to say they the only one who know recycling. Hypocrite! While all time u collecting material store in pockwood pond making the place go up in big flames, Pariquita bay a mess, an VG U sneeking your plastic there to get burn.
  • Clean up that mess at Paraquita Bay (29/01/2022, 17:20) Like (4) Dislike (4) Reply
    It is difficult to support your request when that place up Parquita Bay is a rat hole and the one on VG is no better.
  • My girl (29/01/2022, 18:35) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    If the suppliers of restaurants stop bringing in plastic, no one can buy them, it’s that simple. But it’s hard if you have a food business and that is all suppliers are selling. You have to serve your food in whatever is available. I would love to go completely green, but it is not easy here with limited supplies.
  • Crs (30/01/2022, 10:00) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Going to need to carry your own mess kit to get food to go soon. Ha.
  • hoarders (31/01/2022, 22:19) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    What does Green VI intend to do with the piles of plastic that they have in Paraquita Bay? The first ton ignited into a huge fire. Much more plastic has been collected and stacked since then. When does Green VI plan to start recycling? They seem to be a group of hoarders right now.
  • lawd have mercy (02/02/2022, 15:31) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Cartoons and wind turbines out there-oh okay


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