Barbadians called on to support green initiative

Minister of the Environment and National Beautification, Adrian Forde, is calling for all Barbadians to get onboard with the initiative for a greener Barbados. He was speaking yesterday during a prize-giving ceremony for the national Tree Planting Competition, which was held as part of the 2021 Arbor Day celebrations.

With the National Botanical Gardens providing the backdrop for the event, General Manager Nigel Jones praised Minister Forde for his vision, which saw the close collaboration of the Sanitation Service Authority and the National Conservation Commission through the Clean and Green Programme. He also went on to reveal that the competition, which served as a pilot project, saw 1,195 trees being planted by 52 participants all across the island, and hopes to see a larger number when it is replicated next year.

Minister Forde congratulated the top three contestants and presented them with their winnings as Carlos Millington took away the top prize of $7,000 and a trophy for planting 276 trees. He was also praised for his innovation and inventiveness as he planted some on other persons’ lands with their permission. Second place and $2,000 went to Evelyn Forde for planting 84 trees while third place and $1,000 went to John Brewster with 69 trees.

Rehashing one of his favourite mantras ‘trees save lives’, Minister Forde said that these initiatives fell in line with Government’s thrust for a green economic recovery and its commitment to the United Nations Decade of Ecosystems Restoration. Noting that Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley had stated in 2019 that the aim was to plant a million trees across the island, he said that we were well on our way as we were currently close to 300,000.

“We said as a country, from a policy perspective, that we are going to do everything in our power to reach this goal. We had the challenges of COVID like every other country. There was prolonged drought that has never been seen before because of the climate change and the current climate crisis. We stood steadfast in our mandate and our commitment and we work with every sweat expenditure to ensure that even if we don’t get a million, we get as near as possible.”

Stating that planting trees was pivotal to Barbados’ green post-COVID recovery, Minister Forde added that it must become a way of life as it was crucial to effect the philosophical change for who we are as a country.

“I want to remind all of us, when we are charged and faced with the most dangerous existential threat prior to COVID-19 as we know it, which is called climate change, that the one thing that can help save us, save this country, save our biodiversity and save our unborn children is the green environment. What you see around you is going to save this country and that is why it is important for us to be part of this fight. That is why it is important for each one of us to become the active players,” he said. (MP)