Plastic bags, charcoals strictly ban by environmental stakeholders

By Pa Modou Cham

The environmental stakeholders have strictly put consideration on the ban of plastics and charcoals processing in the country to help reduce climate change affecting our environment.

These were revealed at a press briefing held at the environment ministry on Friday, where the government spokesperson, information minister and environmental stakeholders were in present.

Lamin Dibba, the minister of forestry, environment and climate change lamented that all Gambians understand plastic was ban in the country and it was done through a due process that when through cabinet and the national assembly. He said Gambians needs to know that those laws are still there.

“I want to warn Gambians that the plastic ban is still in place and we have not lifted it. If anybody found with one, the law will takes its cause, this is a message I want every Gambian to understand. I always said environment is the most difficult sector because it has to do with attitude,” he pointed.

He added that people’s attitudes are very difficult to manage but it is only left to us to understand that we can make changes, and that can happen if only we are ready. “We use to see some people putting ‘Ebbeh’ in plastics, unknowing that plastic has some chemicals and if it contact with heat, it harms.”

Momodou Jama Suwareh, the executive director of National Environment Agency explained that plastic bags was declared ban since July 2014 from its manufacture, use and importation. He added that there are exemption of some of the  items of plastic but the single use one are totally ban.

“It was the former president who came with the idea to ban plastics in the country but when he left, many were coming to me, telling me I have to give chance to the public to start using plastics. I told them no because it use to harm our community,” he said.

He highlighted that plastic was a friend that turned to be an enemy and there is a need to look at the way it’s being manage to change. He said unfortunately they were talking to investors with a plan that would be able to recycle plastic but they were unable to get the right investor to come on board at the right time.

He said some of our women are using plastic to the way that is not appropriate, saying the plastic is cacogenic elements that goes out of which we are inhaling each day.

“Those and many others are the reason why we still supporting plastic ban in the country.”

He said the use of charcoals processing in the country is as well totally ban and anybody seeing cutting trees and burning them for charcoals processing, will be dealt with according to the laws.