The Government of Dominica has announced that it will provide sustainable bags to its citizens to reduce plastic waste. The initiative is a part of the Labour government’s Go Green Dominica move to make the country plastic-free and become the world’s first climate-resilient nation.
As part of the move, the government is providing each household two bags made of Jute and cotton. “Help Dominica go plastic bag-free by reusing these bags again and again,” read the printed slogan on the bags.
The leaflet included with the bag say: “Thank you for helping to preserve our nature island and protect the environment.”
It also explains that Jute is a durable material and supports the environment because it’s biodegradable. It details that the cotton used in the bag is “ethically produced” as its compliant with the global ethical production standard.
A larger commitment to sustainability
As one of the smallest countries in the world, Dominica, an island with a population of 72,000 in the Caribbean, sees massive repercussions of climate change. In the past couple of years alone, it had faced several natural disasters that shook its population, infrastructure and economy. To combat the crisis, the country has taken significant measures to set an example for the international community to also make the change.
In August 2018, the government announced plans to ban single-use plastic and Styrofoam containers for the following year. Additionally, they encourage citizens to adopt eco-friendly habits by using biodegradable packaging like baskets and boxes by imposing a 0% import tax on these materials and avoiding plastic straws and containers.
Support from Citizenship by Investment (CBI)
Following the category-5 Hurricane Maria in 2017, Dominica’s Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme, which is an opportunity for high net worth individuals to invest in social or real estate projects to attain second citizenship, helped the island with its effort to become environmentally sustainable and climate-resilient.
With the help of CBI, Dominica is building a geothermal energy plant which can drive the country’s energy mix to 51% renewables. It will initially generate 7MW of clean energy able to supply 23,000 homes across the island, which represents nearly the whole Dominican population. Eventually, Dominica has the potential to be an exporter of green energy, for example, to nearby French territories Martinique and Guadeloupe via submarine cables.
Dominica is known as ‘The Nature Isle’ because of its diverse landscapes. This includes tropical scenery, stunning beaches, forests, mountains, waterfalls and lakes. With so much to offer to adventurers and explorers, the island has chosen to become a pioneer in the field of ecotourism. The hope is that this industry will promote dispersed economic development while providing environmental protection and cultural conservation. Dominica has warmly welcomed some of the world’s most high-ranking hotel chains like Kempinski, Hilton and Marriot which are carving a niche in eco-friendly resorts.
The CBI Programme provides a safe and secure path for individuals and their families who wish to attain second citizenship of the Commonwealth of Dominica. A diverse blend of English, French, African and Carib peoples and cultures, Dominica is a politically and economically stable state with the lowest crime rate in the region. By either investing in the island’s Economic Diversification Fund (EDF) that supports public and private projects in the country like education and healthcare, or a government-approved real estate project, investors can achieve global mobility, full resident status, and the ability to pass on the citizenship to future generations.
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