Joshuanette Francis, founder of Good Humans268, has responded fiercely following an order by the Central Board of Health asking the nonprofit to remove one million plastic bottles from their John Hughes site.
“We as an organization, on the record, even before the initial launch of our project in April 2023, myself, Michelle Toussaint, went to Indira James Henry, who is now the general manager of Solid Waste. Francis explained.
“She introduced me to Ruth Spencer and would have given me guidance for us to get the $98,000 from Sandals and GEF,” Francis stated.
According to Francis, the operation has received government support in the past, with assurances that their work could continue despite funding challenges.
Francis refuted concerns raised by Deputy Chief of the Central Board of Health Daryl Spencer regarding health risks at the facility, particularly potential rodent infestation.
She added that she has receipts and documentation to prove these measures and also addressed allegations that the facility was accepting non-recyclable waste.
“Ninety percent of the items that are in John Hughes are glass bottles, cans, and plastic… no person in the 24 months that we’ve been here has ever dropped off anything other than recyclables,” Francis asserted.
The Good Humans 268 initiative has faced significant financial challenges, with staff going unpaid since October 15. Despite receiving $60,000 from the government in August 2024, following intervention by Sir Molwyn, Francis says the promised support has not been sufficient to sustain operations.
Francis stressed that the recycling initiative is about more than environmental protection—it’s about creating opportunities for vulnerable community members, particularly those with disabilities.
“We need the help that the government of Antigua and Barbuda promised us on multiple occasions. We, not Joshuanette – we, the entire disabled community in Antigua and Barbuda – we need jobs. We need hope,” Francis bemoaned. “We need the government to give us support so that we can make a change. We don’t want to be beggars. We want jobs.”
Francis however remains committed to the recycling initiative despite the setbacks. “I can go back to work to save my land. But it’s not about Joshuanette. It’s about everybody who’s given. Not for Joshuanette, but for people with disabilities.”
As the deadline has passed, Francis continues to call for government assistance to relocate the materials and sustain the program that she says has already diverted hundreds of thousands of plastic items from the landfill.
