The event, which was attended by scores of representatives from diverse stakeholders in the country, seeks to pave the way for the National Environment Agency to present a concrete recommendation that will be forwarded to parliament for consideration.
The initiative is part of the Gambia government and its partners’ common efforts to reduce plastic pollution to 86 percent by 2033.
At the event, Lamin Komma, programme manager and head of Coastal and Marine Environment at National Environment Agency, acknowledged that environmental management is the mandate of all stakeholders, lamenting that the slow progress made in plastic bags control in the Gambia, prompted them to partner with an international organisation to empower plastic control mechanisms.
Ingrid Henrys, a representative from the Common Seas, an institution whose main focus is to find solutions to plastic pollution in the environment especially in the oceans and in the water, also expressed similar sentiments.
Njagga Touray, Executive Director at the National Environment Agency (NEA), reminded that in today’s world there are a lot of challenges in terms of plastic pollution and climate change, nature and biodiversity loss.
He recalled that some of the basic challenges the initiators faced in the implementation of the plastic bags law's, which he added, should have been ended by now if citizens had plays their role individually to end Plastic bags usage in the Gambia.
However, the action plan which was presented to the stakeholders for validation is expected to be scrutinised for additional concepts development.
This is in addition to the views of the participants and the recommendation to establish the existing ban of plastic bags in the Gambia. And this document is expected to be tabled at the Gambia National Assembly, for consideration and approval.
