Jamaica's opposition calls for delay of plastic bags ban

Ahead of January 1 ban on single-use plastic bags in Jamaica the Opposition People’s National Party is calling for the government to delay the implementation of the ban and move expeditiously to implement an islandwide public education and awareness campaign to sensitise Jamaicans ahead of any such move.

Spokesperson on Land and the Environment Senator Sophia Fraser Binns argues that this is even more urgent in light of the concerns from stakeholders about what will happen come January 1, 2019, when the ban takes effect.

"There are concerns about the consequences of the ban; implications for continued use of these banned products; approved alternatives to these banned products; and cost implications for small and medium-sized businesses," according to her.

Fraser Binns said the opposition believes that more time is needed before the ban is implemented, and as a first step, there should be an extensive public education campaign at the community and national levels.

She said the opposition is, therefore, urging the government to allocate the required resources and funding for this initiative.