EPA’s Annual Green Walk: United action needed to end plastic pollution – PM Phillips

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, today issued a strong call for collective action to end plastic pollution.
He made this plea while delivering the feature address at the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Annual World Environment Day Green Walk and Exhibition 2025 today (June 1, 2025), held under the theme “Ending Plastic Pollution.”

The Prime Minister described plastic pollution as a crisis that demands urgent intervention at all levels of society, noting that “our presence here today represents a public declaration that we are committed to ending plastic pollution… we will no longer accept the damage caused by careless consumption and disposal of plastic.”He also emphasised the significance of this year’s theme as a direct challenge to rethink daily habits and choices.
“Plastic pollution is a crisis that touches various aspects of our lives, clogging our waterways, littering our coastlines, and disrupting the ecosystems that sustain us.”
In highlighting the importance of community and institutional cooperation, he noted that the issue cannot tackled by working in silos, adding that it calls for collaboration, “united by our respect for the environment and our desire for a healthier, cleaner Guyana.”
Prime Minister Phillips said that the Government will continue to strengthen regulations around plastic use and disposal, and will invest in waste management systems that benefit all communities, whether rural or urban. He noted too, that the Government will also foster innovation that creates alternatives to plastic and promotes sustainable solutions.
“Ending plastic pollution is part of our duty as members of the global community and our way of standing with the world to protect the planet and ensure a sustainable future for all.”
Meanwhile, he commended the EPA for its work in fostering environmental education, community partnerships, and sustainable waste management systems and described the Green Walk as “a testament to that spirit of collective action, reminding us that small steps are indeed necessary.”
He also took the opportunity to emphasise the importance of safeguarding the environment and accepting personal responsibility for reducing plastic use, reminding everyone that environmental protection begins with everyday choices and shared values.
The event was attended by the Minister of Natural Resources, the Honourable Vickram Bharrat, members of the private sector, students, civil society organisations, and other Government officials.