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Hundreds of Volunteers remove tons of trash from Coral Harbour beach for International Coastal Cleanup Day

Thu, Sep 21st 2023, 01:59 PM
Caribbean News Environment

More than 300 enthusiastic Bahamian youth, corporate partners, local residents, and even a beauty queen came together early Saturday morning to show their support for this year's official International Coastal Cleanup event, hosted by Blue Lagoon Island’s not-for-profit educational department Dolphin Encounters - Project BEACH.

The International Coastal Cleanup is a worldwide event orchestrated by the Ocean Conservancy, inspiring individuals across the globe to dedicate a day to the restoration of oceans, beaches, and coastlines. By encouraging people to participate, this global effort strives to foster a sense of environmental responsibility and stewardship.

The prime objective of this year's New Providence initiative was to tackle the litter strewn across the public beach and surrounding bushes in Coral Harbour. The collective effort resulted in two dumpsters being filled with many tons of trash.

Event coordinator Te-Shalla Clarke, Education Supervisor at Blue Lagoon Island said this site was different from the ones they usually select to clean up.

“Often we go into areas that are obviously used as dumping grounds. We find old appliances, mattresses and other big items. What we found out here though was garbage being left behind by beach goers. There were lots of small items, one spot where we found more than 400 bottles, all left behind by people who came here to enjoy the beach. It just doesn’t make sense,” she said.

This year’s official International Coastal Cleanup effort was supported by a number of corporate sponsors including Caribbean Bottling, Bahamas Waste, New Providence Ecology Park, Bahamas Wholesale Agencies, Aliv, CAT Bahamas and T&K Trash Removal. The Bahamas Red Cross provided onsite ambulance service and Randy C of 91.7fm provided upbeat music all morning long.

Caribbean Bottling demonstrates unwavering support for the Bahamas International Coastal Cleanup. Karla Wells-Lisgaris, Coca Cola's Brand Manager, explained that the brand was backing similar cleanup initiatives across 16 Caribbean countries on Saturday. Being a local and global team player holds immense significance for them. Karla also highlights the noticeable rise in participation throughout the years.

“It's very important for us to protect our natural environment, and seeing all the kids out here is even more important because they're obviously our future leaders and they are the ones who are going to benefit from our natural beauty,” she said, “So for them to understand the importance of keeping it clean makes it all the more worthwhile for us to partner with this initiative.”

This year’s cleanup saw more volunteers than ever before. A number of organisations showed up including the Governor General’s Youth Award, The Girl Guides and Brownies, Boys Brigade, Rotary Club of Nassau, Eco-Schools Bahamas, Temple Christian School Eco Club, BREEF, Visionaries, University of the Bahamas Eco Club, Certified Conch and Journey International. A number of students also participated to fulfill their community service requirements.

The Governor General’s Youth Award program consistently supports the initiative. GGYA had 75-80 youngsters at the Coral Harbour cleanup and this year they managed to spread their efforts across the country by encouraging GGYA units on a number of other islands to do their own cleanup initiatives.

Jacquetta Maycock, national director for the GGYA says the Dolphin Encounters Project BEACH International Coastal Cleanup is a fixture on their activity calendar.

“We all have this wonderful coastline to protect. We are fortunate in the Bahamas to be surrounded by so much of it, and I think our young people should take pride in it,” she said, adding “And the sooner they start, I think the more they're able to to to be impacted by the event, but also to do better for the future, and it gives us hope for future generation.”

Ms Major encourages her young participants who feel that their efforts aren’t enough by saying “you may not feel like you're making a dent, but you're definitely making a difference.”

Coral Harbour residents certainly felt like Saturday’s cleanup effort made a difference in their neighbourhood.

Jacquelyn Ferguson-Beneby, president of the Coral Harbour South association was amazed at the turnout and the end result of a few hours of work.

“This takes my breath away. I’m speechless,” she said of the hundreds of people who showed up, “Because we walk this beach, we walk this area almost daily, and the amount of trash that people leave here is just unbelievable. And to see so many young children from all walks of life here helping in this initiative to clean up our coast and clean up the beach is just amazing.”

The constant trashing of the beach is an ongoing cause of frustration for residents who live in the area and a number of them came out to help cleanup on Saturday. They want people to continue to enjoy the beautiful beach, but ask that they take any trash with them when they leave.

Clarke echoed that sentiment, saying that while much of the focus of International Coastal Cleanup is on protecting the marine environment, it is important for everyone to understand that people live in these areas.

“What they are saying is, keep my area and my home clean, because it's not fair to them to walk outside their doors and be exposed to your dirty pampers, your liquor bottles, your used condoms, yes, take these things back with you, throw it in the trash, or keep a bag in your car and then throw it in a trash,” she said.

Miss Bahamas Universe 2023, Melissa Ingraham, joined by a group of friends, actively participated in the cleanup initiative at Coral Harbour beach. With a deep passion for

environmental conservation, the beauty queen has made climate change her primary advocacy, striving to safeguard our precious natural resources.

“It's really heart warming to see so many young people getting involved, she said, “That's really important to the whole platform that I'm targeting, ensuring that there is ongoing education and awareness and the inclusion of all ages, but specifically the youth, and ensuring that they're aware of the importance of what's going on and what we need to all do to preserve our beautiful environment.”

Dolphin Encounters - Project BEACH holds beach cleanups throughout the year. Contact Te-Shalla Clarke at 359-0278 or visit www.dolphinencounters.com for more information. To learn more about International Coastal Cleanup Day visit www.oceanconservancy.org.

