Road Town Wholesale was among the businesses that made pledges for a greener VI yesterday June 13, 2012. Photo: Melville Lettsome

Part of the Parade of Pledges on June 13, 2012 in Road Town, Tortola. Many businesses had very realistic pledges such as reducing paper wastage by resorting more to using emails.

This year’s parade which took place yesterday June 13, 2012 as part of Environment Month activities, was rightly dubbed, “Parade of Pledges”, with 54 green pledges proudly displayed.

According to Acting Chief Conservation and Fisheries Officer Kevin Penn, speaking in the Noel Lloyd Positive Action Movement Park, following the conclusion of the parade, he said this year, the Conservation and Fisheries Department joined forces with the BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) along with schools, non-governmental organisations and businesses to take meaningful action for the environment by making their own green pledges for a green economy.

Penn said the strong response for pledges by the community shows that the awareness and way of thinking of collective responsibility is starting to take hold.

The pledges are mainly for one year and include actions such as reducing paper usage, reducing energy and water use, proper garbage disposal among other things.

While the pledges are self-monitored, Acting General Manager of the BVIEC Henry Creque said maybe in following years they will adopt a different strategy. Creque said while they do not expect everyone to meet the full commitment of the pledges, at least they would have tried their best.

He too expressed satisfaction with the number of pledges pleased with the success it has brought so far.

Some of the businesses that pledged to make changes are Mossack Fonseca, FirstCaribbean Bank, Fisheries Department, BVI Electricity Corporation, Eslyn Henley Richiez Learning Centre, BVI Tourist Board, BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival and the BVI Girl Guides.

Principal of the Eslyn Henley Richiez Learning Centre Vansittart Huggins, who made a pledge on behalf of her school, said she feels there is a lot of wastage in the VI. "We have too much garbage around the place and if we can cut garbage by whatever form it will make a healthier environment, too much paper around, either we are too rich that we are not recycling or we don’t see the value in cutting cost."

She said at the school, they do their best to cut cost but now they are pledging to cut the amount of paper they use by 40 percent and will use the media and emails to advertise all activities instead of using flyers.

Former head of the Conservation and Fisheries Department Bertrand Lettsome, who was present at the event, told Virgin Islands News Online that he was very impressed with the number of businesses that came forward and said it feels good that people are beginning to get the message. “I would like to big up all the private sector and got involved and encourage the government, ministry and businesses to continue because I believe we are getting somewhere.”

This year’s theme for Environment Month is “Green Economy: Does it include you?"

Activities for the observance of Environment Month will continue with a Sunset Service at Cane Garden Bay on Saturday, June 30 at 5:30 p.m.

As a wrap-up to the month’s activities, Fisherman’s Day will be celebrated on Monday, July 2 at Long Bay Beef Island Beach.

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