A GROUP of six visionary, environmentally-conscious women with years of experience in management and entrepreneurship has registered ‘The Bag Bay Inc’, intent on transforming Guyana into a litter-free space. They hope to use this enterprise as a weapon in a robust onslaught against the ongoing accumulation of poly-based litter locally.
Operating out of the premises of The Paper Trail at Lot 302 Church Street, Queenstown, Georgetown, ‘The Bag Bay Inc.’ is a paper bag store having the objective to reintroduce paper bags as a replacement for plastic bags and Styrofoam food containers, which are widely used for packaging and delivery of prepared foods,  groceries and other items.

To this end, the company will wholesale and retail a wide range of paper bags of varying types and sizes, including:
*   Bags for supermarket shopping
*   Bags for lingerie shopping
*   Bags for fast food, pharmaceuticals and lots more.

Formally launched last Friday at Herdmanston Lodge at Lamaha and Oronoque Streets, Queenstown, Georgetown, the team behind this initiative is as follows: Nola Sinclair, currently Manager of Paper Trail, a printing and photocopying establishment at Lot 302 Church Street, Queenstown, Georgetown; Lucia Desir-John, Director of D&J Shipping, a leading freight forwarding and local custom brokerage business; Gillian Yaw, a qualified Administrative Assistant with over 20 years of management experience, who works as a Finance Officer with George Henry Associates; Coreen Alleyne, a retired Teacher of Home Economics and Business Studies, who is currently an executive member of the Horticultural Society; Eulene Sinclair, a retired qualified nurse in Special Education for the handicapped, guidance and counselling, among other things.
The directors of ‘The Bag Bay Inc’ have assured that the products, sourced from North America, are reliable, affordable, and are of superior quality. They are undertaking to provide delivery for orders. Special offers and discounts are available, and stocks go on sale by August month end.

Why paper bags?
The directors have expressed concern that, in recent years, Guyanese have been experiencing the negative effects of the disposal of plastic products in our environment. For example, plastics block our waterways; cause harm to humans and animals; and because they are non-biodegradable, litter our landfills.
Additionally, there is in some quarters a tendency to recycle plastic bags, which can be very unhygienic and potentially hazardous to good health, especially where wrapping and storing of foods are concerned.
Happily, the use of paper bags as an alternative to plastic bags can eliminate risks, and keep the environment litter free.

Survey
In 2000, the team carried out a survey targeting mainly Georgetown and other coastal communities. They found that many businesses prefer paper bags to plastic bags, especially as food containers.
Random interviews conducted with persons within the communities, taking a ‘man-in-the-street’ approach, also found that those in favour of paper bags significantly outnumbered those desirous of continuing the use of plastic and Styrofoam containers, and other poly-types.
In fact, many businesses claim to have taken a conscious decision not to refill their orders for plastic bags.
Meanwhile, as part of their contribution to combating the problem of plastic trash, the six directors of ‘The Bag Bay Inc’ will be mounting a rigid education campaign to sensitize the citizenry, while supplying paper bags as a viable alternative to the use of Styrofoam and plastics.
The directors of ‘The Bag Bay Inc’ pledge to bring products that are reliable, affordable and are of superior quality. Also, special offers and discounts would be available.