Unrevised Hansard- 2nd Sitting (2017-2021)

Announcement TOBAGO HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY THURSDAY MARCH 23RD, 2017 The House met at 1.30 p.m.

PRAYERS [MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER in the Chair] ANNOUNCEMENT OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY (OSHA) BRIEFING (Recording) “Please note the following safety rules: Should there be any reason for you to evacuate the Chamber, use either of the two (2) exit doors. Those who use the door located next to the Public Gallery are advised to proceed through the lobby to the front doors down the main staircase to the Muster Point at James Park.

Those who use the door located to the left of the Presiding Officer, are advised to proceed to the gate leading to Bacolet Street extension and to the Muster Point at the Old Market Car Park.

At the Muster Points further instructions will be given by Fire Wardens or other authorized officials.”

Thank you for your attention.

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER:

Secretary of Finance and the

Economy.

2 2017.03.23 D.C 1.30 – 1.40 p.m.

Papers Laid

PAPERS LAID (1)

Tobago House of Assembly Monthly Budget Report as at the end of December, 2016. [Secretary of Finance and the Economy (Hon. Joel Jack)].

(2)

Tobago House of Assembly Monthly Budget Report as at the Month of January, 2017 [Secretary of Finance and the Economy (Hon. J. Jack)].

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Honourable Chief Secretary.

STATEMENT DR. WINSTON MURRAY (Deceased) - MEMORIAL SERVICE CHIEF

SECRETARY

INNOVATION,

AND

SECRETARY

PLANNING,

PUBLIC

OF

EDUCATION,

ADMINISTRATION,

INFORMATION, STATE LANDS & ENERGY (Hon. Kelvin Charles): Thank you, Madam Presiding Officer.

Madam Presiding Officer, I advise this Honourable House as follows: "The Office of the Chief Secretary received correspondence from Ms.

Aisha Murray, daughter of Dr. Winston Murray

(deceased), on February 14th, 2017, requesting the attendance of the Chief `

Secretary,

the Honourable Kelvin Charles, at a planned

Memorial Service to be held at the Scarborough Seventh-Day Adventist Church on Thursday, March 9th, 2017. This letter of correspondence also requested that the Chief Secretary speak at the memorial function.

The Chief Secretary, through his protocol office, communicated with Ms. Aisha Murray advising at that time of his unavailability as he was committed to attend a couple of prior

engagements, however, notwithstanding, the Office of the Chief Secretary would be represented and a speech would be delivered.

Subsequently, the family of the late Dr. Winston Murray was advised that Mrs. Claire Davidson-Williams, Administrator in the Division of Finance and the Economy would be the person representing the Chief Secretary.

Madam Presiding Officer, let me place on record that the Honourable Chief Secretary consistent with Section 30 of Act No.40 of 1996 which states inter alia:

4 2017.03.23 D.C 1.30 – 1.40 p.m.

"The Chief Secretary may, if invited by the Prime Minister so to do, attend meetings of the Cabinet in order that the Chief Secretary may: (a) the

Apprise Cabinet of decisions taken by the Assembly in exercise of its powers under this Act; or

(b)

Represent the interest of Tobago in any matter having or likely to have an adverse effect on Tobago.

(c)

Attended the Cabinet meeting which was held in Tobago on the said day (Thursday, March 9th, 2017) at 10.00 a.m. in the morning.�

Madam Presiding Officer, while there are those who have a pour la vie for and therefore spend their time making trifling, derisory, vacuous and reckless statements on matters about which they have no information, the Honourable Chief Secretary was about Tobago people's business.

[Desk

thumping] Indeed, Madam Presiding Officer, the Members of the Executive Council were invited to meet with their counterparts in the Cabinet to discuss matters of mutual interest that will redound to the benefit of the people of Tobago.

5

2017.03.23 D.C 1.30 – 1.40 p.m.

Having placed on record, Madam Presiding Officer, the facts as they are surrounding the issue of the non-attendance of the Chief Secretary at the Memorial Service for the late Dr. Winston Murray, I now advise this Honourable House as follows:

Having regard to the very distinguished and illustrious career of Dr. Winston Murray; his unswerving; unshakeable; and dedicated passion and interest in education; his direct contributions in Parliament to the establishment of the Tobago House of Assembly as an Institution; where he made two (2) important amendments to the Bill being debated at that time:

(1)

A four (4) year term rather than a three (3) year term as was proposed;

as well as: (2)

A recommendation that the position of Chairman of the Tobago House of Assembly should be a full time paid position.

This Administration, that I have the honour to lead, intends to appoint a three (3) Member Committee, to be chaired by the Chief Administrator to consider and recommend to the Executive Council an appropriate way to honour the life, contribution, and legacy of the late Dr. Winston Murray.

I thank you”. [Desk thumping] CLERK OF THE ASSEMBLY: Personal Explanation … [Interruption] HON. CHIEF SECRETARY: Madam Presiding Officer, just to advise this Honourable House that there is another Statement to be read.

MR. WATSON DUKE – MINORITY LEADER OFFICE ACCOMMODATION

LEADER OF ASSEMBLY BUSINESS AND SECRETARY OF INFRASTRUCTURE, QUARRIES AND THE ENVIRONMENT (Hon. Kwesi Des Vignes): Thank you, Madam Presiding Officer. I stand in my capacity as Leader of Assembly Business, to give an update to this Honourable House about the Office of the Minority Leader.

Madam Presiding Officer, it seems that there is a lot of misinformation in the public space and I would like to bring clarity to this issue.

Immediately after the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Elections on January 23, 2017, the Property Management Unit under the Office of the Chief Secretary, initiated a search for an appropriate office in Scarborough for the Minority Leader of the Tobago House of Assembly. The first option was to seek an office in a property that was owned by the Tobago House of Assembly. However, this proved to be a difficult undertaking.

The Minority Leader volunteered to assist with the identification of appropriate space and a number of vacant buildings or offices were considered. Our search led to two (2) suitable buildings:  Agricultural Development Bank Building; and  Trinidad and Tobago Mortgage Finance (TTMF) Building.

Both of these buildings are located in upper Scarborough. The Minority Leader indicated that both buildings were suitable.

After discussion with the Chief Secretary, and considering that the ADB (Agricultural Development Bank) Building was outfitted with an elevator that would cater to the differently abled persons to have access to Office of the Minority Leader, this location was considered to be more suitable. The Trinidad and Tobago Mortgage Finance (TTMF) building is not outfitted with an elevator.

With the approval and agreement of the Chief Secretary, a Note for the consideration of the Executive Council for the rental of one (1) floor of the ADB building was prepared and is to be placed on the list of Executive Council Notes for consideration at the next sitting of the Executive Council.

If the Executive Council agrees with the proposal for the rental of the ADB building, the Property Management Department of the Office of the Chief Secretary, will proceed with entering into a Rental Agreement with the ADB and thereafter proceed with furnishing and occupation of the Office of the Minority Leader. At all times, Madam Presiding Officer, may I repeat, at all times, the Minority Leader was kept abreast of all developments in this regard.

I thank you, Madam Presiding Officer. [Desk thumping]

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER:

Leader of Assembly Business and

Secretary of Infrastructure, Quarries and the Environment.

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL BUSINESS

MOTION

REQUEST TO SUPPORT THE PHASING OUT OF THE USE OF POLYSTYRENE FOAM PRODUCTS

HON. K. DES VIGNES:

[Desk thumping] Thank you again, Madam

Presiding Officer.

“WHEREAS the Waste Management is critical to our drive to build the Tobago brand of “Clean, Green, Safe and Serene”;

AND WHEREAS the preservation of our environment for future generations is a major concern of the Tobago House of Assembly;

AND WHEREAS polystyrene foam which is generically known as Styrofoam causes almost irreparable damage to the environment;

BE IT RESOLVED that the Tobago House of Assembly leads the way in phasing out of the use of polystyrene foam products on the island and promote the use of more sustainable and ecologically friendly alternatives;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this House support a process for discouraging the production, importation and use of polystyrene foam products.”

Madam Presiding Officer, on January 26, 2017 we all stood here and took our Oaths of Office. We said very forcefully, each and every one of us, that we will conscientiously and impartially discharge our duties. Madam Presiding Officer, it is with this good conscience of right and wrong, this good conscience of what is good, the greater good I should say, for all of Tobago, not only now but each of our future generations that enjoy the right to be called Tobagonian by birth, on this one hundred and sixteen (116) square mile island of Paradise. Madam Presiding Officer, it is with that good conscience that I lay this Motion.

We have unanimously or unilaterally gone about promoting Tobago as that destination, that is “clean, green, safe and serene�. I must say Madam Presiding Officer, that in my duties as the Secretary responsible for Infrastructure, Quarries and the Environment, we have taken sound measures, all unintended to ensure that this mantra holds true.

I am pleased to report to this Honourable House, that already due to the intervention of the Division in collaboration with the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service and many other stakeholders, we have had tremendous success in the reduction of noise pollution in South West Tobago. [Desk thumping]

Madam Presiding Officer, it is indeed heartening when I get messages from the stakeholders whether they be, bar owners; restaurant owners; hoteliers; commending me, imploring that we continue this steady drive. So

far, I am pleased to report to this House that already there has been six (6) weeks of joint patrols, leading to considerable reduction and recorded reduction in the noise level.

As a matter of fact, Madam Presiding Officer, a Committee is in place currently, to consider a Memorandum of Understanding between all of the stakeholders in South West Tobago, as we drive towards ensuring that the serene holds through in our mantra, “clean, green, safe and serene”.

Madam Presiding Officer, under the Fifth Schedule No. 20 is, “The Environment”, and we cannot take the environment for granted.

2017.03.23 D.C 1.50 – 2.00 p.m.

We cannot just stand here or sit here and think that Tobago is beautiful that is all. We have a responsibility.

Madam Presiding Officer, as I look in the Public Gallery, I am actually heartened to see these young school children here looking at us. We are not discharging our duties for us, it is not about us. Any time we sit here and think that it is about us it is about self-aggrandization, it is about fancy offices, it is about whether we have telephones or not, or cars or not we have failed. And we have failed the very generation that sit right here looking on at us right now. Madam Presiding Officer, we have a responsibility and again, I take this responsibility very seriously.

As we speak, plans are underway for a Waste Oil Management System for Tobago. As the Tobago House of Assembly collaborates with the Basil Convention Regional Centre - as a matter of fact, this Monday and Tuesday we have the kick off of this initiative. We are taking this business seriously.

We cannot afford to skylark and deal with spreading fake news and propaganda all about the place. We have a responsibility and I want us to remember that - that we take it very seriously.

Currently, collaboration is on the way between the Division of Infrastructure, Quarries and the Environment and the Division of Health, Wellness and Family Development to develop a plan not only to participate in the National Clean-up Campaign but to devise sustainable strategies that can lead to the overall reduction of waste and litter in our public and private spaces.

Madam Presiding Officer, it is the responsibility of my Division, every September, to organize the International Coastal Clean-up. I have personally participated in this initiative which is international initiative on several occasions (I actually lost count and the last time I was privileged to be a part of this last year to be exact) I remember working with some students from the Scarborough R. C School at the Petite Trou Beach and the excitement of these children recognizing their responsibility in ensuring that the environment is clean. These children who were running about under our guidance as adults collecting garbage on our beachfront, garbage, that they did not directly place there. And it hit me especially at that time - something more can be done, something more should be done. I am pleased to say that I have been given the opportunity to do more.

Madam Presiding Officer, this Motion today is about doing more. My mind is thrown back to that advertisement showed on television several years ago – “Patas Scas.� I do not know if many of you remembered it - The Edible Planet. And the "Yum, yums" as they were called, they ate and they ate their Planet. Their streets were made of toffee and the rivers of milk and the seas of chocolate milk and they sat and they drank and they ate their Planet until the Planet was no more.

Madam Presiding Officer, as a child growing up, I was always entertained by this little advertisement, this presentation two (2) minutes long

and I was entertained until I had the opportunity of course, an opportunity that was aided by the Tobago House of Assembly to further my education at the university level. I started delving into the Concept of Sustainable Development especially as it regards to small island developing states.

I

recognized immediately the light bulbs went off, that this was not just entertainment, this was saying to me that we have a responsibility and saying to children that we have a responsibility to preserve our planet.

Madam Presiding Officer, what is almost ironic is that we have to save our planet from ourselves.

Madam Presiding Officer, I want that to soak in just

a little bit, that we have a responsibility to save this planet from ourselves, for ourselves and for our future generations.

The Department of Environment has long gone about promoting the four “Rs” advertisements: •

Reduce;

•

Reuse;

•

Recycle; and

•

Recover.

Madam Presiding Officer, there have been many ads, many school

programmes, speaking about the need to reduce, reduce the amount that we use - the amount of waste that we produce. To reuse:  Find other uses or alternative uses for our waste products.

 To even recycle; and  Recover.

Madam Presiding Officer, as we stand and sit here today, I want to add a fifth “R” advertisement:  Rethink.

I would like us to rethink the way we go about our daily lives.

I would like us to rethink the way we consume our products.

I would like us to rethink the things that we take for granted particularly our environment.

I would like us to rethink our responsibility. Our responsibility that is not to ourselves but to the future generation.

I will like us to rethink what our roles and responsibilities are as Members of this august House.

