Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew has lauded the passage of the Plastic Waste Reduction Bill (2025) as a transformative step towards environmental sustainability, public health protection, and economic innovation in St. Kitts and Nevis.
Speaking after the Bill was passed in the National Assembly on 21st March, Dr. Drew reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to safeguarding the health and well-being of Kittitians and Nevisians while fostering environmentally responsible behaviour and new business opportunities.
“This Bill is not being passed to make people’s lives more difficult. It is about protecting our environmental health, plant and animal health, ocean health, and, most importantly, our personal and financial health,” stated Dr. Drew, who also serves as Minister of Health.
Addressing Plastic Pollution and Public Health Risks
The Prime Minister outlined the dangers of plastic pollution, highlighting its contribution to vector-borne diseases such as dengue and its role in exacerbating rodent infestations. He explained that discarded plastics trap stagnant water and waste, creating breeding grounds for mosquitoes, rats, and cockroaches, all of which pose serious public health threats.
Drawing from his medical background, Dr. Drew also referenced historical health crises, recalling the role rats played in spreading the bubonic plague in medieval Europe.
“Just seeing garbage is mentally unhealthy. Plastics contribute to diseases. They have no positive impact on our health,” he emphasised.
A Call for Eco-Friendly Entrepreneurship
Beyond health and environmental benefits, Dr. Drew urged citizens to seize new business opportunities arising from the single-use plastic ban.
“Since there are no more plastic bags, make bags from reusable materials. Just like how, during the COVID-19 pandemic, people started businesses making masks, let’s open businesses that create reusable bags—brand them, sell them to our people, sell them to tourists,” he encouraged.
He further suggested that natural alternatives, such as hemp-based products, could replace plastics, offering new opportunities for local artisans and businesses in the eco-friendly market.
Bipartisan Support for Environmental Progress
Dr. Drew recalled participating in an anti-plastic march organised by the previous administration, despite his Party being in opposition at the time.
“I wasn’t marching with a Party. I was marching against plastics. There comes a time when we must stand together as a people to move the nation forward,” he stated.
Calling for bipartisan support, the Prime Minister emphasised that while the impact of the Bill may not be immediate, it will safeguard the long-term health of the people and the nation.
The Plastic Waste Reduction Bill (2025), moved by Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Climate Action, Dr. Joyelle Clarke, was successfully passed alongside the Integrity in Public Life (Amendment) Bill (2025) on 21st March.
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