On Tuesday, 12th August 2025, at the Sunset Shores Hotel Conference Room, the Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Sustainable Development and Culture officially opened the National Inception Workshop for the Closing the Caribbean Plastic Tap Project; a three-day initiative aimed at tackling one of the most pressing environmental threats in the region: plastic pollution.
The workshop, held in collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature – ORMACC and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), marks a critical step in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ commitment to sustainable development and environmental stewardship.
In delivering the featured address, Dr. Tamira Browne, Permanent Secretary (Ag.), emphasised that plastic waste poses a severe risk to Small Island Developing States like Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, threatening marine biodiversity, coastal resilience, food security, and the health of our people.
“This project is about more than clean-ups; it is about turning off the tap at the source,” Dr. Browne noted. “We are here to design solutions rooted in the principles of the circular economy - where waste is designed out, materials are kept in use for as long as possible, and natural systems are regenerated.”
The National Inception Workshop brings together stakeholders from government agencies, the private sector, civil society, and community organisations to develop strategies that align environmental protection with economic growth. As the Ministry responsible for both tourism and sustainable development, officials underscored that clean, healthy ecosystems are essential to the nation’s tourism economy and overall resilience.
The Sustainable Development Unit was commended for its leadership in spearheading this project, while the Ministry expressed deep appreciation to IUCN and AICS for their technical and financial support.
Over the next two days, participants will engage in planning sessions, knowledge exchanges, and capacity-building activities to chart clear and actionable steps toward reducing plastic waste at its source, to build a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the wider Caribbean.
SOURCE: Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Sustainable Development and Culture
