Businesses take oath at green pledge seal award ceremony
GIS - Wednesday, July 18th, 2012 at 8:48 AM
Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Dr. the Honourable Kedrick Pickering gives remarks at the Green Pledge Seal Award Ceremony on July 16. (Photo Credit, Ronnielle Fraser/GIS)
Tuesday, July 17 – Over 50 businesses pledged to protect the environment to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Virgin Islands.
In an award ceremony hosted by the Conservation and Fisheries Department, public and private sectors came together at the J.R. O’Neal Botanic Gardens on July 16 and took an oath and were awarded their Green Pledge official seal.
“My organisation makes oath to uphold our Green Pledge, doing our best to meet our Green Pledge goals by implementing the actions identified under our pledge to publicly display our Green Pledge Official Seal and certificate as a testament of our pledge,” the participants recited.
In his remarks, acting Chief Conservation and Fisheries Officer, Mr. Kelvin Penn said, “It is time that we all take environmental protection personally and I commend all of you for boldly stepping up to the plate by taking the Green Pledge as the environment belongs to all of us.”
Mr. Penn encouraged all businesses to support each other and work together as citizens and organisations to reduce their environmental impact and improve their environmental practices in an effort to protect and manage the environment.
“Do not let this enthusiasm die after you leave here today, proudly display your official Seal of the Green Pledge at your various offices and let it be a reminder of the commitment you have made to your organisation and the Territory,” he concluded.
Also speaking at the ceremony Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Dr. the Honourable Kedrick Pickering said, “The pledge that you have made is an investment in our future.”
The Minister expressed, “Tourism is our main industry and without the environment there is no tourism in the Virgin Islands.”
Pledge takers display their official Green Pledge Seal at the Green Pledge Seal Award Ceremony on July 16. (Photo Credit, Ronnielle Fraser/GIS)
The Minister applauded participants for taking this commitment and encouraged them to do what must be done to preserve the environment so that eventually the Virgin Islands will become a shining example in the world for doing our part to ensure that we protect the environment.
Although Environment Month have culminated June 30, the public is encouraged to continue to cut down on their waste production, energy and water use, properly dispose of waste, educate customers about better environmental practices, support environmental work and implement their own environmental stewardship project.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour and the Conservation and Fisheries Department endeavour to effectively manage and administer the natural resources of the territory in a manner that ensures long term sustainability. Environment Month has been celebrated annually in the Territory since 1993 and aims to bring awareness to the public about the importance of preserving the environment.
The full list of organisations and their pledges are available at the Conservation and Fisheries Department website at www.bvidef.org.
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Why does Hon. Pickering have the credibility for this event in light of his plans for Trellis Bay and the wider implication for the negative environmental impact on the BVI.
Has he taken the pledge. Surely that would save Trellis Bay and ill thought out development in the rest of the island from getting the Done Deal Pledge
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