BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, October 12th 2012 (SKNIS) - The Department of Physical Planning and Environment in the Ministry of Sustainable Development is making a call for residents of St. Kitts and Nevis to keep the beaches clean.
The need for such action was reinforced when it was observed how much garbage and debris was removed from the beaches on National Beach Clean Up Day which was held September 28 this year.
Derionne Edmeade, Environmental Education Officer informed the St. Kitts and Nevis Information Service that while total results for this year’s effort are not in as yet, it is expected, judging from preliminary findings, that last year’s totals will be exceed. National Beach Clean Up 2011 removed a total of 11,325 units of debris weighing 1,795 pounds. The Environmental Education Officer thus encouraged residents to keep the beaches clean.
“It is important up that we all protect our beaches, especially because we have a tourism-oriented economy,” Mr. Edmeade emphasized. “We have to realize that what we discard on the beaches can be washed into the ocean and cause much damage to many different species of marine life – some of which we depend on for livelihoods and food. We have to remember that our actions today affect out future and the future of our children.”
Mr. Edmeade revealed that over 280 students, departmental staff and other volunteers participated on National Beach Clean Up Day. The students were from all the secondary schools and the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC) and were chiefly geography and social studies students who would use the collected data to form part of their School Based Assessments (SBAs) projects and other class assignments. The volunteers were from the Ministry of Health, the St. Kitts Marriott Resort, and Ross University School of Veterinary Studies.
The beaches cleaned included the entire stretch of shoreline from the mouth of the Cayon River at Hermitage Bay in the north to Half Moon Bay in the south. This includes the area along the coast that forms part of the St. Mary’s Man and the Biosphere Programme which is a UNESCO-sponsored initiative designed to protect the indigenous plant and animal life of the area while stimulating economic activity. The shoreline along the Newtown Bay Road was also cleaned.
The Environmental Education Officer took the opportunity to thank the principals of the Secondary Schools and the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College for their support in allowing the students to participate each year. He also acknowledged the annual significant contribution made by Christophe Harbour Development Ltd. and other organizations including the St. Kitts Bottling Company, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Development Bank, Rock and Dirt Ltd. St. Kitts Marriott, SDB Solutions and caterers Manhattan gardens and Carol Paul Catering Services.
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