The issue of pressing hemp a variety of the Cannabis sativa plant, that is grown primarily for its fibre and seeds into service as a legitimate crop and a major money-earner for Caribbean economies has been placed on the regional front burner once again with the recent pronouncement by Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness that the plant can be used in the production of environmentally friendly containers in Jamaica.
The Jamaican government is currently grappling with the challenge of staving off the environmental consequences associated with the proliferation of non-biodegradable containers and recently a resolution was passed in the island’s Upper House calling for government intervention to effect a ban on the importation of plastic bags below 50-gallon capacity and on all finished goods made from Styrofoam. The resolution also advocates curtailing the production of those items in Jamaica unless they include an enzyme capable of rendering them biodegradable.