Madam Presiding Officer, I will like us to rethink as citizens of Trinidad and Tobago and residents of Tobago how important the environment is for us.

Madam Presiding Officer, with that fifth “R” advertisement, I sat and I realized and I consulted that Styrofoam or Polystyrene Foam is definitely something that we have to:  Reconsider or Rethink

Our approach to the question becomes what is Polystyrene Foam?

Polystyrene Foam of course, most commonly known by its name "Styrofoam" is a petroleum based non-renewal plastic made from the synthetic styrene monomer. Madam Presiding Officer, let me repeat so that the Minority bench can have clarity on the definition of what it is: "Polystyrene also known by its common brand name styrofoam is a petroleum-based non-renewable plastic made from the synthetic styrene monomer."

Products made from the polystyrene foam includes: • Cups; • Cool boxes; • Fish boxes; • Boils; • Floats; • Utensils; • Meat trays; and

• Takeaway food packaging.

We know what this food packaging looks like only too well, if we are not too sure we just have to look on the streets where they blow about like tumble weed in the wind, like nobody's business or at least, nobody's business anymore. These polystyrene foam containers are made for short quick use, one time use, no more that is it. It is used and it is discarded. Because it is 95% air, because of its composition, it blows and wax easily in the wind.

But of course, we are not using these materials for no good reasons, there are the advantages of using polystyrene foam. Of course, these products can be very sanitary and there are low cost as well. But, Madam Presiding Officer, the disadvantages of polystyrene foam is, they are non-biodegradable. Let me define that:

It can take upwards of five hundred (500) years for

polystyrene foam to break down. I would like us to wait around for that.

It is also made from Non-renewable Petroleum Products and there are chronic risks associated with exposure or long term exposure to polystyrene foam. Madam Presiding Officer, it is clear, we have a problem. We have a problem in terms of the environment. Of course there will be social impacts as well and there will be economic impacts. The reality is that polystyrene foam is one of the principal components of urban litter. As I said before, just look around, it is all around us - all the time, on our streets; in our drains; the beaches; in the water; our fishes are digesting it; or attempting to do so. The reality is, Madam Presiding Officer, is that because of the composition of the polystyrene foam, it breaks up into smaller and smaller pieces all the time, and is easily blown away in the wind. At times we may even inhale some of

the components of polystyrene foam.

Of course the base of which is,

“Styrene” or “Synthetic Styrene”. We have to be mindful that these smaller or the broken down pieces of polystyrene foam can get into our water columns. As they get into our water columns, they get into our water spaces, they can be indigested by marine organisms.

Therefore, they pose a

tremendous threat to our marine life. It means therefore, our fish population can be seriously endangered by the continuous use and irresponsible disposal of polystyrene foam.

As it regards the social impacts, my colleague, Dr. Carrington will definitely speak to some of the public health issues that are associated to polystyrene foam.

In terms of economic impacts, Madam Presiding Officer, the chemical contamination risk to human health even though some people may say they are unclear, can lead to a drop in the demand for fish as it was seen in Trinidad.

It should be known that polystyrene and styrene attracts,

“Mercury”. When they attracts mercury in the water, and the fish mistake the polystyrene granules for eggs, or whatever that they feed on, they will start consuming. It means that there is a greater likelihood that the very fish that we boast about, the very fish that we eat, the very fish that even our colleagues or some of my compatriots in Barbados may say belongs to them, can be contaminated with mercury. Madam Presiding Officer, I do not know if I have to go into the details of the impact of “Mercury” in our system.

The fact is that Madam Presiding Officer, the polystyrene manufacturing process, is the fifth largest creator of hazardous waste. I am not sure everyone heard that. The manufacturing process for polystyrene products is the fifth largest creator of hazardous waste. It pollutes the air and creates large amounts of liquid and solid waste. As I indicated earlier, it

HON. K. DES VIGNES (Cont’d)

is designed for one time use and it is not biodegradable for up to five hundred (500) years. It means Madam Presiding Officer, that these styrene’s that make up the polystyrene foam and other chemicals can leach into our soil and our water. It means that we are exposed to the dangers of ingesting styrene. It is very noteworthy Madam Presiding Officer, that despite many efforts internationally for recycling, polystyrene foam is generally nonrecyclable, as it is absolutely difficult to remove the grease, food, and dirt that easily accumulate on the polystyrene foam products and as such, it does not make economic sense to recycle.

As I am on the matter of recycling, may I state that studies have shown that in order for recycling to be feasible in Tobago, we need to produce upward of fifty thousand (50,000) to seventy-five thousand (75,000) plastic bottles per day. It is ironic that in order for recycling of plastic

material, or plastic bottles to make economic sense, we have to litter more.

There are some irony to life after all. So it means that, recycling in the near future is not necessarily an economically viable choice. We can choose to start shedding our plastic materials and sending them to Trinidad where probably we can set up a Plant there, but even the cost of setting up that kind of operation requires significant financial investment. Despite the greatest efforts of my colleague, Assemblyman Joel Jack, Secretary of Finance and

HON. K. DES VIGNES (Cont’d)

the Economy with the PPP (Public Private Partnership) Unit in his Division, I am not sure that many private partners are necessarily willing to invest in such an initiative knowing that it cannot bear fruits.

To compound this matter, in the current climate where oil prices are at an all-time low, it does not make sense to even produce recycle plastic because manufacturers of plastic materials, can easily buy the resin material for a cheaper price. So recycling is not necessarily the greatest option open to us now. We simply have to look at what our greatest options are Madam Presiding Officer, and it must say that we must start where we have some control. Again, we need to look into:  Reducing;

 Reusing

to some extent  Recycling; and  Recovery.

Madam Presiding Officer, my colleague the Secretary of Tourism, Culture and Transportation, will speak to the tourism implications for the polystyrene foam. But one of the things I must mention, is that when this foam is broken down again, even the very birds, the red bird - tropic bird that people fly from miles away to little Tobago to see, are endangered by this polystyrene foam. It is clear that we have to be very careful, because it also poses a choking hazard to many of these animals.

I would have seen many Videos circulating on the Social Media with turtles, birds, fish, and you name it, all choking and sometimes dying from ingesting or mistakenly ingesting polystyrene foam. We boast about our leather back turtles and the fact that we can come to Tobago and see these turtles. We must take serious steps Madam Presiding Officer, to protect our environment and to protect the wildlife, our flora and fauna that we boast about so well. So, where do we go from here?

Madam Presiding Officer, I am pleased to say that in the coming week, the Division of Infrastructure, Quarries and the Environment will be

tabling an Executive Note for a multi-stakeholder team. A stakeholder team comprising of our private sector; our environmental activist, some of our environmental engineers, a multi-stakeholder team to come up with the best way forward, because we cannot close a blind eye and say well we can just do this overnight. There must be consultation, and this multi stakeholder team will be responsible for this type of consultation.

We need to obviously prioritize actions to reduce and substitute Polystyrene Foam products in the Tobago House of Assembly. As such, I will be proposing that with immediate effect all suppliers, all caterers that supply the Tobago House of Assembly, all of the Divisions that they no longer use Polystyrene Foam Products once they are catering for our events. [Desk thumping] Madam Presiding Officer, alternatives are important, and we must not just say, "Get rid of it" but we must present the alternatives. I am pleased that our Honourable Chief Secretary has ensured that innovation is under his remit.

Madam Presiding Officer, I am going to propose that we support research on alternatives to polystyrene including less polluting materials for boys, cooling boxes and food packaging.

Madam Presiding Officer, this means that products made of material like bagasse can be part of our thrust moving forward because the Chief

Secretary has intimated on not less than many occasions that we would be looking at light manufacturing as one of the ways to boil Tobago's economy.

It means that we have the opportunity to look towards industry in creating these types of products or manufacturing these types of products in Tobago.

Madam Presiding Officer, the reality is that Polystyrene Foam is petroleum-based. It means that sooner or later in any case, we have to find alternatives because our fossil fuel reserves are not unlimited.

In this

regard, the Tobago House of Assembly will be leading the way in innovation in the region as we look to find ways to not only manufacture these alternatives but export them to our Caribbean neighbours because it should be noted that Guyana, Grenada, Antigua, Jamaica (and the list goes on) have all decided to take steps to remove Polystyrene Foam from within their boundaries. There is opportunity for our Tobago entrepreneurs. Secretary for Finance and the Economy, please take good notes.

Madam Presiding Officer, we have the opportunity now to be ahead of the game. We can start producing these alternatives which include the bagasse products to ensure that we lead the way not only in ensuring that we have a clean environment but that we have clean a environment but to ensure that we have an eco-friendly technology that we can export.

Madam Presiding Officer, it must be said rather forcefully that this is not a one-off measure. This is the start of a process as we look towards getting the Tobago space to be even greener, even cleaner. This is one of the first phases of a process to ensure that we take a responsible approach to

governance and that we lead the way for our citizenry, that all Tobagonians understand that we all have a responsibility to preserve our environment for future generations.

In this regard, I am pleased to announce that the Division of Infrastructure, Quarries and the Environment will be partnering with the Ministry of Planning on a Committee to look into a legislative ban on all polystyrene products in Trinidad and Tobago. [Desk thumping] Madam Presiding Officer, the steps we are taking lead the way for a national drive. We are leading the way and making our young people proud.

We are leading the way to ensure that there is a Tobago that we can be proud of and that the younger generations can be proud of in the next twenty (20), thirty (30), fifty (50) and one hundred (100) years.

Madam Presiding Officer, this is our time. This is our time to do what is right for our environment and to do what is right for all Tobagonians.

Madam Presiding Officer, I beg to move. [Desk thumping] Question proposed.

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: [Desk thumping]

Councillor, Dr. Faith B. Yisrael.

DR. FAITH B. YISRAEL [Minority Councillor]: Good evening. It is certainly an honour to stand here and address this Assembly on the topic raised by the Leader of Assembly Business and the Secretary of Infrastructure, Quarries and the Environment.

The Members of the Minority are indeed grateful for this opportunity to be a part of this process of restoring true democracy to the Tobago House of Assembly.

On Friday 17th March, 2017, the Members of the Minority bench received an e-mail entitled, "Order Paper" from the Clerk of the Assembly, indicating that on Thursday 23th March, 2017 - today, six (6) days later, this Assembly Legislature will and I quote as said by the Councillor: "Lead the way in phasing out the use of Polystyrene Foam products on

the island and promote the use of more sustainable and ecologically friendly alternatives."

The Leader of Assembly Business has indeed outlined many of the

environmental and health concerns surrounding the use of Polystyrenes.

This information has been in the public's space for quite some time although there are questions about the finality of that information.

Madam Presiding Officer, given the wording of the Motion, I quickly started researching what are Polystyrene Products. What are the products that

exist in Tobago and what are their uses? Expanded Polystyrenes or ESPs have a large number of uses. For example, what was identified as the most visible uses of these products?

You know them, the single dishware

products - the cups, the plates, the soup bowls, and so forth. The white food containers that I myself used today while purchasing food just before coming to this House. But I was surprised to learn, Madam Presiding Officer, that the expanded polystyrenes are used not only in single used products but they are used in packaging also.

For example: when you buy a new Television, the white thing that comes around it that ensures that it is well protected that it stays safe - that is a type of polystyrene foam also.

I was also surprised to learn Madam Presiding Officer, that there are much longer use forms of this product. For example: almost all of the newer cars that are now being manufactured, they said that they are lighter cars and one of the reasons they are lighter is because they actually consist of expanded polystyrene as part of that production process.

It is also used in construction as insulating material which we do not need to use as much here, but it is used outside. However, we have been using it more frequently in Trinidad and Tobago for moulding. If you look at that Central Administrative Services, Tobago (CAST) Building down at Shaw Park, the pretty designs that is on the outside, that kind of moulding it

is actually a kind of expanded polystyrene that they have used for that design, instead of using the regular concrete that we usually used for that kind of construction. So when we speak about reducing, almost getting to the point of eliminating.

I would use the word, “banning” because that is

really where we are heading to. We need to be very clear about the kinds of material that we are really talking about and about the wording that is used in the Motion, because what seems to be spoken about in the Motion, has very wide and very broad implications.

Madam Presiding Officer, I recently heard a very wise man say, “Define the problem properly and the solution will present itself”. Let me repeat, “Define the problem properly and the solution will present itself”. So, I ask the Members of the Executive, have you really taken the time to define the problem properly in the Tobago context?

Madam

Presiding Officer, since there were no supporting documents that came with the Motion, I am forced to ask. How have we really defined this problem?

For example, I know that there are at least one maybe two (2) Waste Characterization Studies done at the Studley Park Landfill. I am wondering if any Member has information about what percentage of the waste that is disposed at the landfill, is actually polystyrene foam. That would give us a sense of the volumes that we are talking about.

As a comparison, Madam Presiding Officer, in Trinidad in 2010, there was a Waste Characterization Study done at the four (4) major landfills there

and they reported that the category of plastics which includes polystyrenes range from about sixteen percent (16%) to about twenty-six percent (26%) of the waste at those landfills. Now granted, that included all plastics, polystyrenes - high and low density; polyethylene; polypropylene and a host of other plastics.

Madam Presiding Officer, I sincerely hope that as we continue this evenings proceedings, there is actually a lot more information would be given about the quantity of polystyrenes we are talking about within the Tobago setting. As I said before, we really need to define the problem so that we can understand the solutions.

