by DONNA SEALY

BARBADOS WILL be able to handle all liquid and solid waste generated during Cricket World Cup 2007.

Minister of Health Jerome Walcott gave this assurance yesterday evening, noting a recycling programme would also be in place by the time matches start in March.

"Yes, we should be able to handle it," he told the DAILY NATION.

He also said that in addition to provisions being made to handle the solid waste from cruise ships docked in the Bridgetown Port, the programme would take into account the amount of plastic, in particular, likely to be used at Kensington.

Speaking to the media earlier in the day after the first session of a workshop on healthy snacking, organised by the Diabetes Association of Barbados at United Nations House, Walcott said Barbados had already put measures in place to deal with the waste from cruise ships as well as the 500 yachts expected here during CWC.

"The Ministry of Health has been working in conjunction with the Port Authority and we have developed protocols . . ..

"We'll be upgrading the incinerator with the understanding that solid waste is not to be transferred from ships inland into our landfill [and] that it has to be dealt with at the port. This is a normal international health requirement . . .."

He added that for disposing liquid waste, some of the modern cruise liners had incinerators and sewage treatment facilities.

"The ones that don't have that, normally their sewage is emptied through the pipes that are connected to the Sewerage Plant."

Walcott said what was "worrying" was that only some of the yachts had holding tanks.

"You wouldn't want those who don't have holding tanks to be flushing all over Carlisle Bay, for argument's sake. Our protocols speak to that. We are looking at . . . providing toilets and showers in the Willoughby Fort area so these persons will be able to take care of needs."

* donnasealy

@nationnews.com

Please see also Page 4.