Ozone officers from the English-speaking Caribbean and Haiti are meeting in Dominica over the next three days to further strategise in the regional effort to eliminate Ozone depleting substances.
Addressing that meeting on Tuesday, Dominica’s Minister for the Environment Kenneth Darroux said while his country does not produce such substances, it still has an important role to play in helping preserve the Ozone layer.
He said that approach was important because “we small island developing states are particularly vulnerable to the detrimental effects of ozone depletion”, and the many health and other problems associated with this.
Dr Darroux later told Dominica News Online that Dominica has been successful in phasing out chloro-fluoro carbons – CFCs, and was also tackling hydro-fluoro carbons (HFCs).
“We don’t produce them, we don’t manufacture them but we use them in refrigerating … we don’t import refrigeration and air condition units which use CFCs,” the minister said.
Dr Darroux said there were “fridges” in households which use hydro-fluoro carbons, but that the government was trying to phase these out as well.
He says a key strategy focuses on the customs area.
“We’ve worked with the customs, the police, and everybody else to ensure that when those units come in they are properly inspected to make sure that they meet the necessary compliance,” he said.
The Dominica-convened meeting of Ozone officers has the support of several agencies and organisations including the Ozone Secretariat, the Multilateral Fund and the United Nations Environmental Programme – UNEP.
That’s a good motion. Nice to know we are so far successful at eliminating these harmful substances. But what about those in the perfumes?
It’s a good idea on the ministers part..however i hope the change starts with him… and his contribution will be to stop the excess smoking. This minister smokes way too many cigarettes…come on Darroux…lets go…practice what you preach!!!
Good work Dr. Darroux and your team…we continue to stand by our Government in its endeavours to bring much needed change and development to our wonderful land…there has never been another administration committed to working in the interest of our people. As for the personal attacks, don’t let them hinder your progress but rather use them as stepping stones…
Less talk and more action.
Dominica has so many environmental concerns locally which go neglected whilst they play all thier empahasis on solving global environmental hazard that are mainly caused by the big industrialised countries.
Gentlemen charity begins at home. Consider:
– Our rivers are depleting,
– hundreds tons of silt are dump onto the corals by the mining companies
– The pagua river is being destroyed by a french contractor,
– real estate developmment in our water shed areas
– asphalt plant in a residential area
…and the list goes on. Dominica need to take stock of its priorities before trying to impress the big world with ozone battles and the like.
I suspect Darroux has good intentions.
While Idont t rust the rest, I always listen to him. He has potential to really improve his people’s lot.
Dr. dont let us down.
Yep, but…..stress….ask him when u see him
SO nobody commenting now?
You’re tiny cousin man?