Madam Presiding Officer, like almost everyone else in this room, I have read about the news about all the other countries that have recently banned polystyrenes or have banned other plastics. For example, Kenya recently stated that they have banned plastic bags completely.

That is

commendable. Therefore, I am wondering why is it that we have focused just on polystyrene in this setting, when in fact there are many other plastics that make up our waste in Tobago that also needs to be dealt with. Even though, Madam Presiding Officer, I understand what are some of the environmental harms that are associated with these things, I understand that the decisions that are made in this Assembly are made on behalf of all Tobagonians. Therefore, no Motion brought before this House should really be taken lightly, without due research; consultation; and review.

When I entered politics Madam Presiding Officer, I did so with the commitment to truly represent the people who elected me. Moreover, to represent all Tobagonians, whether they actually voted for me or not. As a result, the Members of the Minority bench sort to do some degree of consultation, research and review before coming to this sitting today. You would understand Madam Presiding Officer, that with less than a week and with limited resources that task was almost impossible, but we tried.

Madam Presiding Officer, in an effort to solicit the views of averaged Tobagonians, you know those who would be affected either positively or negatively, by such a move, individuals were asked, what do you think about this Motion? Where do you think we should go? How do you think we should go about doing this? Madam Presiding Officer, please allow me to highlight some of those responses.

One of the first comments was, and I quote: “Follow fashion country. but the person continued: …I agreed with that and banning the use of plastics overall, even though I know it would never happen.”

Now, that last part of the statement shows a lack of confidence in this Assembly’s ability to implement some of the things that it promises, which is truly sad!

Madam Presiding Officer, another comment was, and I quote: “This is an outdated step in the right direction. The sad fact is, that polystyrene is just one of the many plastics that have commercial value in Tobago.

Also, that person continued: Some polystyrene foam products have short-term value to humans… you know the ones that we eat the food and we throw it out. …but others have long term value to humans.

I would like to find out the person continued: …if Styrofoam would be discouraged for use in construction as well.”

Now, this person raised a critical issue. While we are just catching up with the world, as it relates to banning polystyrenes and other plastics, there seems to be a host of long term uses of polystyrenes that can impact us positively, both environmentally and economically. Have any of these other uses been identified or reviewed? Or, are we just trying to sit here, pat ourselves on the back by claiming to do something good for the environment?

Madam Presiding Officer, we all know and agree in principle that styrofoam’s may be bad for the environment. However, we on this side with the support of a host of other Tobagonians, really see this Motion as a smoke

screen, as a distraction from the many very important and pressing issues of Tobago. That it is really just an opportunity for the Members of the Executive of the Tobago House of Assembly to really claim that they have done something for the environment. Like everything else that we talked about the real issues relate to implementation. So my dear, what does it take to get us to implementation? Are we really ready to do the hard work that it takes to get from simply talking about this to really implementing it if we so desire?

Madam Presiding Officer, that hard work includes having meaningful consultation with all of the stakeholders. I heard the Councillor who raised the Motion spoke about having a working group of sort with stakeholders and those stakeholders included the Environmentalist, the Environmental Engineers and so forth, which is fine, but we also need to spend some time speaking to some of the end-users of the products that we are talking about.

You know, the woman who sells souse, the man who sells his punch down the road because these really are the people who would be affected by this move one way or the other. So they cannot be forgotten in this process of consultation. How will this affect their pockets? Have we tried educating them about how they can contribute to the reduction of the use of the product voluntarily, have we done that? Have we identified where these individuals will source these alternatives that we expect them to use? Have we had a discussion with them about that?

Now coming from a Public Health background I can tell you that it is actually easier to work towards implementing things like these if we spend some time getting buy-in at the beginning of the process.

So, it does not

seem as if we are “throwing something down the throat� of as you say, the average man who is just really trying to make a living.

Madam Presiding Officer, what about the suppliers and distributors of these polystyrene products. Do we have a sense of how much stock they currently have? Do we have a sense of how this ban will affect them and their businesses as we go forward? Do we have a sense of how it would affect their pockets? Or, have we already started talking to those who would bring in the "alternatives" and how will that affect all of us.

What about those individuals who are aware of the long term uses of polystyrenes.

Have we spoken to any of them just yet? Those who are

involved in making of the packaging material.

Those who are in the

construction business and who may be saying that they will use this material to make cheaper and environmentally friendly construction products. Have we spoken to any of those people? Are we really prepared to do the hard work?

What about the process of actually implementing?

As has been

mentioned, the Tobago House of Assembly currently does not have the capacity to create or finalize Assembly Laws. Even if we drive this process in Tobago, we still need the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago to be in agreement with the laws that would alternately ban these products, whether

it is just on our island or in the country generally. Have we started having those discussions as yet? I am not sure. I still await many of the answers.

Madam Presiding Officer, may I also add that if this Executive was really serious about protecting the environment we would ensure that all of our policies are actually environmentally friendly. This means that our Economic Development Plan would go further than just trying to brand Tobago, clean, green, safe and serene but would ensure that all of the components of our Development Plan are in fact environmentally friendly.

Madam Presiding Officer, a green economy would include us looking towards other kinds of renewable energy for example, solar energy. It would have us also look at food production practices that are organic, that have less insecticides, less pesticides and so forth. Are we looking in those directions, are we having those discussions. Are those the policies of the Tobago House of Assembly?

Among other things, the issue of a Comprehensive Waste Management System would also be at the forefront of this discussion.

Madam Presiding Officer, speaking about Waste Management System, please allow me to return to one of the comments of the community Members who spoke about this. This person very rightly said and I quote: "One of the reasons why these styrofoams end up in the environment is the lack of proper disposal. Most people just leave it when they are

finished, they just throw them in the bush or in the carnal etcetera and where do you expect it to go?"

They also added: Public Health also needs to improve on their garbage collection process as well.

Madam Presiding Officer, because the fact remains that these polystyrene products the ones that are single use; get into the environment; get into the water; get into the oceans; get into the rivers; get into wherever they are because they are improperly disposed of.

Madam Presiding Officer, one of the things we really, really need to look at if we are serious about being environmentally-friendly is ensuring that we have a Management System that is indeed comprehensive.

Now according to the United Nations Development Programme - A Comprehensive Waste Management Plan should include several key components. Madam Presiding Officer, I will just like to quickly highlight four (4) of those components. The first one is: (1)

“An integrated Solid Waste Management System.

And as the community Member who I just quoted so rightly said: (2)

The issues with these polystyrenes ending up in the beach and all of these other places is because our Waste Management System is less than stellar.”

I know for example, that Trinidad and Tobago had a Draft National Solid Waste Resource Management Policy in 2012, if I am not mistaken. I am wondering if the Tobago House of Assembly has a Solid Waste Management Policy that it will actually implement. Having issues like these, come before the House in a piecemeal fashion, really does not solve the problem. We really need to think about these things in a collective, comprehensive manner. Because, simply looking at one part of it without looking at the other parts is really a waste of time. I am hoping that the policy of the Tobago House of Assembly as it relates to Waste Management, would include the four “Rs” as the Councillor rightly said. The:  Reduce;  Reuse;  Recycle; and  Recover

Let us be honest, if we actually did those four (4) things currently, we really will not have this issue of having polystyrenes go into our waterways and just lying around being an eyesore. So what are the plans? What are the plans for improving the General Waste Management System for Tobago?

I understand by the way, if I am not mistaken, and if I am, I would love to be corrected, that there are proposals in place to have plastic shredded at the Studley Park Landfill and apparently we have other countries that were interested in purchasing such shredded plastics from us, and there are proposals like that sitting somewhere. So, maybe we need to go back to looking at those options.

Another component, Madam Presiding Officer, of an effective Waste Management System, is doing all that we can do to reduce unintentional persistent organic polluters or eupox. Eupox, Madam Presiding Officer, basically are the things that are released in the air whenever we burn household items.

Now, in Tobago, we do have an issue of household

burning small quantities of items, but we also have an issue of burning of garbage currently at the Studley Park Landfill. It is something that we seriously need to look into because that absolutely cannot be the mechanism by which garbage is reduced in its volume at the Studley Park Landfill. If we are really serious about being environmentally friendly, we will take into consideration all of those things.

On another note, Madam Presiding Officer and I am asking you a little leeway on this one.

I understand that there was a project to burn tyres at the Studley Park Landfill and the community was invited to bring their tyres, have them taken to the Studley Park Landfill and have them shredded - not burnt have them shredded at the Landfill. I understand however, that that project has since halted and the tyres that were collected at the landfill are simply sitting there. If we know anything about what happens when tires simply sits there, issues of mosquito breeding and so forth. We know that that is something

that seriously needs to be dealt with. Are we serious about doing things that are environmentally friendly?

The third thing I want to talk about very quickly, is how we deal with E-Waste or Electronic Waste. We all know in Trinidad and Tobago, almost every year, we buy a new TV, a new fridge, a new stove a new this a new that, a new electronic thing and we very easily throw out the old ones. We know that when those things are discarded inappropriately, they can lead to having things like:  Mercury;  Lead;  Lithium

and a host of other chemicals seep into the soil, seep into the water, seep into the very environment that we say we are trying to protect.

The final of the components of a Comprehensive Waste Management System is how we deal with Medical or Health Care Waste. We continually hear Madam Presiding Officer, less now than before, “thank God”, about the Incinerator up at the hospital not working or not working effectively. We recently had a case of an individual who was stuck with a needle that was used and not disposed of correctly and all of those things are part of a larger process of ensuring that our environment is well taken care of.

Madam Presiding Officer, my point is simply this. We can pretend to love the environment and continue to have talk shops about what we will do and what we will do and what we will do, or we could actually create

policies and plans and actually implement them to ensure that Tobago is really, actually “clean, green, safe…[Interruption] MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Member your speaking time is up.

EXTENSION OF SPEAKING TIME Motion made: That the Member’s speaking time be extended by 10 minutes. [Mr. F. Augustine] Motion seconded reserving the right to speak at a later stage. [Mr. Watson Duke] Question put and agreed to.

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER:

Councillor Faith B. YIrasel your

speaking time has been extended by ten minutes.

COUNCILLOR F. B. YISRAEL: Thank you.

Madam Presiding Officer, my point is simple. We can pretend to love the environment and continue to talk about this, but unless we are ready to actually create the policies and the plans and actually implement, then we will continue to simply be a talk shop.

As I wind down, I would want to highlight just a couple more points that were raised by the members who I spoke to of the community. One point and I quote: “So first we did a Code of Conduct, and then now to Styrofoam. Can someone lay out the purpose of these Tobago House of Assembly sittings please? I assume that there are further pressing of the most

serious issues in Tobago. It seems to me that crime, unemployment and trade roots are much more important.”

Another person said “The Tobago House of Assembly needs to use its time to take Tobago from third World status to First World Status. The way to do this is to improve the ease of doing business. We are driving away investors because it is too tedious to do business here”.

Madam Presiding Officer, please allow me to share one more comment. I quote: “In addition to banning the use of Styrofoam which I am in support of…

The person says: …Concessions should be given to private sector for the following:  The Establishment of a Recycling Plant;  The Establishment of an Alternative Packing Plant that is green and environmentally friendly.”

is what the person suggested.

They said space is available for this at Cove. Now this person goes on to say a couple other things but I will like to end by suggesting, Madam Presiding Officer, that we look at the current Tobago Cassava Product Limited. That is a Company that we have in the Tobago House of Assembly because it is well known or may be it is not so well known, that Cassava is

actually a very good starchy product and that starchy product can be used to create some of these alternative bowls and cups and so forth, that we can use instead of the polystyrene foam products.

Madam Presiding Officer, my point is that, when we are talking about these kinds of things we need to do it comprehensively. We need to do it where we have looked at the problem collectively, look at the problem and we have consulted those who need to be consulted and have had real solutions at the end of it.

Madam Presiding Officer, we on this side, we do understand that there are some negative effects of polystyrenes but we cannot and we will not sit back and simply agree to this Motion because we do not believe that it has been well researched, well reviewed or well ventilated and we will not do it simply because it is the cool or popular thing to do.

I await the comments of other Members of the Executive and I hope that many of the questions that were raised are actually answered in this evening's proceedings.

I hope that today is not simply a talk shop.

Thank you. [Desk thumping] MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Secretary of Tourism, Culture and Transportation. [Desk thumping]

SECRETARY OF TOURISM AND TRANSPORTATION

(Hon.

Councillor Nadine Stewart-Phillips): Thank you, Madam Presiding Officer, for the opportunity to join this debate. It is indeed a special honour and a privilege for me to stand before this Honourable House to make my maiden contribution in support of this Motion as so moved by my colleague, the Secretary of Infrastructure, Quarries and the Environment.

Madam Presiding Officer, permit me to say, thanks to the Almighty God whom I know for sure favoured me with this open door through the certainty and the confidence of the Honourable Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly, has vested in me as a young person to lead the island's tourism and cultural efforts.

I know, Madam Presiding Officer, that the responsibility will be a challenging one however, I remain committed to the task ahead.

Let me congratulate you, Madam Presiding Officer, on your elevation as Presiding Officer of this House. I know for sure that all standards would be upheld as you preside.

Madam Presiding Officer, I wish to commence my contribution by emphasizing my concerns to the way this Motion is viewed in the various public spaces. I have noted, with interest the diverse utterances, opinions

and even Social Media post from our colleagues on the other side about the relevance and the timing of this Motion.

