For the second year running, Antigua Sailing Week (ASW) will be issuing reusable cups at all their official events as part of its Sailors for the Sea Clean Regattas programme. The success of the programme has attracted sponsorship from the Citizenship by Investment Unit of Antigua and Barbuda (CIU).
“We believe that ASW represents superbly all that is distinctive about Antigua and Barbuda – an experience which weaves together fierce competition without mean spiritedness, and exhilarating celebration of triumph, success and camaraderie, ” explains Sherelyn Hughes Thomas Investment Officer with the CIU. Thomas adds that: “We are particularly pleased this year to be The Captain’s Cocktail and Green Team Sponsor. “
Rana Lewis, Events and Marketing Manager is delighted that the green initiative is gaining local and regional recognition: “We are fortunate to expand our relationship with CIU in that they recognise the importance of our green initiatives as a catalyst for wider community. For over seven years we have been gradually introducing new elements from setting up our Green Team to distributing reusable cups and this year, we will have a paperless event as tickets for our events will only be available through the Ticketing App. We are also introducing a water refill system, where patrons can refill their personal beverage containers which will result in the continued reduction of single use plastics ending up in the garbage. Last year, we diverted 35,000 plastic cups from Antigua and Barbuda landfill and in 2019 we want to see this number increasing.”
ASW is also working with local businesses and vendors to ensure that they continue building on last years success by only using (paper) straws on request, adhering to the closed Lobster season, which begins on May 01 and encouraging patrons to re-use the green event cups. Boat crews are encouraged to minimise the use of toxic cleaning materials as well as to adhere to all international guidelines with regards to discharge in marinas, limited bottom cleaning and ensuring that all boat waste is separated.
To support the green initiatives, the ASW Green Team work tirelessly to collect and separate the maximum amount of recyclable materials possible, then sort and separate it before dispatching it to the Antigua and Barbuda Waste Recycling Centre (ABWREC)
ASW are partnering with the ABWREC, National Solid Waste, the Environment Division, the Environmental Awareness Group (EAG), Fisheries Division, Sailors for the Sea and host venues especially the National Parks Authority (NPA) to ensure that the standards set are adhered to across the board.
