B.V.I. Friday, August 28 – Approximately 150 young people from a variety of summer camps in Tortola learnt more about proper solid waste management as part of the Solid Waste Department’s “Solid Waste Officer for A Day” programme.
The “Solid Waste Officer for A Day” programme was designed by the Solid Waste Department, in partnership with the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports, to raise awareness among the Territory’s young people about the necessity of developing and practising proper solid waste management habits.
Waste Education Officer Ms. Nadia James-Lord thanked the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports for facilitating the opportunities for the programme to be executed. She explained too that “the Solid Waste Department usually participates in educational sessions with the summer programme, but this year, we wanted to use a different approach to actively show the children how the Territory disposes of different types of waste and the effects of illegal dumping on our marine and terrestrial environments.”
The participants were shuttled to various locations on Tortola which included the derelict vehicle site and some illegal dumpsites in the Road Town area. The children were issued business cards for the day and quizzed throughout the sessions. The top five children within each group were then awarded with special tokens for their enthusiasm and participation.
Acting Assistant Manager for the Solid Waste Department, Ms. Terri Benjamin, commended the children for the interest shown and in particular, those from the centre based at the Alexandrina Maduro Primary School. “The participants from the Alexandrina Maduro Primary School centre were especially keen to learn about the environment and it was reflected in their level of participation,” stated Ms. Benjamin.
The summer school staff from the centres reported that it was good learning experience for everyone involved. The Solid Waste Department hopes to eventually extend the “Solid Waste Officer for a Day” programme to the summer programme centres on the sister islands.
The Solid Waste Department is the government agency under the portfolio of the Ministry of Health and Social Development, which is responsible for the collection and disposal of community solid waste throughout the Territory.
In fulfilling its mission, the department also seeks to actively involve the Territory’s youth in initiatives to preserve and protect the environment through proper solid waste management.
British Virgin Islands News