Prime minister King accepts declaration from youth environment forum
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Contact: Claudia Monlouis
Tuesday, December 15, 2009 – The Saint Lucia National Trust on Thursday, December 10, presented the Declaration for Environmental Conservation to prime minister Stephenson King, accompanied by a plea for more concerted national efforts, to be directed at protecting the island's environment and biodiversity.
A youth representative from the Castries Comprehensive Secondary School presented the group's position to the prime minister in a short speech.
“We, a group of young persons in Saint Lucia who are concerned about the conditions of our environment have come together for the Saint Lucia National Trust Youth Environment Forum to put forward a declaration for environmental conservation. Through this declaration, we aim to share our vision for environmental conservation. We hope to influence more young persons by opening up the lines of communication to young people and decision makers in Saint Lucia. In addition, we believe that knowledge is the key for environmental conservation and we will use all opportunities to inform our colleagues of the environmental challenges our country faces. Further, we recognize that a healthy environment is necessary to satisfy our hopes and aspirations and we will endeavour to ensure that the integrity of our environment is maintained,” Laurie-Ann Antoine said.
In accepting the declaration emanating from the Saint Lucia National Trust Youth Environment Forum, the prime minister himself put forward an innovative proposal for the implementation of an environmental project by the National Trust promising government funding for the initiative.
“I would like to propose a programme that I hope you will
take and develop, because I have been thinking of it for sometime now and
wondering which agency I should charge with the responsibility of championing
that cause. That programme I hope, is one that will develop the sensitivity to
and consciousness of the environment. It will among other things, encourage tree
planting, beautification, and clean up campaigns, for which government would
provide all of the resources necessary. I refer to it as the 'Saint Lucia Clean,
Green and Serene Programme',” said the prime minister. The Saint Lucia National Trust has also appealed to government to utilize the Declaration for Environmental Conservation as part of the national policy. |
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