More than 300 enthusiastic Bahamian youth, corporate partners, local residents, and even a beauty queen came together early Saturday morning to show their support for this year's official International Coastal Cleanup event, hosted by Blue Lagoon Island’s not-for-profit educational department Dolphin Encounters - Project BEACH.
The International Coastal Cleanup is a worldwide event orchestrated by the Ocean Conservancy, inspiring individuals across the globe to dedicate a day to the restoration of oceans, beaches, and coastlines. By encouraging people to participate, this global effort strives to foster a sense of environmental responsibility and stewardship.
The prime objective of this year's New Providence initiative was to tackle the litter strewn across the public beach and surrounding bushes in Coral Harbour. The collective effort resulted in two dumpsters being filled with many tons of trash.
Event coordinator Te-Shalla Clarke, Education Supervisor at Blue Lagoon Island said this site was different from the ones they usually select to clean up.
“Often we go into areas that are obviously used as dumping grounds. We find old appliances, mattresses and other big items. What we found out here though was garbage being left behind by beach goers. There were lots of small items, one spot where we found more than 400 bottles, all left behind by people who came here to enjoy the beach. It just doesn’t make sense,” she said.
This year’s official International Coastal Cleanup effort was supported by a number of corporate sponsors including Caribbean Bottling, Bahamas Waste, New Providence Ecology Park, Bahamas Wholesale Agencies, Aliv, CAT Bahamas and T&K Trash Removal. The Bahamas Red Cross provided onsite ambulance service and Randy C of 91.7fm provided upbeat music all morning long.
Caribbean Bottling demonstrates unwavering support for the Bahamas International Coastal Cleanup. Karla Wells-Lisgaris, Coca Cola's Brand Manager, explained that the brand was backing similar cleanup initiatives across 16 Caribbean countries on Saturday. Being a local and global team player holds immense significance for them. Karla also highlights the noticeable rise in participation throughout the years.
“It's very important for us to protect our natural environment, and seeing all the kids out here is even more important because they're obviously our future leaders and they are the ones who are going to benefit from our natural beauty,” she said, “So for them to understand the importance of keeping it clean makes it all the more worthwhile for us to partner with this initiative.”
This year’s cleanup saw more volunteers than ever before. A number of organisations showed up including the Governor General’s Youth Award, The Girl Guides and Brownies, Boys Brigade, Rotary Club of Nassau, Eco-Schools Bahamas, Temple Christian School Eco Club, BREEF, Visionaries, University of the Bahamas Eco Club, Certified Conch and Journey International. A number of students also participated to fulfill their community service requirements.
The Governor General’s Youth Award program consistently supports the initiative. GGYA had 75-80 youngsters at the Coral Harbour cleanup and this year they managed to spread their efforts across the country by encouraging GGYA units on a number of other islands to do their own cleanup initiatives.
Jacquetta Maycock, national director for the GGYA says the Dolphin Encounters Project BEACH International Coastal Cleanup is a fixture on their activity calendar.
“We all have this wonderful coastline to protect. We are fortunate in the Bahamas to be surrounded by so much of it, and I think our young people should take pride in it,” she said, adding “And the sooner they start, I think the more they're able to to to be impacted by the event, but also to do better for the future, and it gives us hope for future generation.”
Ms Major encourages her young participants who feel that their efforts aren’t enough by saying “you may not feel like you're making a dent, but you're definitely making a difference.”
Coral Harbour residents certainly felt like Saturday’s cleanup effort made a difference in their neighbourhood.
Jacquelyn Ferguson-Beneby, president of the Coral Harbour South association was amazed at the turnout and the end result of a few hours of work.
“This takes my breath away. I’m speechless,” she said of the hundreds of people who showed up, “Because we walk this beach, we walk this area almost daily, and the amount of trash that people leave here is just unbelievable. And to see so many young children from all walks of life here helping in this initiative to clean up our coast and clean up the beach is just amazing.”
The constant trashing of the beach is an ongoing cause of frustration for residents who live in the area and a number of them came out to help cleanup on Saturday. They want people to continue to enjoy the beautiful beach, but ask that they take any trash with them when they leave.
Clarke echoed that sentiment, saying that while much of the focus of International Coastal Cleanup is on protecting the marine environment, it is important for everyone to understand that people live in these areas.
“What they are saying is, keep my area and my home clean, because it's not fair to them to walk outside their doors and be exposed to your dirty pampers, your liquor bottles, your used condoms, yes, take these things back with you, throw it in the trash, or keep a bag in your car and then throw it in a trash,” she said.
Miss Bahamas Universe 2023, Melissa Ingraham, joined by a group of friends, actively participated in the cleanup initiative at Coral Harbour beach. With a deep passion for
environmental conservation, the beauty queen has made climate change her primary advocacy, striving to safeguard our precious natural resources.
“It's really heart warming to see so many young people getting involved, she said, “That's really important to the whole platform that I'm targeting, ensuring that there is ongoing education and awareness and the inclusion of all ages, but specifically the youth, and ensuring that they're aware of the importance of what's going on and what we need to all do to preserve our beautiful environment.”
Dolphin Encounters - Project BEACH holds beach cleanups throughout the year. Contact Te-Shalla Clarke at 359-0278 or visit www.dolphinencounters.com for more information. To learn more about International Coastal Cleanup Day visit www.oceanconservancy.org.

 

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