The University of Guyana, in collaboration with Adelphi (Germany) and the Cartagena Convention Secretariat of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), recently hosted a National Dialogue on Marine Litter Prevention and Plastic Waste Management with key stakeholders calling for stronger and more concrete steps being taken to combat marine litter and ensuring more effective waste management practices are adopted in general.
The dialogue forms part of the Prevention of Marine Litter in the Caribbean Sea (PROMAR) project and brought together over 40 representatives from Government, academia, the private sector, civil society, youth organisations, and international development agencies.
The event, which was held at the Education Lecture Theatre (ELT) on 21 May 2025, opened with remarks from Prof. Paloma Mohamed Martin, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guyana; Ms. Linda Johnson-Bhola, Dean of the Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences (FEES); and Prof Temitope Oyedotun, PROMAR Project Lead for Guyana They all emphasised Guyana’s pivotal role in the region’s efforts to combat marine litter.
Prof Mohamed Martin in her remarks, reaffirmed the university’s commitment to environmental stewardship. She challenged FEES to develop policies for improved waste segregation, recycling practices, and campus-wide sustainability initiatives, while commending the team for its ongoing efforts.
Keynote speaker Mr. Kemraj Parsram, Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), highlighted the challenges posed by inadequate public awareness and poor waste management practices in Guyana. He stressed the importance of stronger public-private partnerships in addressing the country’s waste management issues. International perspectives were shared by Mr. Amarnath Munnolimath, Head of Green and Circular Economy at Adelphi, who outlined global interventions to combat marine litter.
A central feature of the event was a panel discussion chaired by Dean Johnson-Bhola. Panelists including Mr. Parsram, Mr. Munnolimath and Mr. Lakeram Singh of the Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN) examined the barriers to effective plastic waste management
in Guyana, such as illegal dumping, limited recycling infrastructure, and delays in implementing the National Waste Management Strategy (2013–2024). The dialogue also drew attention to a striking statistic: Guyana ranks sixth globally in per capita plastic waste leakage into the ocean, averaging 1.59 kg per person annually.
The PROMAR project, funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMUV), is implemented by Adelphi and UNEP’s Cartagena Convention Secretariat in collaboration with national partners. It seeks to reduce plastic waste—particularly from packaging and single-use plastics—through policy support, local action, and the promotion of circular economy models. The first phase (2020–2024) was implemented in Costa Rica, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic, while the second phase (2024–2026) includes Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and the British Virgin Islands.
PROMAR aims to reduce the flow of plastic waste from land-based sources into coastal areas by mapping plastic waste streams, piloting circular economy solutions, strengthening institutional capacity for policy implementation, establishing regional monitoring platforms, and raising public awareness to reduce and intercept marine litter.
Interactive sessions in the afternoon allowed participants to identify policy gaps and prototype practical solutions. Facilitated by Mr. Munnolimath and Prof. Oyedotun, the sessions drew on international best practices such as the EU’s Marine Strategy Framework Directive and Circular Economy Action Plan. Ideas proposed included establishing Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs), piloting Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes, expanding the use of citizen science tools like “Litta-Reporta,” and improving coordination between municipal authorities and the EPA. Many suggestions centred on transitioning Guyana towards a circular economy that promotes reuse, minimises waste, and ensures accountability from producers.
Professor Oyedotun described the dialogue as “a landmark moment that signals Guyana’s readiness to move from dialogue to action,” noting increased alignment among stakeholders around a shared vision for marine protection and sustainable waste governance.
The dialogue was followed by a capacity building workshop on Thursday, 22 May 2025, which focused on Extended Producer Responsibility and Circular Economy Business Models. The workshop, which was also hosted at the University of Guyana, provided practical training for government officials, business leaders, and environmental professionals on designing EPR systems and supporting circular business ecosystems.
