Gov't to take action on styrofoam and plastic bags - Senator Samuda

The Andrew Holness administration will be announcing measures shortly to address the use of styrofoam and single-use plastic bags that have posed serious environmental and health concerns locally.

Government senator Matthew Samuda, who piloted a resolution in the Senate, last year, calling for a ban of styrofoam and plastic bags, said yesterday that appropriate actions would be taken by the administration in keeping with the findings of a working group which was set up to review the issue.

The Senate had passed the resolution last year to establish a multi-stakeholder working group to examine how to reduce and eventually remove styro-foam and single-use plastics bags.

“One thing is certain, the paralysis of how we have approached items of our environmental protection throughout our history ... is at an end.”

He said the working group, chaired by Dr Parris Lyew Ayee, completed its task in October 2017 and submitted its findings to Cabinet.

Samuda said Cabinet has considered the report and an announcement was days away.