National Validation Workshop for Antigua and Barbuda under the project “TESTING OF GUIDANCE ON DEVELOPMENT OF PLASTIC WASTE INVENTORIES AND TESTING THE TECHNICAL GUIDELINES ON THE ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND MANAGEMENT OF PLASTIC WASTE: by Carol-Faye Bynoe-George
BACKGROUND
The Basel Convention Regional Centre for Training and Technology Transfer for the Caribbean (BCRC-Caribbean) is executing the captioned project in Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Lucia and Suriname. The Department of Analytical Services serves as the focal point for this project in Antigua and Barbuda.
The BCRC-Caribbean engaged Integrated Health Outreach (IHO), led by Dr. Nicola Bird, as the National Consultant Team for Antigua and Barbuda to support the execution of this project. Previously, at the National Mid-Term Progress Meeting hosted on July 4th, 2024, IHO shared the preliminary findings as it relates to plastic waste in the context of Antigua and Barbuda and stakeholder were able to provide feedback and have discussions. Further to this meeting and subsequent feedback, IHO has revised the following two deliverables:
- A National Assessment for Antigua and Barbuda on the Environmentally Sound Management (ESM) of Plastic Wastes; and
- A National Inventory of Plastic Waste for Antigua and Barbuda.
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On 31st October, 2024 the workshop was held to review and revise a draft report pertaining to the recommendations penned to be presented to the relevant authorities. Some stakeholders invited to participate in this exercise were from the Ministry of Legal Affairs, Custom and Excise Department, Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA), Antigua Broadcasting Service (ABS), National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), Department of Environment, Pesticide and Toxic Chemical Board, and Chamber of Commerce.
The aims of the meeting addressed the following:
- To discuss revisions as it relates to the aforementioned deliverables;
- To discuss the remaining gaps as it relates to the aforementioned deliverables;
- To discuss the implementation strategy for the Environmentally Sound Management (ESM) of plastic waste in Antigua and Barbuda;
- To discuss next steps related to the project.
The workshop was very engaging and productive based on the tremendous support and recommendation submitted by the participants. IHO will be revising the report to reflect these changes and resubmit the revised report for further perusal before the final draft be presented to the government of Antigua and Barbuda for consideration.