So, Madam Presiding Officer, I would hope that the contributions extended here this afternoon will not be clouded by narrow partisan political interest but that they will be seen within the wider context of the developments of this island and its people.

[Desk thumping] Because

Madam Presiding Officer, as politicians we must be forever mindful that at the end of the day the work we do and the decisions we make will have a broad impact.

Madam Presiding Officer, people are looking at us and it is in that regard, we must conduct ourselves and be exemplars in this Honourable House and to the wider Tobago.

Madam Presiding Officer, even as we deliberate on this Motion, it is important to note that this exercise is just not about polystyrene foam commonly known as “Styrofoam� but part of a broader environmental perspective. This Motion seeks to sharpen the focus of Tobagonians on a matter in which we treat our environment.

Madam Presiding Officer, it is fundamental for all of us to recognize that the quality of our environment greatly influences the competitiveness of the island's tourism product.

I am therefore, pleased that affirmative action is been pursued and that this THA Administration that I am part of, is leading the cause in this regard.

So, Madam Presiding Officer, to view this Motion as irrelevant is shortsighted, it is unwarranted and it is definitely misleading.

Madam Presiding Officer, apart from being relevant, this debate is also timely. May I inform this Honourable House that the United Nations Seventieth (70th) General Assembly has designated 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.

Madam Presiding Officer, this International Year is consistent with and help to promote the 2030 agenda for sustainable development and the sustainable development goals. It aims to support a change in policies. It also aims to support a change in business practices and it also aims to support a change in consumer behaviour all to realize a more sustainable sector that contributes to the sustainable development goals.

Madam Presiding Officer, global, regional and national tourism industry practitioners are for the first time, seeking to convene a global platform to forge strategies critical to the continual development and sustainable growth of tourism-led economies. Madam Presiding Officer, Tobago as a tourism-based economy cannot ignore these global and regional imperatives.

Madam Presiding Officer, allow me to just highlight the major areas of focus of the STGs as outlined:  Inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

Madam Presiding Officer, I wish to highlight the words:  Sustainable.  Resource efficiency;  Environmental protection; and  Climate change.

Madam Presiding Officer, I would again like to highlight the term, “environmental protection”. The other critical areas include:  Social inclusiveness;  Employment; and  Poverty reduction;  Mutual understanding;  Peace; and  Security.

Madam Presiding Officer, combining the terms that I just highlighted we arrived at “sustainable environmental protection and cultural heritage.”

Therefore, Madam Presiding Officer, Tobago and Tobagonians must do everything within its power to ensure that our efforts, initiatives and programmes do not in any way compromise our quest towards sustainable environmental protection and the preservation of our rich and diverse cultural legacy.

Madam Presiding Officer, the entire drive in the promotion of

sustainable tourism has been identified in the developmental policies of the Tobago House of Assembly’s Comprehensive Economic Development Plan 2013 – 2017 as one of the eight (8) pillars of the island’s advancement in keeping with the United Nations Global Agenda 2030.

Madam Presiding Officer, it is in this regard, environmental sensitivity across a range of diverse sectors and the island is important.

Within this context, of the global environment relevant research confirms that more than seventy (70) cities across the globe have already enforced bans while others have set dates to initiate the commercial use of polystyrene foam.

The United States environmental production agency outlines and I quote: “Polystyrene is the fifth (5th) largest source of hazardous waste in the United States and causes adverse environmental and health effects in terms of its production, its use and its disposal.”

Further to this, Madam Presiding Officer, the Institute for European Environmental Policy also identifies three (3) major areas of impact of polystyrene namely:  Environmental;  Social; and  Economic impacts

Madam Presiding Officer, Researchers from the Mt. Saini School of Medicine, a Premier Research Institution in New York City have also linked the use of polystyrene with certain forms of cancer and have advised pregnant women and children against the use of this product.

Madam Presiding Officer, my colleague, the Honourable Secretary of Infrastructure, Quarries and Environment would have given… [Interruption] MR. W. DUKE: On a point of Order. I wish to read from the Standing Orders, Section 42, sub Section 6 states: “Except with the leave of the Presiding Officer, a member shall not read his speech but may read extracts from written or printed papers or books in support of his argument that may refresh his memory by reference of notes”.

I have sat here for almost fifteen (15) minutes listening to the Honourable Councillor read a speech - verbatim.

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Thank you, Minority Leader, but I do give approval for the Councillor to read her maiden speech in the House and know that subsequently she will do otherwise.

HON. N. STEWART-PHILLIPS: [Desk thumping] Thank you very much Madam Presiding Officer, that was just an attempt to throw me off, but I shall not be moved. [Desk thumping] Madam Presiding Officer, as I continue, my colleague the Secretary of Infrastructure, Quarries and the Environment would have given an in-depth perspective on the generic effects of polystyrene. I will now expound on

the implications and the significance of Tobago’s tourism efforts and highlight the countries of the region that have already moved forward and initiated action against the use of these products.

Madam Presiding Officer, from a tourism standpoint, the impact of polystyrene is varied.

The literature also speaks to the presence of

polystyrene contributing to marine litter on beaches, it reduces tourism and recreation activities and affects the attractiveness aesthetics’ and appeal of the destination. Madam Presiding Officer, this has a negative impact on the competitiveness of our tourism island.

Let us take for example, Madam Presiding Officer, the impact on marine life.

There has been examples of floating islands of plastics

commonly found in the Pacific Ocean that traps garbage including Styrofoam and kills the marine life. Imagine, Madam Presiding Officer, what this could do to the ecosystem around our coral reef. Just to note, Madam Presiding Officer, coral reefs are not dead ecosystems, in fact, they are teeming with life and are known to support more species and has greater biodiversity than any other marine environment or rainforest. So, even though these island of plastics are not here, the very idea of their appearance here is not inconceivable. Just think back, Madam Presiding Officer, to one year ago, when Tobago was inundated by Sargasso weed which also affected many countries far and wide.

Madam Presiding Officer, the effects can also be felt at the inner waterways, our rivers and waterfalls can be clogged leading to severe flooding and land erosion. So we must ensure Madam Presiding Officer, that our waterfalls, our rivers where our visitors and locals alike, go on a regular basis, are not destroyed by flooding and erosion.

Another critical factor Madam Presiding Officer, is that the Division is currently pursuing Blue Flag Certification for Kings Bay in Delaford; Battoo Bay; and Bacolet Bay. To date, only Las Cuevas Beach in Trinidad has attained this status. This rating will indicate to the global community that we are serious about being environmentally friendly on this beach.

Madam Presiding Officer, polystyrene is also known to absorb other chemicals that can accumulate in fish; crabs; and other sources of food.

Again, we are talking, clean and green which implies natural and organic.

Those are the words that our visitors to our shores would use to describe the food. However, if they know that Tobago’s famous “crab and dumpling” is exposed to this tainted polystyrene foam, would they want to sample our national cuisine?

Added to this, Madam Presiding Officer, a number of

small businesses makes their living off of selling this local delicacy. Hence one can therefore conclude that polystyrene has implications for the livelihood of our fisherfolk; beaches; inland waterways; and communities.

Given the effects outlined, this issue remains a serious and important one for Tobago and this Tobago House of Assembly. The reality is that this Motion Madam Presiding Officer, impacts the lives of Tobagonians, visitors to Tobago, and our future generation.

Madam Presiding Officer, Tobago has traditionally been branded and marketed as a green destination and has used the tag line, “clean, green, safe and serene” in its promotional campaigns. A major aspect of the island’s product is also environmental and nature based. This has resulted in a large part due to the island’s abundance of natural resources. The unrestrained use of polystyrene Madam Presiding Officer, is definitely not consistent with our brand campaign. If we wish to increase the appetite of our visitors to this

island, this bold initiative to address issues of polystyrene is definitely a step in the right direction and one that would serve to strengthen the island’s strategic positioning in the global tourism market space.

Madam Presiding Officer, let us take a minute to examine what has been happening in the region. Guyana instituted a ban in 2016 on the use and importation of Styrofoam products to address Waste Management and promote use of degradable material. St. Vincent, has banned the use of the product on their island effective May 2017; Grenada; Dominica; Antigua; and Barbuda are in the process of imposing restrictions on polystyrene products on their respective islands.

Right here at home in Trinidad, the conversations have already begun towards initiating action on this issue.

So, Madam Presiding Officer, this

clearly demonstrates a trend that the region is aware and are taking steps to manage this growing problem.

We in the Tobago space are therefore

cognizant of the need to balance the development of our sector with environmentally suitable practices.

These two goals Madam Presiding

Officer, cannot be mutually exclusive but must complement each other. I therefore call on each and every right-thinking Member in this Chamber to support this Motion.

So, as I seek to wrap up Madam Presiding Officer, and other members of this Honourable House, I have identified the effects and the impacts that the use of polystyrene can have on our well-being. I have shown the environment impacts, I have outlined economic impacts, I have articulated some health impacts and most importantly, I have emphasized the devastating impact that it poses to our sustainability and competitiveness as a tourist destination. The pristine nature, Madam Presiding Officer, of our

natural environment has been one of the major selling points of our island’s tourism effort. All of us Madam Presiding Officer, has a responsibility to play our part in preserving this environment and enhancing the space we occupy daily.

I am aware, Madam Presiding Officer, that some

entrepreneurs may suffer or be inconvenience due to the nature of their businesses.

However, Madam Presiding Officer, at the end of the day, the efforts of the Tobago House of Assembly to minimize the use of polystyrene foam is in an effort to promote the safety of the island and the well-being of the citizens.

Madam Presiding Officer, therefore, once again, I do and I call on all Honourable Members even those sitting on the other side to support this Motion.

Thank you, Madam Presiding Officer, for this opportunity. [Desk thumping] MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Member for Parlatuvier/L'Anse Fourmi/Speyside. [Desk thumping] MR.

FARLEY

AUGUSTINE

(Member

for

Parlatuvier/L'Anse

Fourmi/Speyside): Thank you, Madam Presiding Officer. And I see that I have cheer leaders on all sides of the isle. It is good to know. [Laughter]

Madam Presiding Officer, when I saw this Motion, like my colleague who brought it to the House, I initially met it with some enthusiasm.

Because, like my colleague, Councillor Des Vignes, I am also passionate about the environment.

Like my colleague, I have spent many times

cleaning the beaches. I have participated in those said activities that he described.

Madam Presiding Officer, in fact, I am so passionate that I would have found myself in the past, going to the beach to assist with cleaning then to go home and get ready for church. And if I could take time out from my church time to ensure the place is clean (and that is something I seldom do for other things) it will say to you how much the environment means to me.

Notwithstanding, I immediately tried to action this Motion from a personal level as in - could I live without the use of styrofoam? I will be contented with using that term so that the average Tobagonian will understand what I am talking about.

So, I tried in many ways to not use

and I share one anecdote.

I needed some bowls for my famous soup. Anyone who knows me, knows that I make the best soup in the entire world. [Laughter] [Desk thumping] So, my football club was having a soup sale because we needed to raise some funds and I needed containers to put the soup in. So, I decided I will go around this island as far as was possible for me because obviously I could not go everywhere in such a short time to get containers that were alternatives to use of styrofoam. Well, I went up and down for the entire

day, by the time I got to the last store, the last shop, the last supermarket, it was some minutes to 10.00 p.m. in the night. The supermarket was to be closed at 10.00 p.m. and unfortunately, Madam Presiding Officer, all I got there was styrofoam containers.

Why did I share this anecdote? I share this anecdote because I want to speak specifically about the process. What we do in this House is critical.

This is part of public policy making.

If we do the right things the wrong

way we will almost always end up with the wrong outcomes.

Given that the THA (Tobago House of Assembly) as it is, has no real power to stop the use of styrofoam materials on the island except to say, as Councillor Des Vignes suggested that from the THA perspective that it would not engage the service providers who use those materials. Our best bet is moral suasion.

So, if we have to get the public on the side of the

environment then we have to do things the right way so that we would get the right outcomes. But what is the right way?

I will admit that if we go

around this room several of us will trump up several different ways and consider that the right way. I am sure, Councillor Des Vignes and his colleagues considered this Motion as the best way but I beg to differ.

This process should have started with concerted research and consultation. The process of researching and consultation would have given us scientific data to work with, with regards to the Tobago space. So we do not find ourselves as my extremely good friend, Councillor Stewart-Phillips quoting statistics from the United States and not being able to state specifically how styrofoam affects us - the local space.

This process should have also included (even before we got to this place) us sourcing affordable and accessible alternatives and finding a way to getting that unto the market. Not necessarily, the THA (Tobago House of Assembly) must import it and sell it but engaging private businesses.

Madam Presiding Officer, I wish that we would have looked more closely at the alternatives because to the woman that sells the souse down town, she is not listening to this debate because she necessarily wants to see styrofoam ban, she is listening to this debate because she wants to hear what will she use in the place of her styrofoam cups.

My colleague, Councillor Faith indicated that yes, some parts of the world have begun to construct edible containers. She suggested cassava and using the Cassava Company. Well, that might be fantastic considering that the Cassava Company generally produces a whopping ten (10) pounds perhaps per month of Cassava and that is being sarcastic of course. So, despite that being a potentially viable option, it is not an option that is available immediately. So, if we had begun to look for alternatives that are suitable to Tobago and by extension, the Trinidad and Tobago space, then we would have determined what are the options or the alternatives that are immediately accessible and remember also affordable to the Tobago public.

