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Feature address at the launch of "Keep Barbados Clean and Colourful"

ISWMP

Chief Medical Officer (Ag.), Dr. Ronald Knight congratulates Rochelle Hunte of Deighton Griffith Secondary School on the selection of her illustrations for the colouring and activity book. Speech delivered by Dr. Ronald Knight, Chief Medical Officer (Ag.) at the launch of the Solid Waste Project Unit’s “Keep Barbados Clean and Colourful” colouring and activities book at Sherbourne Conference Centre – March 16th 2005 Project Director, Health Projects Execution Unit Project Manager, Solid Waste Project Unit Distinguished Guests Members of the Media Staff of the Ministry of Health Students Ladies and Gentlemen: It gives me great pleasure to deliver this address on behalf of the Solid Waste Project Unit. The Ministry of Health, in fulfilling its mandate, has been involved in public education initiatives on a number of health-related issues. In this respect, one of the critical sub-components of the Integrated Solid Waste Management Programme is the Public Education and Awareness Programme. This, together with the other non-physical aspects of the Programme, is a necessary compliment to its physical component, such as the national sanitary landfill, and the soon to be constructed transfer station and composting facilities. Thus our focus this morning is to introduce to you the Solid Waste Project Unit’s “Keep Barbados Clean and Colourful” Colouring and Activities Book geared to assisting in imparting sound solid waste management practices to children between the ages of 2 and 7. All of the islands’ nursery and primary schools, both public and private, can therefore look forward to this exciting and informative new product. We believe that given the long term nature of the problem associated with solid waste management, it is paramount that the youth of today are involved in any waste management programme. Adults have the duty of care to ensure not only that we deliver to them a clean and sustainable environment, but also to instil in them the knowledge to manage it. The 30 images in this new colouring and activities book were selected from over 200 entries submitted by the island’s secondary school students. They were judged on criteria such as originality and quality of drawing and on each drawing’s ability to convey the primary messages of the Solid Waste Project Unit – we must reduce waste, reuse and recycle whenever possible, and to practice better waste disposal techniques reducing the unsightly litter and illegal dumping around Barbados. Thus the primary aims and objectives of the book are: • To assist educators by providing integral teaching aids with respect to solid waste management • To increase awareness of waste management concepts • To present scenarios that are interesting to young children • To have large drawings with little detail to make colouring easy for these young children and improve their cognitive and motor-related skills • Finally to utilise the creative skills of young artists to promote proper waste management practices among the targeted groups with the desired goal of completely integrating solid waste management into formal education and our daily lives. The colouring and activities book initiative represents just one component of the aptly titled programme “Waste Buster”. A number of other initiatives have already been carried out under the Waste Buster Programme. These include: • The introduction of a Guide to the Integration of Solid Waste Management into the School Curriculum • The introduction of the “Tom Snyder Interactive Software” for primary and secondary schools • Teacher training workshops hosted by the Solid Waste Project Unit to introduce teachers to these interactive products • The development of the “Waste Buster Game” – the Game that puts waste in its place – in both board and electronic format • The introduction of the “Froggo Litter” Bins into the nursery schools • The development of the solid waste brochure series • The erection of signs and benches carrying anti-litter and positive environmental messages across the island In September last year at this very venue the Solid Waste Management Website www.solid.gov.bb was relaunched. The website is currently rated No. 1 in solid waste management education on the Worldwide Web, and contains information on the initiatives mentioned above as well as more detailed information on the Integrated Solid Waste Management Programme and solid waste management in general. If you look around this morning you will see representatives of primary and secondary schools from across the island as well as representatives from both public and private sector agencies. This is not by accident as solid waste management affects our lives at all levels and we effect solid waste management through our attitudes and practices at the school, workplace and household level. It is anticipated that the materials presented today will assist in the inculcation of better waste management practices be it in the school, work, home environment or in the wider community. Sound solid waste management is the responsibility of us all and we at the Ministry of Health look forward to working with you present today and all others who will be reached by the materials to improve solid waste management in Barbados. I commend the Solid Waste Project Unit on this initiative and exhort them to continue to be creative as they carry the message of comprehensive solid waste management to all Barbadians as we strive to Keep Barbados Clean and Colourful. Thank you Ladies and Gentlemen.