Turks and Caicos adopts vibrant ‘Green’ policies

#Providenciales, April 18, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – Monday is touted to usher in a new era, a greener era for the islands as the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources has announced that it will be ‘Greening the Turks and Caicos’ and it kicks off, on what else, but Earth Day.

Monday April 22, 2019 is carrying a heavy responsibility.  It is a national public holiday, a high day among Christians as it commemorates Easter or Resurrection Day and in 2019, it is also Earth Day.

Amy Avenant, DECR Education Officer in a media release explains, “Earth Day will kick off the ‘KNOW YOUR REGULATIONS’ campaign. The DECR hope to educate the community, at large, about the TCI’s environmental rules and regulations through social media, radio, television, and printed material.”

Among the regulations residents will have to get used to is no more single use plastic bags as of May 1, 2019.  Residents will have to take their re-usable bags to the grocery stores because it will officially be illegal for stores to carry the ‘toxic’ bags. 

Ms. Avenant said the plan is to be very busy on the ground with direct interaction with residents, and it is made possible due to tourism partners.

“Various school activities will also be held in honour of Greening the TCI, including the annual essay competition, A poster competition, book readings and a poetry contest. Activities will touch on the Turks and Caicos International Film Festival youth program, sponsored by Royal Bank of Canada, and the imminent single-use plastic bag ban awareness campaign in collaboration with the Turks & Caicos Hotel & Tourism Association (TCHTA) and Carnival Cruises.”

The ‘green’ education begins on Monday, Earth Day and Avenant shared that plans are to keep the ‘green’ message going on International Day for Biodiversity, which is May 22 and on World Turtle Day, which is May 23.

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