This process should have also included public education campaign.

We have to get buy-in from the public and so we needed to begin sensitizing the public even before coming here about the use of styrofoam.

Madam Presiding Officer, you know what, the Executive Council really did not need a Motion for all of those things that I would have discussed. In fact, the Executive Council could have sat where they are accustom sitting and could have just decided on their own to not purchase any product or use to utilize the services of anyone who is providing such services wrapped in Styrofoam. They could have decided that all on their own. They did not need a Motion to do that.

But you see, when you bring a Motion to the House, your Motion should be measurable, your Motion should be time bound as far as possible and your Motion should not be so generalized that you leave room for a wide interpretation. Because the Motion as it is written is so general in its language - almost ambiguous a point that we do not know if the Assembly is only targeting Styrofoam products to be used in the food industry or those that we intend to use more temporarily, or whether they will target those that can be used in a more long term plan and when we say we want to buy it, does that mean that the THA (Tobago House of Assembly) will never buy a new TV because that will come wrapped in Styrofoam too.

So, what we must do and what we should have done is that we should have looked at the issue broadly and should have made the Motion specific enough because the reality is that there are some good uses of Styrofoam that would not have a detrimental effect on the environment as those products we use within the food industry. But of course, none of these things were looked at. You see perhaps Madam Presiding Officer, we just construct these Motions on a “voops”, maybe because we are cricket loving people, we like “voopsing”. But from” my good memory, my colleague who

brought the Motion was a school mate of mine and I never knew him to be a good cricketer, so “voopsing” is certainly not in his fortѐ. [Desk thumping] So, we must also be conscious of the fact that a Motion like this, without support from the Central Government really has little teeth. If this Motion is passed today, and it will pass, there is the majority to pass it, and I come to the House next month with a Styrofoam cup and I decide to drink from it, then what? Then what? That is the thing. We should have looked at this issue in its entirety as opposed to a very, very, narrow perspective.

Additionally, I wish to indicate that (as my colleague did) we must look at the environment from a holistic perspective. The Tobago House of Assembly has not been able to get the South West Waste Water Treatment Plant up and running for such a long time. How sure are we that this actually will be in effect? How durable is this? More so, I sense some hypocrisy in how this Motion is brought. I will tell you what Madam Presiding Officer, I would not be lectured on the Environment by people who go “willy-nilly” destroy the environment to build big hotels to satisfy their financiers and their friends. I would not be lectured by those people at all. [Desk thumping] So, if it is that we care about the environment, let us care about the environment in its entirety; not just in a very piece meal way.

If we are talking about a greener island, then it means that we must have an integrated approach. If we had an integrated approach, then we will know, that it is not just Styrofoam that form of plastics that are found littered all over. We have bottles, we have lots of glass; we have other forms of plastics, the place is inundated with plastic bags. So, we should have tried to get at a very integrated approach to cleaning up the environment.

The

environment

Madam

Presiding

Officer,

and

achieving

environmental security as I like to call it, comes from a culture shift. To get that culture shift, we do not need a Motion, what we need is for us to interact with the public and to find a way to convince the public that it needs to reduce its use of Styrofoams.

I have had the complaints that this Motion was unnecessary; I got a lot of that. In fact, I posted this Motion on my Facebook page as well, hoping to solicit some responses. But it was the responses that I got via Facebook Messenger that were more telling, because of course this is an island where people are afraid to speak their minds. So, people have been messaging and saying, “Yeh, it is important, but is this the most important thing at this time�? I have said to people, I wish we had spent some time looking at this issue in its entirety. While doing that, treat with some of the other important issues that we have on the island. You see, we have to begin to prioritize and not just prioritize in a sensible way, but prioritize in a practical manner.

We have to begin to also look at the environment outside of a point of view where we could score some cheap political points. So yes, we passed this Motion - round of applause. The Tobago House of Assembly stop buying stuff from caterers who uses Styrofoam or they instruct their service providers, do not use Styrofoam. Then what? That is it. Nothing else will give.

I will tell you what, this country had passed a Beverage Container Bill since 2012, and while that Bill did not include in its scope the use of Styrofoam cups and so on, it gives us a sign of how this country really feels about the environment. That Bill was passed, but at this point, I do not even think that Bill was assented to. Never really implemented. If at the law-

making body, we passed a similar Bill, dealing with waste disposal and we did not even bother to have it assent to, what makes us think that in any time in a hurry, we will get Styrofoams banned in this country? I would like to see it happen.

When that happens, I will applaud it. But for me, in this

context, and when it comes to the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, my faith is only by sight. I have faith without sight only in God. Not in the Government of Trinidad and Tobago.

So, I also looked at some international policies. I note what has been happening throughout the Caribbean region.

I note what happened in

Guyana for example, St. Vincent and the others who are considering it. I also looked at the very Kenya who recently banned plastic bags and Kenya would have joined other African countries like Camaroon to do so. But the same Kenya that banned plastic bags had a spirited and still have a spirited campaign encouraging its citizens to use EPS or the expanded form of it for the construction of homes, or what we like to call in Tobago, “Prefab Homes�. I have entered and looked at a prefab home right here in Tobago.

Now, I did not look at the one constructed by Settlements down in Bon Accord, or that version of it, but the one I looked at used some Styrofoam materials and that sort of a building allows for quicker construction; it gives you sturdiness and it also allows you to construct at a cheaper cost. I am left to wonder, Madam Presiding Officer, and asked, was the one constructed in Bon Accord, did they used any Styrofoam material in it? So, we must look at issues in their entirety, not piecemeal, not because we want to be applauded for doing something that sounds cool. This job is not as cool as it looks. It is not about being cool, but this job requires is that we be thorough.

It requires that we consult with people; it requires that we talk to the small

businessmen and women who would be affected immediately; it requires that we look closely at what the alternatives are and ensuring that there are available and accessible. Did we sit and have any conversation with the Chamber of Commerce? Did we talk to the distributors of this product, to ask them if they could find environmentally friendly alternatives to bring on the market and how quickly they can do so that we could have placed this Motion within a particular time frame? Did we talk to the people in Tobago in general? If we did not, then we are just been authoritarian.

As I started, I would close, we could do the right things the wrong way. So, we need to go about this the wrong way. We need to ensure that we consult with everybody, we do the required research that we also do public education campaigns. The motion as it reads results to do two (2) things, it resolves that the Tobago House of Assembly leads the way in phasing out of the use of polystyrene foam products.

My colleague

indicated how that will happen and to also promote the use of more sustainable and ecologically friendly alternatives. He said with all fairness how the Assembly will do it in and of itself.

But the Motion also resolves that this House support a process. A process that we have not heard. So you are asking us to vote on a Motion that we support a process - a process that was never made clear, a process that I was hoping he would bring to bear in his opening.

Instead, we got

what sounded like Wikipedia Junior and I wish we had a process to debate.

What is the process that we want to have? Is it that we are going to past this and then the Executive Council as it chooses whatever process, just go by this?

If that is the case they would not need to bring the Motion here, the

Executive Council could have sat and just decided they are not going to use Styrofoam and do public campaign whatsoever they want to do. But what is the process? That needs to be specific, and that process is supposed to discourage production, importation and I do not know how we are going to do that when Styrofoam is used for packaging many, many other things and the use of polystyrene products in general.

So, the Motion as it is worded, is far too general, lack some specifics that will guide the average Tobagonian. The Motion as presented needs to give us some time, a time frame maybe and perhaps a “sunset clause� when we could return to this House and review the said Motion. Because the Motion as it is, is very far-reaching. We pass this now and two years from now somebody is challenging someone about importing a product that is packaged in Styrofoam. So, we should have placed a Sunset Clause on this Motion so that we could have returned to this House to debate it.

We should have perhaps spoken to our colleagues in Trinidad or maybe I should rephrase that. They should have spoken to their colleagues in Trinidad because I do not have any colleagues down there.

[Desk

thumping] We should have spent sometime engaging the Ministry of Trade looking at what can be practically done. How quickly this can be done. But this cannot be an overnight thing. If we want success with this and I am saying, by all means. Styrofoam, other plastic bottles by all means, let's get them out because I hate to go and clean up the beach. It is a lot of work, I hate having to do it, and it will save me some work perhaps if we change our culture but if we do the right things the wrong way, we will almost always get the wrong outcomes.

Thank you, Madam Presiding Officer. [Desk thumping] MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Assistant Secretary in the Office of the Chief Secretary and Member for Plymouth/Golden Lane. [Desk thumping] ASSISTANT SECRETARY IN THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Ms. Marisha Osmond):

Thank you, Madam Presiding

Officer. I stand here just as my colleagues did over a month ago, to deliver my maiden contribution in this House.

As my colleague did just a while ago, Secretary for Tourism, Culture and Transportation congratulated you on your elevation as Presiding Officer of this House, I so do the same.

Madam Presiding Officer, I am indeed humbled and honoured to have the opportunity to sit where great men and women have sat and to be where history has been made.

Madam Presiding Officer and Members of this Honourable House, I share in support of the Motion tabled today.

As I listened to the Opposition bench, in their presentation, they indicated that they had comments from persons from the public domain who indicated that this Motion is frivolous and there are more important things to be discussed at this time in the House.

But I would like to let the

Honourable Members know that this is the second of such Motions that will be brought to the House and we have many more Motions to come. [Desk

thumping] Madam Presiding Officer, this Administration as we seek to enrich, elevate and enhance the lives of the citizenry of Tobago and as we seek to move Tobago further, we bring this Motion not only the interest of the Tobago populace but for the children to which this island would be entrusted to.

This Motion begs of us to support a process and of course, a process must have a beginning and here is where we have begun. A process for discouraging the production and importation and the use of Polystyrene Foam products.

Madam Presiding Officer, and Members of this Honourable House, I as a Member of this House have a fiduciary responsibility.

I have a legal

and an ethical responsibility to the population of Tobago. It is because I like my colleagues understand the magnitude of our responsibilities we seek to bring this Motion to the House today.

I must remind the Members of the House that one of the objectives of this new Administration is to continue to collaborate with households, businesses and stakeholders to reduce pollution on this very island.

We, in this Assembly has taken the initiative as I said before, by laying this Motion in the House – we have started the process.

Madam Presiding Officer, we have taken the initiative to phase out the

use of polystyrene foam products on the island and promote of course the use of more sustainable and ecologically friendly alternatives and I would elaborate as I go further.

Madam Presiding Officer and Members of this House, as indicated earlier, research has shown that polystyrene takes around five hundred (500) years to biodegrade to leave the planet earth. Let me give you a clear example. I am a Teacher and I am going to be as vivid as I can. If I purchase a box of food, discard of my box, it goes to the landfill or the dump, it will disappear totally from mankind in the year 2517.

Madam Presiding Officer, let us multiply those boxes, let us multiply those one time usable Styrofoam’s utensils by the amount of festivals we have, the amount of activities whether buying or selling. Let us multiply that and all of these activities Styrofoam is ever present in one form or the other.

Madam Presiding Officer, and Members of this House let us factor in, do not forget five hundred (500) years to biodegrade. Let us factor in the days, the months and the years that lie ahead – 2517.

We continue as we

consider everything else, we continue to consider the length of time as I said it takes to decompose. And to compound this dilemma if it is not properly collected and taken to the dump, it will end up somewhere as we indicated where it should not be.

Madam Presiding Officer, Members of this House, as an Assembly charged with the responsibility of leading this island, we have taken “the

bull by the horn.” This ain’t no talk shop, we mean business. We have “taken the bull by the horn” because we recognize that we need to preserve this environment for our future generations. This I can assure you is only the beginning.

The urgency of this situation has been recognized as I said before, because we presented the Motion today in the House. This Assembly holds strong and I want to say this again, this Assembly holds strong and true to its mantra - it is business as unusual. [Desk thumping] We recognize that changes have to be made.

The Division of Education, Innovation and Energy has a mandate to encourage citizens to be innovators, to be problem solvers and critical thinkers, as we seek to implement eco-friendly alternatives to this growing garbage pollutant on the island. It is a pollutant and it is growing daily.

I encourage all, Opposition included, to support this initiative to discourage the production, importation and the use of polystyrene foam products.

Madam Presiding Officer, research continues to reveal and we said it here in the House, it causes irreparable damage to the environment, and we want to leave a legacy for our young people.

Madam Presiding Officer, and I looked at the Environmental Act, because I wanted to get some support for what I consider polystyrene foam to be. The Environmental Act defines a hazardous substance as: “Any substance which by reaction of its chemical or physical properties and based on technical, scientific and medical evidence, is

determined to cause through handling or from release, when released into the environment, harm to human health and the environment�.

Polystyrene Foam in my opinion, can be considered a hazardous substance.

Madam Presiding Officer, as said earlier, apart from research evidence stating that it takes too long to disappear, if we keep packing it up it would not leave us until 2517. It takes too long to biodegrade; we cannot burn it in large quantities. Madam Presiding Officer, as I researched, it says: “Burning Styrofoam or polystyrene is the least appropriate way to get rid of it for both people and the environment�.

Research has shown that when Styrofoam is burnt it, releases toxic chemicals and smoke that can damage the nervous systems and lungs.

