Dominica: The Minister of Environment – Cozier Frederick emphasised the need for using chemicals responsibly. A workshop on Persistent Organic Pollutants or POPs was observed to strengthen the environmental protection.
POPs are toxic chemicals that can damage the ecosystem, can harm wildlife and can affect the human health.
Reportedly, the workshop seeks to raise awareness about the dangers of the pollutants and in keeping with Dominica’s goal of building resilience.
Environment Minister Cozier Frederick said that it has to be more than just a workshop, it has to be a part of the journey to build Dominica into a first climate resilient country.
He affirmed that this is a serious business and for it is a deep pride as being a person from Kalinago descent. They also need to understand that within the constructs of a modern society they have to deal with the ever-emerging troubles that face the climate.
Frederick said that citizens are often taken for granted as the environment’s ability to recover after disasters. Getting through the major climate events such as Hurricane Maria, Dominica has bounced back. The greenery as took over the land, and the land people see now is after Hurricane.
The rivers are really nourished now and the land, in fact the nature has its way to take care of itself. Also, one of the major issues that they face as part of the global family is, they themselves as people are the problem, because in simple analysis the Environment Minister has realised that nature can take care of itself, but it’s the habits of human beings that make it difficult for them to survive in the space that is so unique and important to them.
Minister Cozier Frederick added that the discussions from the workshop must go beyond the event and should impact the policy. The workshop also included experts from Forestry Waste Management and Health Administration.
They need to commit to do the deal with the convention that they are part of. The commitment can never be only from the government’s perspective, or only b ethe responsibility of the government to protect the environment. They need private citizens, enterprises and businesses to support and be part of that process.
Notably, Dominica has approached the remaining weeks of another Atlantic Hurricane Season. The nature island continues to make steady progress in its disaster mitigation efforts, 8 years after the devastation caused by category-5 hurricane Maria