No more time, says Humphrey

THE BAN STAYS, and there will be no extensions! That was the word from Minister of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy Kirk Humphrey, on the July 1 prohibition on single-use, petro-based plastics.

“What we are seeking to do is way too important for us to continue moving the goalpost. The ban date remains July 1 for petro-based, single-use plastics and polystyrene,” he said at the opening of Dive Fest Barbados 2019 at the Copacabana Beach Bar, Bay Street, St Michael, on Tuesday night.

He added there would be some who would consistently try to “push back”, but Government had been “extremely fair” in the process, and had more than enough consultations with the key players in the industry before implementing the ban.

Suppliers like Direct Packaging have complained of having more than $80 000 in stock that was now illegal to sell. Some food vendors also asked that the ban be put back to the end of the year. (BGIS/BW) 

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