Madam Presiding Officer, I am quite sure that we are familiar with this question. Who is guarding the guard? Therefore, I say to you Madam Presiding Officer, and Members of this Honourable House, we need to save ourselves from ourselves. Therefore, I suggest we begin where we have the greater or the greatest impact, and that is in the schools.

The Division of Education, Innovation and Energy, has as part of its initiative to stimulate and motivate schools to deliver quality education by providing incentives for schools that shows significant improvements in performance year on, year on. These improvements can be demonstrated through different aspects of school life. The Institution may choose to use sports; academics; special projects; and many more creative ways to

improve their output. In light of our objective Madam Presiding Officer, I propose that we consider the implementation of an island wide School Innovation Programme.

The teaching of values character and citizen’s

education science and social studies are subjects taught and topics such as:  Recycling;  Innovation;  Alternative to trash; and  Garbage;

are included in these subjects. A programme such as this, allows students to put into practice what they learnt in the classroom. Children always learn best by doing and they would develop greater appreciation for the value of the environment.

Madam Presiding Officer, this urgent call that is presented in the Motion begs of us to consider a replacement for polystyrene utensils. One of the focus may I suggest, should be on the use of reusable containers in the Support the Phasing out of the use of form of high quality plastics.

Sometimes we need to be very radical, sometimes we need to “think outside of the box”.

Just as we put water colours and other stationaries as

components on the children’s booklist, we should think about putting high quality plastic, kitchen utensils for use as part of that book list.

Madam Presiding Officer, our boys and girls need to learn important practices of social etiquette, how to properly use cutlery, how to sit and eat around a table. This Motion is so timely, because as stakeholders in the business of education, or in this education business, we are looking closely

at the way the Nutrition Programme is meeting the needs of our students.

Restructuring of this Programme is being looked at to ensure that some other skills, I outlined are imparted to our boys and our girls.

Madam Presiding Officer and Members of the House, the Division of Education, Innovation and Energy encourages new ideas, innovative ideas.

Just as my colleague, the Leader of Assembly Business highlighted the use of bagasse as an alternative, I suggest is a simple suggestion. Why don’t we consider bamboo as an alternative? Bamboo is in abundance on this island and we need to explore the potential and viability of bamboo fibre as an alternative for making kitchen utensils.

Madam Presiding Officer, the Motion begs of us to support a process that we have started, for discouraging the production, importation and use of Polystyrene Foam Products. A lot has been said before, I trust that even the Members on the Opposition side would support this Motion. Mark Chapter 8: 36 says: “What shall it profit a man to gain the world and lose his soul”. I am asking what it would profit us on this island to gain the best of infrastructural development, to gain the best skill and educated workforce but lose the essence of who we are? We are known worldwide, for being as they said, “clean, green, safe and serene”.

Madam Presiding Officer, a lot has been said, but this Administration has initiated the process. We have taken the first step. Therefore, I can guarantee (after all that has been said in this House) that we shall see this process to the end and the Members on the other side, his side would eventually behold the implementation of this ban.

Madam Presiding Officer, I thank you. [Desk thumping]

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Minority Leader.

MR. WATSON DUKE [Minority Leader]: Madam Presiding Officer there is some trouble with my mike. I am not sure if it is a deliberate act or sabotage. My mike is not on Speaker. [Crosstalk] My mike is not on it is on the request knob. So, the speak knob is not on and I want these words to be recorded in the annals of history.

Thank you Madam Presiding Officer. It is a great day to be alive, a better day to be part of the guardians of our democracy.

I enjoyed listening to my Colleagues on the other side, I must admit that. I heard about who used to attend church, and I heard Scriptures quoting, but I want to quote a scripture. They know scripture, they do not know verse Madam Presiding Officer. 1st Corinthians Chapter 13: 11 says: “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as child, but when I became a man, I put away childish things”.

The world has moved away from scare tactics. People are now reading, they are now learning and what used to make them afraid back then, they are facing boldly today.

Madam Presiding Officer, at one time, they told us coconut oil is not good, throw it away. Now it is one of the best things out. At one time, they said, “Bush tea is not good, it is for those who are poor - drink milk!”

Today, we are hearing bush tea is good for even the rich.

So, today they have brought what I will call an ambiguous Motion, a Motion that is frivolous and downright vexatious they have brought that Motion here to this House in an attempt to deceive us when the real motives of our colleagues on that side is to further the intent of their colleagues in Trinidad.

Madam Presiding Officer, we on this side, the Minority side, we are happy that today we are in this House to rebut the falsehood and the misrepresentation of Polystyrene Foam or Styrofoam – I want to debunk that. As I contemplated upon what forms Polystyrene Foam, I am very much mindful of my colleagues inside here. Ninety-five (95%) percent hot air, five percent (5%) substance - that is Polystyrene Foam.

I ask them, what are the substance of their argument? What is the basis? Why the haste?

Why this must form the second Motion they are

bringing into the House?

I have done some calling around through the Caribbean with my own telephone because they have given me none. I have been my own Secretary because they have given me none. I did it on my own because I wanted to find out what it is that Grenada is doing, what Barbados is doing, what St. Vincent is doing, what St. Lucia is doing, what St. Kitts is doing in their Honourable House of Legislature? I learned that they are not dealing with Codes of Conduct, nor trying to ban Styrofoam, they are dealing with real substantive issues.

Human Development and Community Enhancement is what they are dealing with. As again I said, I am reminded of the product of Styrofoam

when I listened to my colleagues. Ninety-five percent (95%) hot air, five percent (5%) substance.

They have brought no statistics to us – none! They are engaged in their seats manipulating the facts.

This is a class war that they are

furthering. It is one where they are trying to get persons to buy more or spend more for basic containers. That is what they are trying to do. It is a furthering of the Finance Minister’s statements that says, like Max Senhouse: “We need the money.”

It is a furthering of his agenda that says, “You cannot have mauby money and have champagne taste.” It is a furthering of saying, “We are those with the Chinaware, you are those with the plastic ware, stay where you are.” It is a divide, it is a dividing. Why do they come against Styrofoam so hard? I really do not know. I have done some facts, this is big business, big business is involved in this Motion. Big business is involved in it. I would to God that the Member for Spring Garden/Whim/Black Rock would have spoken but he is an honourable man, he wish not to lend his voice to this mischief Motion, he just sits and comb his beard.

Madam Presiding Officer, let me demystify and densify for you all that hot air - ninety-five percent (95%) hot air that is called, “Polystyrene Foam.” I want to begin by saying to my Honourable colleagues on that side that polystyrene that long been rumoured is environmentally harmful. One man said it have petrochemical things inside of it. It gave me a type of chill feeling as if when I pull up this cup to drink water and a man lights a cigar it might “blow up.” That is the impression he wants to give – “fearmonger.” It has petrochemical stuff in this [Indicating], this is the idea.

Let me say now to all on that side, take out your books and write notes.

Polystyrene Foam containers consumes less energy than paper

containers. It consumes less energy. [Crosstalk] Polystyrene Foam have less atmospheric emissions than many of its counterparts (talking about petro-chemical base as if there is some kind of kerosene or gasoline inside of this. This is the kind of “fearmongering� they are into.

Fearmongering -

night and day they do it in Trinidad - things hard, things hard, things tough, no money in the Treasury but they are raiding the Heritage and Stabilization Fund to do contracts – fearmongering! Thank God, we are here today to defend the people of Tobago. So, I said: (1)

It consumes less energy.

(2)

It has a lower atmospheric emission than many of its counterparts.

(3)

It also contributes less to waterborne waste than bleach, paper products; and

(4)

When compared to other alternatives, the life cycle impacts of polystyrene products that are properly disposed or

recycled are

positive and should be recognized.

I say the word, "properly disposed." Our problem in Tobago is one of disposal. Polystyrene can be disposed properly without any risk whatsoever to the environment. So why they are not doing it is my concern - class war.

The Bourgeoisie versus the Proletariat. Those in the West versus those in

the East. Class war, class war! Furtherance of the agenda of their master.

Those with Champagne and those with mauby money must not aspire to champagne taste.

I have said it to you a while ago, if one wants to dispose Polystyrene Foam or Styrofoam all one has to do is to ensure that there is a particular, a specific type of incinerator. One that reaches a particular degree of heat and when it goes inside there the only emission that will come out is Carbon Dioxide and water, that is the only thing will come out of it. That is all. I do not know what is so harmful about that. If it is burned in the backyard where it does not attain the appropriate heat what will happen you would have carbon monoxide that is dangerous. So we are not saying that. But what is wrong with buying the specific incinerator? What is wrong with that? Is that so costly?

As a matter of fact, I was doing some research in the United States because I am my own researcher.

They have failed to give me any

researcher - that is the content of the men on that side, their character. They have failed to give me any researcher but when I read I remember. So, I made a call in the United States of America and I discovered that you can lease a Recycling Machine for three hundred US dollars ($300US) per month. As a matter of fact, you can even sell densified, when you compress all the air out of the Polystyrene Foam and you have it come down to raw hardcore material, one ton of that for three hundred and fifty US dollars ($350US). I am glad you are listening and taking note, Mr. Finance Secretary. There is money in the

business of Styrofoam. You are all talking about Styrofoam as if you should throw it away. It ain’t good for nothing. Ban it, and try to frighten people. I am sorry for those cooks. If you all are cooking with Styrofoam do not come by us again. We are banning that. This kind of badjohnism. What is this? Is this how are going to run Tobago. Are you aware that Styrofoam is far cheaper than many other products that wants to challenge it? Far cheaper - in cost.

I have walked with another cup. I walk with a plastic cup

[Demonstrating] this cup [Demonstrating] is not only bigger it is cheaper than this one. [Demonstrating] This Styrofoam cup [Demonstrating] can contain heat better when you have a hot cup of tea, you can hold it in this one. You do not need no paper sleeve to hold it. But if you have this one, [Demonstrating] this plastic one in your hand, you will require a paper sleeve, because it will burn straight through the plastic and burn your hand.

This has an insulation in it. [Demonstrating]

The benefits of Styrofoam.

Why are you fighting it down? To bring in big business. Let me go a little further, it is also said that in far so much as cost is concern, the cost of one bag of these [Demonstrating] is twice time less than one bag of this with a pack of cup Styrofoam and a bag of this. [Demonstrating] This Styrofoam cup [Demonstrating] is cheaper than this plastic cup. This is cheaper by two to three times less than you pay for this plastic cup. [Demonstrating] In so far as manufacturing, when one thinks about the cost of manufacturing this Styrofoam cup [Demonstrating], it is far cheaper to manufacture this than to manufacture this plastic cup [Demonstrating] or even a paper cup.,. You all like paper, so a paper cup. A paper cup will take twelve (12) times as much water that is statistics, you have not quoted one across there, no research, but you all are paying Research Officer six thousand dollars ($6,000.00) and seven thousand dollars ($7,000.00). The

cost of producing a paper cup the equal to this plastic cup [Demonstrating] requires twelve 12 times more water than this. Twelve (12) times more water. It requires thirty-six (36) times more electricity to produce a paper cup than to produce this. [Demonstrating]

You all are talking about

conserving energy.

I thought the Secretary for Energy, the newly minted Secretary, my friend Kelvin Charles from Spring Garden/Whim/Union/Mary’s Hill (SWUM) would have cautioned his colleagues about the cost of paper cups – thirty-six (36) times more electricity than this cup.

I want to pull aside there for a while. We talk about, “Oh this petrochemical that is within these Styrofoam cups - as if gas is within it and oh it could destroy the environment.” I heard the Secretary of Tourism speaking about that, the Honourable Councillor Nadine Stewart-Phillips.

But you know what?

Since 1980, they stop making these polystyrene

materials here with CFCs that is a big word. CFCs that is known for destroying they stop make it.

Why?

They are making these now

environmentally friendly. They are now called, “Expandable Polystyrene Foam”.

I heard someone spoke about one use, the mover of the motion. He did not even read the Motion, he just spoke. If he had read the Motion, he would have never said that these are one use cups.

These cups

[Demonstrating] can be recycled though they are one use, history shows you that. All you have to do is to clean them and you can recycle them and reuse them. Now, when you think about reusing these cups you must understand that there is big business in Styrofoam. If there is big business in scrap iron, there is big business in Styrofoam – big, big business. There are some

countries that buy all the Styrofoam that they can buy and then they try to make it into other things. What can be made out of Styrofoam apart from cups and packaging, fillers as the case may be? What can be made? Do you want to know? Surfboards, if you want to project the image of Tobago being a beautiful place with the beach etcetera, you can make surfboards from Styrofoam. Mouldings’ can be made from Styrofoam. What do you have against mouldings? What you all have against surfboards? I ask myself the question.

We can also make certain building materials, a lighter type of board that is environmentally friendly. When you go on the boardwalk down at Chaguaramas - Polystyrene Foam. That boardwalk that we are walking on is Polystyrene Foam. The same thing you all want to destroy. Recycled! You use it to make lumber that will never rotten. So there is big business in recycling it. There is no harm at all to the environment once we dispose of it properly by buying a specific Incinerator or you can recycle it, you clean it up, you use it and you recycled it and come out into different materials.

There is a challenge in using similar cups. Paper cups are often times insulated with plastic and that makes those cups not biodegradable. It makes those cups worst than the Polystyrene Foam because whereas that might take five hundred years (500) years based on those fictitious years. When you get a paper cup, quoted in plastic, it will take a lifetime, a whole lifetime.

