Local not-for-profit, Green VI, sent their Executive Director, Charlotte McDevitt, and Operations Director, Dylan Penn, to the 2024 PROMAR (Prevention of Marine Litter in the Caribbean Sea) Annual Meeting & Summit held in Medellín, Colombia.
Funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, PROMAR is a testament to growing international cooperation in addressing the challenges of plastic pollution. The eight Caribbean states involved in the project, the BVI, Costa Rica, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Guyana, St. Kitts & Nevis, Suriname and Trinidad & Tobago, share access to the Caribbean Sea and also have several economic characteristics in common, such as tourism, fisheries and maritime transport. PROMAR aims to help address growing concerns over pollution levels and marine debris in the region. For example, studies have found as many as 200,000 pieces of plastic per square kilometer across the north-eastern Caribbean.
The Annual Meeting & Summit, which focused on "Experiences & Lessons Learned in the Prevention of Plastic Waste in the Caribbean Sea", brought together all eight project member states and twenty-five national and international experts to discuss the impacts of marine litter and strategies for advancing a circular economy. Also, Colombia, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic, who have concluded their work on PROMAR, shared their invaluable experience with those embarking on the project - BVI, Guyana, St. Kitts & Nevis, Suriname and Trinidad & Tobago,
BVI representatives Mr. Penn and Ms. McDevitt engaged with leaders and experts from various sectors, sharing insights and strategies for tackling plastic pollution and promoting a circular economy. Their participation underscores the British Virgin Islands' commitment to environmental sustainability and marine conservation.
According to Mr. Penn, “The BVI is known for its pristine beaches and vibrant marine ecosystems and this three-year PROMAR project will further environmental protection and sustainable tourism in the BVI and will facilitate active regional and international collaboration to address plastic pollution and promote a circular economy.” He also noted that more detail on the BVI aspect of the project will be shared in the new year.
"The PROMAR SUMMIT provided a valuable platform for collaboration and knowledge exchange," said Ms. McDevitt. "We are committed to working with our Caribbean neighbors and international partners to address the critical issue of plastic pollution in our shared waters." She also noted that more Information on PROMAR can be found at www.promar.org.