Long-awaited proposed legislation aimed at significantly reducing single-use plastics and Styrofoam products was finally presented last week (see Friday/Saturday edition). The St. Maarten Development Fund (SMDF) in cooperation with government did so during a Free SXM Town Hall meeting.
Mind you, current President of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams and others have championed the issue since 2008. This led to a National Ordinance in 2020 prohibiting the sale of single-use plastic bags and straws.
However, it was never executed because enforcement proved challenging due to manpower required for inspections. If so, perhaps this could have been foreseen beforehand, but right now that’s hindsight.
The new legislative framework submitted to the Ministry of General Affairs in December therefore adds new mechanisms such as an import and distribution ban. Apart from polystyrene food containers, single-use plastic bags, plastic straws and plastic stirrers, plastic cutlery, plates, bowls and cups will be included later.
It regards a “phase-out approach” to ensure a smooth transition. During talks with wholesalers on the import ban a “fair timeline” was also mentioned.
That’s all good and well, but 17 years have passed since Parliament first took a stance on this matter, so it can’t take forever either. Let’s face it, the country is not getting any cleaner in the meantime.