Not my lifetime - a lifetime of a dinosaur it would take before it could even erode, because it is coated in plastic. It is amazing to see how far we go sometimes to put other businesses in place.

Styrofoam:  It is cheaper;

Some of the benefits of

 Lighter;  Provide insulation;  There is money in it;  There is building material that can be made from it

Some of the harms you all have projected on this side with minimal or no type of facts whatsoever, it destroys the environment. What it does to the environment, it breaks up into small pieces - fish eats it. So Polystyrene Foam just end up in the sea like that?

In some countries what they have is bins, they have bins for different things.

Bins for glass, bins for plastic, and bins specifically for the

polystyrene foam. Why can’t we do that? Since we are so caring about the environment, why can’t we do that? No, that is not important to you. You all came inside here to bully the public with these type of a “hairy fairy” stories.

Oh, “fish does eat it, and fish eats it, it turns into mercury in your belly.”

Where that does comes from? What is the basis of that? How many fishes in Tobago water has eaten Polystyrene Foam and have brought mercury in their belly? Wild allegations! Someone once said that, “As statistics, as a pole is in the hands of a drunkard, so are statistics in the mouth of a politician”.

I want to caution you, your statistics must be founded on truth, on merit not fish eating Polystyrene Foam. They have not even done a research in Tobago to find out how much of that landfill is made up of Polystyrene Form. I have called around with my own money, I have drove around too with my own gas and I found there is no statistics at all. But let me tell you

the statistics in America. My friend who is the Secretary for Tourism, Councillor Nadine Stewart-Phillips, she like to quote American figures.

Do you know in America, in New York, there was an attempt to ban Polystyrene Foam. Yes, the year was 2015, you must know that. They do not read at all on that side.

In 2015, the Mayor, Bill de Blasio the Mayor back in 2015 got together with the Sanitation Department of New York and an attempt was made – in fact they made a law to ban Styrofoam. It was banned, all use of it was banned. But you know what, in that very same year persons like myself, persons who are the guardians of democracy in big America, the Big Apple, they went to the Court and a Judge by the name of Margaret Chang, she looked at it and said, “Look, I am lifting this ban, I am lifting this ban on the grounds: • That Polystyrene Foam can be recycled; and • It is not as harmful to the environment as they made it out to be.”

More than that, when the research was done less than one percent (1%) of the waste in the dump was Polystyrene Foam. Today, in New York they are using it because they have learned how not to abuse it. Cautioned though, it is not good to heat up Polystyrene Foam in a microwave. There is a caution against that but there is nothing wrong with drinking a cool beverage in Polystyrene Foam it will not kill you. Come inside here trying to scare people away – there is petrochemical inside of it. Ha!

I want to close, Madam Presiding Officer, by saying [Crosstalk] – The good thing about me I do not read my speeches, they are all memorized. So you know from memory sometimes there may be a slip of the tongue but I do not read my speeches because I respect this House and I follow the Standing Orders [Indicating].

People on that side read speeches even

without seeking your permission for leave to do so, Madam Presiding Officer. But I love this House. There are some things I need to respond to before I close, I need to switch on a few things.

I sat here and I ask myself, when would this House get serious. When would the Executive Council that consist of ten (10) persons get serious and start dealing with Tobago issues. When would they start dealing with crime; when would they start dealing with the airbridge that actually has hundreds of Tobagonians stranded every weekend trying to get up. When would they deal with the sea-bridge the boat has not sailed for the week - the passenger boat. When would they deal with this? But they are busy talking “sweet nothings” – ninety-five percent (95%) hot air they are busy talking about.

Oh, how they went down to the West and they deal with noise pollution and they could measure it and they have six (6) patrols down there while the people in the rest of Tobago are having no patrols - crime is on the rise.

But they are busy patrolling music. This is the easy way out my

friends like. That is their claim to fame inside here. And then they come and bring flippant Motions, empty Motions and say, this is something important. To pacify us to tell us stories about the “Edible Planet” where the river is like “milk shakes.” That is to pacify us.

As I said, “When I was a child, I thought as a child, I spoke as a child� but I did not come here for childish things. We came to this House to deal with the business of Tobago. I do not even have an office as yet but look at how we respond on this House concerning the Polystyrene Foam.

Well

researched, we have done it ourselves. I know the time is approaching but I will use every single minute I have. I just want to register it that I cannot wait for my keys to my office because when I get my keys to my office I will be doing much more research than this. I did this in my car.

Madam Presiding Officer, I want to thank you as I ... [Interruption] MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: The Member is being very repetitious and I would ask you to focus on the Motion.

MR. W. DUKE: Yes, I am focusing on the Motion, Madam Presiding Officer.

Madam Presiding Officer, I want to say again, that the Polystyrene Foam is a matter that was researched from inside my car. I just wanted to say that I would be doing more research in the future from a better place so that when you come you would have more facts.

We do not accept the Motion, we reject the Motion. We see it as a furtherance of their class war, rich against poor, those with chinaware against those with Styrofoam plate. Now they want to take away the plate from them.

We have watched carefully at what has happened in this country over the last few years and indeed this is a fast, this is just a rouse used to take up important time in the House to debate this Bill.

I am closing off here. I have nothing else further to say. We reject this Bill and we would oppose this with street meetings if they ever seek, I mean we will oppose this Motion and we will oppose it in the streets if they ever try to put poor people out of their jobs. The souse man, the person who selling the soup, who making the food if you try to make it harder for them we are going to protest on the streets.

Thank you, Madam Presiding Officer. [Desk thumping] MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Secretary of Health, Wellness and Family Development. [Desk thumping] SECRETARY

OF

HEALTH,

WELLNESS

DEVELOPMENT (Hon. Dr. Agatha Carrington):

AND

FAMILY

Thank you, Madam

Presiding Officer and thank you for the opportunity to do this my maiden contribution. But before doing so let me join my colleagues to extend sincere congratulations to you for your elevation in this esteem position of Presiding Officer of this august House.

I just want to, before I deal with some clannish issues to clarify some of the misinformation coming from the other side. As I stand to support this Motion, I pondered as I sat here listening to the other side speaking about frivolities and speaking about the need for greater integration and speaking

about the absence of a planning process and indeed it sounded as though persons were planners on the other side.So, I wanted to clarify because to get to the point that we are at, let me just say that already there is data, and not “old talk� from the other side. So in 2010, already a situation analysis was done looking at Solid Waste Characterization and so on. In 2012, 2013, I will share this data with the other side so that they will be better informed. I would not take up a lot of time in terms of that, we can provide it as time would allow. I would refer to it as I go forward but there is data done. If you know about planning you would know with a situation analysis already done, the next step that you move to, is to determine the kinds of options that you want to explore; analyze those options and you will start looking at - I am hearing about when you would implement and so on and about data collection and persons discussing Madam Presiding Officer, about the processes. I am trying to understand what kind of sampling was done to bring that kind of conversation to this House about hearsay. So, on the next occasion we want to encourage that in the process of your data collection, that you explain to us how you arrived at the data you collected such that you can share it. I would share with you data that has been collected. We can tell you how we sampled so that you can have data to work with.

Madam Presiding Officer, the relationship between Environmental Protection and Public Health should inform the efforts we have as stewards and indeed this Assembly are stewards. We encourage others to be stewards themselves such that we could guard that which we have been placed to ensure that that is intact. My particular area and my particular discipline, is that I treat with the concern of the Environment and Health.

You would know, Madam Presiding Officer, more than most, that human health is linked and intimately linked to the environment and to environmental quality. So I want to just engage a little bit on that. Much of what happens in the environment impacts our health. So, Madam Presiding Officer, for decades many policy makers from this House and others have looked at that. They have looked at many issues, but in the case of Tobago, Tobago adopted the policy of going, “green” as a means of maintaining environmental quality. So this Motion today is a step in the right direction.

It is not new as I said, work has been done before the preparatory work such that we could inform a discourse such as this. So it is incorrect to say and to speak about lack of planning and lack of data from on the other side. So this discouraging of the production and use of polystyrene is critical. One may argue that the products may not be cheap, like on the other side, and convenient. However, we argue and we are discouraging the use of these such that you can better understand what we are talking about. We are arguing that. We are not talking about, “banning”. I am listening to banning and all of those terms.

By way of information, I am just recalling some of that, that polystyrene, polystyrene manomer and sometimes we have difficulty in pronunciation on the other side. Yes, we spoke about the light weight, that is what we are talking about the ninety-five percent (95%) and the five percent (5%) that is what we are talking about. Yes! Those are used for the products that we are talking about. Yes, these are not biodegradable that was pointed out before. But Madam Presiding Officer, many cities both those in the United Kingdom, those in the United States of America, China and all those countries, they have been taking steps to discourage the use of polystyrene.

So you do not like to hear the United States data but, we have a local data and let me point to the United States data in Francisco for example. There are efforts towards minimizing the use of polystyrene. In fact, food vendors when found to be in default, they are charged between one hundred US dollars ($100US) to one hundred and fifty US dollars ($150US) dollars other persons though Madam Presiding Officer, given a grace period such that they can utilize those they have in stock before switching to something new.

Madam Presiding Officer, we want to create an island, we want to create healthy communities.

We want to create a community that will

contribute to improving the quality of life of our citizens; we want to

promote healthy behaviours. I listened about culture and so on, and that is commendable, we want to minimize the hazards for our residents while at the same time preserving the natural environment. So, we need to understand and emphasize the effect of this environment on health.

Madam Presiding Officer, no doubt we have inherited a world that is largely built on synthetics materials. A world in which according to Yardley and Cosans, “Man makes almost all that he needs out of what is beneath and around him�. But Madam Presiding Officer, this Assembly on behalf of the Tobago population must pay attention to those adverse effects that these manmade synthetic materials like polystyrene would have on our population.

We must be concerned as to whether there are any risks associated with the chemicals used in the production of the storage containers. I heard about containers being made cheaply and so on, and I heard about the maintenance of the heat when you put the coffee or the tea, I did not hear about the

seepage of the chemicals and the impact it has on human health. So we must examine the relationship between polystyrene and those adverse effects Madam Presiding Officer.

This indeed would make for interesting

study since it will allow us to interrogate those areas that are of concern to us and which we are saying that we are going to discourage the production, importation and use of these products.

My colleagues on the other side questioned the approach. I just said earlier that we have done a situation analysis. As we present this particular part of the process and as the process continues, the expectation is that they will understand the methodology. They were not aware that a Situation Analysis was done and we have already characterized the Waste at the landfill. We can tell you how much for 2010, 2012, 2013 and we could share with you 2015 some efforts that we have planned to pursue from since then. So it is by no means a frivolous Motion.

Madam Presiding Officer, let me just point to and he talked about research (and not having office). I am quoting for those who read Scientific Journals on the other side.

In an article in the Journal of Regulatory

Toxicology and Pharmacology titled, “Nanomedicine (if you know what that is) an unresolved regulatory issue. I want to point to that a bit.

Now you noticed that a lot of times we pay attention to assessing the health risk and so on, but we have not paid attention, and you talked about the particles, you tended not to pay attention to when you inhale those nanoparticles. Those nanoparticles have already been related to lung injury.

My Mph graduate colleague could research that and see that it is recognized that psychochemical properties in conjunction with environmental factors

and the stability of those nanomaterials that you seem to think that there are so minor, those contributes to overall toxicology responses. Now, whereas data and information Madam Presiding Officer, may be insufficient it does provide us with an opportunity as researchers, as persons in industry and as regulatory bodies to look at the risk and the benefits.Let's look at the extent of which Public Health Madam Presiding Officer ... [Interruption]

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Members, the sitting will now be suspended for thirty (30) minutes. We will resume at 5.00 p.m. and continue to hear from the Secretary of Health, Wellness and Family Development.

4.30: Sitting suspended.

5.03 p.m: Sitting resumed.

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Secretary of Health, Wellness and Family Development, you can resume.

HON. DR. A. CARRINGTION: Thank you, Madam Presiding Officer.

Just before the tea break, I was commenting on the matters with respect to Public Health and the Environment. But I want to continue on this vein before I address the specific matters with respect to Health and the Environment.

Earlier, I indicated that as stewards we are expected to be guardians of this island of ours.

As an Assembly in our efforts to become much more

countable and in our effort to ensure that we leave a rich legacy, we have been paying attention to priority areas that will affect our population.

So,

when the Members from the other side, commented on (and I notice that they are not yet here) the nature of the work at the Studley Park Landfill except it started yesterday the process that we are using is compacting and that is done through Private Sector arrangement at this time.

Further, in their efforts to trivialize this Motion, the comments with respect to what plans we have for E-waste, may I inform the other side that as recent as 2013 in the study done, we have looked at E-waste and under that heading which is the broad heading of other waste, it is three point eight

percent (3.8%). Looking at how we have characterized the waste under plastics just to make the point that this is an urgent issue.

