SEVERAL government Ministers are encouraging Barbadians to go to the beach and collect the Sargassum seaweed to use in their gardens.
Minister of Maritime Affairs and Blue Economy, Kirk Humphrey, was the first to make the call when he visited Bath, St. John, along with Minister of Environment and National Beautification, Trevor Prescod; Minister of Transport, Works and Maintenance, Dr. William Duguid; Minister of Agriculture, Indar Weir; and Minister in the Ministry of Transport, Works and Maintenance, Peter Phillips, to oversee the removal of an influx of the seaweed which has returned to the island.
Humphrey said he has been informed that once thoroughly washed off, the microalgae has been proven to be quite useful for plants.
“I am actually taking some home myself to use in my own garden. As we said when we were campaigning, this is our Barbados and all Barbadians have to play their part. So we look forward to the support from Barbadians in assisting us to get the seaweed off of the beaches,” Minister Humphrey said.
Meanwhile, Minister Prescod reaffirmed that once captured while golden, the seaweed can be used as a fertiliser.
“We can also use it for the farmers across Barbados because the results indicate that the produce are of a higher quality when they use the Sargassum,” Minister Prescod informed.
The Minister of Maritime Affairs and Blue Economy said thankfully the University of the West Indies has already done a lot of work in converting the Sargassum seaweed into energy.
“In fact, they have been able to convert what we consider to be waste grass into energy. And they say that the seaweed is actually producing a very good deal of energy and would be very useful. But as Minister Prescod said, we have to harvest it at a time when it is golden…,” Minister Humphrey said, adding that in the future Government intends to in-vest in a plant to utilise the seaweed. (AH)