$5m gully clean-up
Barbados is embarking on a comprehensive, multimillion-dollar clean-up of gullies and removal of derelict vehicles across the island.
Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of the Environment, Anthony Headley, spoke of the initiatives during the launch of a gully clean-up project at Green Hill, St Michael, recently, where a clean-up was already under way.
Revealing that the drive will cost about $5.1 million over the next financial year, he said Barbados’ extensive gully network, which spans over 1 500 kilometres, plays a vital role in maintaining biodiversity, preserving native vegetation and safeguarding the island’s drinking water supply.
“Gullies are a life project,” Headley stated, reflecting on the decade of groundwork laid by the Ministry of Environment. He credited the initial assessment of the gully network to Ricardo Ward, who served as the project manager.
“We have Jack-in-the-Box Gully, Stony Gully (both in St Thomas) and many others, each with unique characteristics that support our biodiversity and are integral to maintaining the quality of our drinking water.”
Headley explained that a significant portion of the island’s water flows through gullies and percolates into aquifers, including The Belle drinking water supply well which provides 27 per cent of Barbados’ drinking water.
However, he raised concerns about the illegal dumping of plastics, metals, chemicals and other waste into gullies.
“Every inspection of the gully network has revealed illegal disposal of waste, which not only endangers drinking water but also our near-shore marine environment,” he warned.
The clean-up initiative is a collaboration among Government entities, including the Sanitation Service Authority, National Conservation Commission, Environmental Protection Department and the Ministry of Transport and Works.
“This initiative is not just about cleaning gullies. It’s about creating opportunities for citizens to enjoy life, improve their health and explore hiking trails in a clean, safe environment,” Headley stated.
In terms of derelict vehicles, a long-standing issue, he said that in recent weeks, contractors have removed 71, with plans to clear hundreds more in the coming months.
“Currently, we have three contractors working on vehicle removal and we are in the procurement process for the next 1 300 vehicles,” he said.
Headley added that the Environmental Protection Department has completed the identification of derelict buildings, with procurement finalised for 119 sites.
He called on Barbadians to support the initiatives and explore the revitalised gully systems: “I invite you to take a walk through the areas we’ve cleaned. You will see the benefits of this work first-hand.”
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