Citizens concerned about plastic pollution

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

Panel of the radio talkback show yesterday, L-R Chief Conservation Officer Agnetha Vave Karamui, Deputy Director Inshore Mrs Rosalie Masu Director Joe Horokou, Director Edward Honiwala and Country Manager WWF Shannon Seeto

SOLOMON Islands citizens are concerned with the high rate of plastic pollution which poses negative impacts to the environment.=

In a radio talkback show with the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology and the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, public responded with the serious idea to ban plastics.

Respond from the public during the talkback at the SIBC yesterday, citizens are concerned that the marine biodiversity and environment are threatened by plastics.

They wanted to know if the government is serious about plastic pollution, asking if there is a policy or law in place to ban plastic usage.

In response, the Director for Environment and Conservation Division, Mr Joe Horokou said Solomon Islands Government is serious about this issue.

He said currently SIG through his Ministry is working on reviewing the Environment Act, and ban of plastic is one of the issues.

He also adds to fully ban use of plastic, there must be an effective law in place as well as alternatives that the country should look at.

At the moment Environment and Conservation Division is distributing drums to communities and carrying out awarenesses in schools as the effort for plastic campaign, he said.

Director for Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Mr Edward Honiwala said to beat plastic pollution it requires the participation of everyone.

To residents of Honiara, Honiwala said “Honiara is our city and Solomon Island is our country and everyone has the part to play in beating the plastic pollution which threatens our oceans.”

Public and individuals are also concerned about the issue and show seriousness in creating innovations to battle issues related to the environment.

A good example is the Friends of the City, a local setup voluntarily taking initiatives targeting a healthy and safer city for everyone.

The radio talkback show is organised by the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology and the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources.

The talkback show yesterday is a kick-start of the World Environment Day celebration with aim to get feedback from people about this year’s theme: “Beating Plastic Pollution”.

This week, starting tomorrow, leading organisations of the environment will be celebrating the World Environment Day on Tuesday 5, World Oceans Day Friday 5 and Coral Triangle Initiative June 9.

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