Madam Presiding Officer, those on the other side, in 2010, in terms of material type plastics and polystyrene is under that twenty-one point nine percent (21.9%) of the waste that we collect fell to twenty-one point nine percent (21.9%). Listen to the data of the Minority Leader, Sir. Madam Presiding Officer, with respect to 2012, twenty-nine point seven percent (29.7%) of the waste we collected is under that grouping. By 2013 we are at thirty point eight percent (30.8%) and I am sure if you look at

the data further you would see the trend. Therefore, since you now have the data you would be much more comfortable with the fact that we are not just bringing a trivial Motion, we are bringing a Motion that we have collected some data and not the hearsay conversation by the wayside or some of the comments that people make that tended to be contrive but that we have went through a methodology allowing us to have the data such that you can be more satisfied that we understand what we are doing.

Madam Presiding Officer, as those who would be held accountable, I want to look at the matter of environmental integrity. The question may be asked though, why is it necessary for us to maintain the integrity of our environment. We must note the consequences of our action and it is not sufficient for us to be engaged as Public Health Practitioners and consider the effect of lifestyle diseases or infectious diseases and cancers and the like but we must look further than that. We know this is just a commencement of the work to be done. We know when it is spoken of that this is not done comprehensive enough that if anyone would know of planning that the discourse of comprehensiveness can hold no water.

So, because planning is about choices and because we have to look at priorities a comprehensiveness of what we do must be reviewed because we have to select those priority areas for consideration.

We note that, the work done before and the data that we have will inform the process, the same process that we are giving support to, we note that this would happen.

Madam Presiding Officer, let's look at the impact of polystyrene and human health. I want to particularly look at that.

In the research that I have done, I noted several things. Apart from the leaking of styrene into food - I want to point to some other longer term matters which must be of concern to us.

When there is long term exposure to small quantities of polystyrene that can cause fatigue, nervousness and difficulty sleeping. So these are some neurotoxic effects that you have.

You will also find some

hematological effects so you have low platelet counts and hemoglobin counts as well - the values are low.

Let us look at cancers. We have noted that long term exposure creates some carcinogenic effects and that is important for us as an island to note.

So, if we have a situation like this and the one that we are pursuing where the Motion is seeking to discourage the use of material in which the same chemicals can affect our health as an Assembly that must engage our attention.

Some of the other acute health effects include and the matter of the breakage and the pellets and all of those and the dust about which the Minority Leader spoke. He did not speak about the irritation of the skin, the eyes, the upper respiratory tract and the gastrointestinal effects that will arise. Also, Madam Presiding Officer, if there is chronic exposure, this will affect the central nervous system and so persons will display symptoms of

headache, depression and some fatigue about of which I just spoke. But you may also have some minor effects, Madam Presiding Officer.

In terms of your kidney function and so to the extent that polystyrene results in these health effects and those health effects will impact the lives of our population - we must be concerned with that.

I want to point to a study and this is for those persons who spoke about research but persons who have had the opportunity most of us on this side to benefit from tertiary level education would note that much of what we point to will be well researched as we come to present it in this House.

This specific issue of Polystyrene and its impact study done by D. M. Browne 2001. Let me tell you the Journal so you can research it. It is the Journal of toxicology and Applied Pharmacology Volume 175, Issue 3, 15th September 2001, pages 191 to 199.

This study aim to investigate the pro-inflammatory responses to various sizes of polystyrene particles. It is important to note. You talk about all of those because they atrophy they are varied in size and when the service area that you are talking about if you plot it against the inflammation these two variables would directly proportional and the line pass through zero.

So, for those persons who know about statistics and I want to engage the Minority Leader on that.That the surface area drives inflammation in the short term and the ultrafine particles caused a greater inflammatory response because of the greater surface area they possess. So I heard you speak about expansion

and so on. I want you to read that study and you would see the expansion about which you speak, how dangerous that is, and how it creates that kind of inflammatory response.

Madam Presiding Officer, this brings me to the issue of regulation the need for regulation of polystyrene products is urgent. In another study done

by Oberdorster et al, and the studies titled, “Principles for Characterizing Potential Human Health Effects from Exposure to Nanomaterials Elements of Screening Strategy”. This particular study you can find it in the Journal of, “Particle and Fibre Toxicology”. This particular study Madam Presiding Officer, noted that the rapid proliferation of many different engineered nanomaterials present a dilemma to regulators.

There is difficulty in

identifying the hazards they possess. Why is that so? The properties that they are made of, may be chemical; biological, magnetic; electrical in nature they may be desirable for commercial use. However, these same properties may make it a challenge for us in terms of the kinds of chemicals and how they impact human health. It is difficult to even predict the properties and how they can interact. That in particular, we want to also point to why we must discouraged the production, importation and use of these products.

Madam Presiding Officer, in conclusion, in the Health Sector we emphasize Health Promotion Disease Prevention. We should also extend this to the prevention of the proliferation of these products. We must prevent pollution as the industry must properly dispose of these products. Madam Presiding Officer, all aspects of human activity which negatively affects the environment and which have negative impacts on health and environment itself, we also consider.

According to the ecosystem health theory, a healthy ecosystem contributes to a good health status of a population. Therefore, Madam Presiding Officer, having regard to the impacts and effects that this particular material will have on our population, it is incumbent on us as an Assembly to pursue many alternatives. My colleagues spoke about the use of recycled paper; bamboo and the like as an example which are easily renewable resources, and these are biodegradable.

Madam Presiding Officer, I have identified areas of concern that as an Assembly we have had. I have identified the impacts that the particular item polystyrene products would have on human health. We have also looked at alternatives.

Madam Presiding Officer, this Motion is without a doubt most important to us as a people as we to seek to protect and leave a rich legacy for those to come.

I thank you. [Desk thumping] MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Leader of Assembly Business: HON. K. DES VIGNES: [Desk thumping] Thank you, Madam Presiding Officer.

As I rise to wind up the debate on this Motion, I must express some disappointment. Madam Presiding Officer, one of the purposes of this House in my humble estimation, is to ensure that there is a discussion in the public space in the public interest. I am disappointed by the position taken by the Minority and in particular, the Minority Leader. First and foremost not supporting a Motion of such public import, but even beyond that, failing to add real substance to the Motion.

Madam Presiding Officer, I am happy that the Secretary of Health, Wellness and Family Development spoke about the fact that, “ban� is never mentioned in the motion. For a moment I was wondering if I was in the twilight zone hearing the minority speaking about bans and bans and I do not know if it is hangover from Carnival. But I must say, Madam Presiding Officer, that the Tobago House of Assembly needs to be prepared to lead the way. That is why we are here. [Desk thumping] That is why we are here. I am very disappointed by the positioning of the Minority. It became very clear in their presentations that there were not much listening being done and clearly not much reading either.

I would have asked and would have

implored to rethink. Let us rethink the way we think of politics. The purpose of the Minority is not just to oppose for opposing sake. The purpose of the Minority is to ensure that the public interest is met at all times. It is in the public’s interest (and we spoke about the young people that were here) phasing out the use of Polystyrene Products on the island of Tobago. I stand by that Madam Presiding Officer. Let us rethink. I am happy that the discussion came up about price comparisons and alternatives.

It is clear to me that the Minority Leader went looking for cups - for polystyrene cups, and Madam Presiding Officer, I have here in my hands some alternatives. [Crosstalk] I am sorry, I cannot apologize for cups Sir. These cups [Demonstrating] Madam Presiding Officer, are made from alternative material. This hot cup [Demonstrating] for example, actually retails for a price sixty-four (64) cents cheaper than Styrofoam cups. [Desk thumping] If you want to alternatives, talk to me.

These cups

[Demonstrating] as I would have mentioned, we have a fantastic opportunity particularly running through the Private Public Partnership (PPP), under the

Division of Finance and the economy, and the Department of Innovation, under the Office of the Chief Secretary that we can start looking into the alternative products that would have been mentioned by the Honourable Member, of course Assemblyman Marisha Osmond. We can look at bamboo, we can look at bagasse, these are opportunities for us to let people in Tobago go into industry, start creating jobs, start looking at export opportunities.

Yet, we sit here and try lambasting what was termed as a, “A frivolous motion�. It is good to know that the Minority Leader pays attention to our Minister of Finance for him to quote him so well.

Madam Presiding Officer, I have here in my hand [Demonstrating] another alternative [Desk thumping], the Clam box. The reality is, the alternatives are there. If it is a challenge for us to recognize that alternatives are there for us to pursue and exploit, it shows more and more how myopic and short sighted we are willing to be in the interest of playing politics. I am tired of standing around and hearing these alternative facts that have been presented. It is inadequate, it is ridiculous, that the House should have to deal with certain things of that nature.

Madam Presiding Officer, I must reach out to the Member for Parlatuvier/ L’Anse Fourmi/Speyside. I am very amused when I hear these young people chatting these days. Indeed, if my memory does serve me correctly, he was a schoolmate of mine, but the last time I saw him I was probably giving him lines and putting him on stage for mischievous behaviour or breaching school rules number one. [Desk thumping] [Laughter] Madam Presiding Officer, it must be said quite forcefully that the alternatives are already on the market.

If one should go to Jacob's

Supermarket for example, in Bon Accord, as I recently went, I saw many alternatives already on the shelves to Styrofoam and Polystyrene products.

It means that we are being less than truthful when we come in this House and start speaking about alternatives and even rights. I do not know where we are getting our facts from Madam Presiding Officer, it seems that we really need to introspect as we look towards the future.

Polystyrene Foam Products are made from fossil fuels. The reality is sooner or later we have to look for alternatives.

Let us not wait until that

time comes before we start looking for alternatives.

I am sure the Minority Leader or the President for the Public Service Association whichever one he wants to be called, would know that there was a time when asbestos products were the thing being used. Now we have completely phased out asbestos for the very same reasons.

We are

concerned about the health of our people. We cannot sit around and pretend and play politics when we have our public interest to see about.

Let it be known that when we burn polystyrene foam products it releases fifty-seven (57) different types of chemicals Sir, and even this with your hot air that you would have spoken about.

There is big business involved indeed, I agree. Big business for our Tobagonians. There is big business for Tobagonians in alternative products to Polystyrene. [Desk thumping] Let us not waste time with that. Far too

often we get the alternative facts that seems to be wikipedia Junior in operation and we need to be careful of what we bring before this august House.

Madam Presiding Officer, we have to be careful when we look

around at our neighbours. I am hearing about phone calls being placed to Grenada, to Guyana to wherever else and it is very clear that I do not know who is being called if it is voice mail picked up or what but it is clear that he did not speak to the right people in the right places.

I have just came off the phone with my friend in Antigua where they are doing some great work with plastic bags. Another friend of mind in St. Vincent at least sent me a message saying, yes, we are doing the same thing in St. Vincent. We are getting rid of Polystyrene Products.

I got another message from a friend of mine, a colleague of mine in JCI in Guyana - we have gotten rid of Polystyrene products and yet we are here trying to make frivolous excuses about why we should not go ahead with these types of Motions. I agree the time will come when we have Integrated Waste Management Systems; but Rome was not built in a day Madam Presiding Officer. We have to be cognizant of the fact that we have to achieve the things that we can achieve in the shortest possible time and this happens to be one of those things.

Let it be known that in over one hundred (100) countries including the US (United States), Europe and Canada they have already banned many Styrofoam and Polystyrene Products. We are not new to this, the research is there. Dr. Carrington in her wisdom would have shared a lot of research, a

lot of credible research and we know that the research is there to support this Motion.

Madam Presiding Officer, before I wrap up, I am happy to know that we are getting codes from Social Media. The beauty about Social Media we can all see it. And I would have seen the post of the Minority Councillor and the Member for Parlatuvier/L'Anse Fourmi/Speyside and I would have seen some of their discarded colleagues commenting on the post and then these very post being repeated right here.

Madam Presiding Officer, there is no room for sour grapes in this Tobago House of Assembly. We are about serious business, the serious business of the people. Let us not get carried away with what we are trying to achieve here today. We are leading the way to phase out the use of polystyrene products in Tobago.

We are willing to support our process to

discourage the importation and use of these products.

Madam Presiding Officer, I thank you, I thank the Members of the Assembly, the Honourable Members of the Assembly and I thank those who would have been here to witness this day in history.

I thank you, Madam Presiding Officer. [Desk thumping] Question proposed.

HON. K. DES VIGNES: Madam Presiding Officer, I beg to call for a division of votes.

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: We will have a division of votes at this time.

The House divided: AYES: 13 ABSENTEEISMS: 0 AYES: Des Vignes, Hon. K. Charles, Hon. K. Jack, Hon. J. Stewart-Phillips, Hon. N. Spencer, Hon. H. Pitt, Hon. J. Melville-Jack, Hon. M. Jacob, Hon. C. Carrington, Hon. Dr. A. Cunningham, Mr. S. Osmond, Ms. M. Hector, Mr. S. Dennis, Mr. A. NOES: Augustine, Mr. F. Duke, Mr. W. YIsreal, Dr. F. B.

NOES: 3 ABSTENTIONS: 0

MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: Thirteen (13) for, three (3) against.

The Motion is therefore carried. [Desk thumping] GREETINGS MADAM PRESIDING OFFICER: As we bring this session to a close on behalf of the Members of the Tobago House of Assembly, I wish to extend greetings to the Members of the Spiritual Baptist Faith on their Spiritual Baptist Liberation Day Celebrations upcoming and also to extend Easter Greetings to everyone.

ADJOURNMENT Motion made: That the House do now adjourn to a date to be fixed.

[Hon. K. Des Vignes] Question put and agreed to.

House adjourned accordingly.

Adjourned at 5.34 p.m.