‘Sustainability is a lesson of our history’

Why is sustainability an important issue for Grenada?

We are a small island nation in the Caribbean and we need to conserve our natural resources. In the past, this went without saying – partly because of how slavery shaped our history. Slavery means inequality and destruction, not least environmental destruction, too. To survive during such times, people grew their own food, using simple tools and in harmony with nature. Sustainability is therefore a lesson of our history. In recent decades, however, lifestyles have changed. While people used to collect rainwater in cisterns, many no longer do so because water mains have been installed. This frequently results in water shortages. We are now rediscovering old techniques and practices and implementing sustainability strategies with support from partners like GIZ.

What specific changes have you made at your hotel, the Rainbow Inn?

We have equipped all bathrooms with water-saving toilets, so that each flush uses less water. We have also installed water-saving taps and shower heads. In addition, we have returned to collecting rainwater, which we use as non-potable water. This has allowed us to reduce the water we consume by around 25 per cent in total, which also cuts our costs. We compost our garden rubbish and have started to separate our waste. I have also launched a small plastic recycling project.

What else can a country like Grenada do to become more sustainable?

Sustainability needs to be taught in schools. In practical terms, what we are already doing on a small scale at our hotel should also be implemented in administration buildings, schools, hospitals and private households. However, that requires investment, which is hard for a small country like Grenada to finance. But it is not just money that we are lacking; we also need helping hands. I am therefore aiming to set up a volunteer project. We are looking for 30 to 40 people who can pay for their own travel and are interested in combining a holiday here in Grenada with working on a sustainability project.