EXUMA and Ragged Island MP Chester Cooper said the government’s upcoming ban on single-use plastics is being implemented too soon. He also hit out at the “punitive” punishment for releasing balloons as a first-time offence under the anticipated law. The ban on single-use plastics and Styrofoam will go in place on January 1, 2020. “I support the idea, but I do believe the implementation time is too close,” Mr Cooper said yesterday during debate on a compendium of environmental bills in the House of Assembly. “January 1 is right around the corner. I think a six-month window for public education and to allow people to deplete the stock they had already purchased would make more sense. In order for this to work, there must be buy-in from the public. The public should know how this impacts our land and sea and health. Otherwise people will flout the law.”

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