International Coastal Clean-Up 2017- Hart's Cut

Hart’s Cut, Chaguaramas was the Ministry of Planning and Development’s location for the 2017 International Coastal Clean-up (ICC) event. The activity, which was held on September 16, 2017 was conducted in collaboration with the Trinidad and Tobago Solid Waste Management Company (SWMCOL), and at twenty-four (24) other sites across Trinidad and Tobago by other entities.

The ICC is a global data collection exercise with an objective of removing trash and marine debris from beaches and waterways in an effort to help restore the integrity of the marine environment. The data collected is utilised for public awareness and sensitization programmes, mapping trends over the years and policy development. 

The Ministry of Planning and Development, as the Ministry with responsibility for the environment continued to be the largest local monetary sponsor of the event. The combined efforts from the members of staff from the Environmental Policy and Planning Division (EPPD), the Communications Department, the Central Statistical Office (CSO), and other divisions of the Ministry, along with the volunteers from the SWMCOL collectively resulted in the removal of 884lbs of garbage from the bay. The most unusual items collected included plastic veneer strips used for interior decorative purposes, an audio headset, an oil filter, a wooden stool, a paint tin, and dental floss.

 Special thanks to all volunteers who generously gave of their time and worked harmoniously towards the achievement of trash free seas, and for embodying the Ministry of Planning and Development’s ICC theme, ‘Environmental Pride is National Pride’.

                                     
             

ICC 2015!

Annually, the 3rd Saturday in September, volunteers around the world remove millions of pounds of discarded material and debris from oceans and waterways as part of the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC). Trinidad is no exception as on September 19th, 2015 volunteers rendered their time and efforts for ICC, 2015.

 

The Ministry of Planning and Development is the major sponsor of the local chapter of the ICC. Thus, the Environmental Policy and Planning Division (EPPD) of the Ministry continued its involvement with the cleanup and data collection exercise hosted by the Ocean Conservancy by assisting in the cleanup of the Chagville Beach in Chaguaramas. Chagville Beach was one of the 17 beaches that was cleaned across the country in this exercise. 

 

Staff of the EPPD joined Plastikeep and other volunteers and concerned citizens of Trinidad and Tobago in ICC 2015 cleanup efforts. Within their groups of 4, participants enthusiastically collected plastic and glass bottles, food wrappers, bottle caps, tyres, dead animal carcasses and other debris both natural and anthropogenic. By the end of the cleanup exercise several bags of debris were collected.

 

This initiative provides substantive evidence of the need for us to heighten our environmental awareness and alter our behaviour, in the hope that in the future less debris will be collected from our coastal sites.

 

Snapshots of from ICC 2015

Trash Free Seas! - ICC 2013

The International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) took place on Saturday 21^st September, 2013. Volunteers across Trinidad participated in the removal of litter and marine debris from eighteen (18) beaches and waterways, with a separate event in Tobago.

The Ministry of Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) is the major sponsor of the local chapter of the ICC. Thiis year the Ministry comprising of its Divisions and Agencies engaged in coordinated efforts to clean up one designated site, Chagville, Chaguaramas.

The Honourable Minister, Ganga Singh came out to actively participate in the removal of materials that threaten wildlife, human health, ecosystems, livelihoods and revenue generation. In addition, representatives from the Environmental Policy and Planning Division (EPPD), the Ministry’s Head Office, Forestry Division, Drainage Division, the Water and Sewage Authority (WASA), National Reforestation Watershed and Rehabilitation Programme (NRWRP), Green Fund and the Meteorological Services also participated.

Staff of the Ministry with the Honourable Minister of the Environrment and Water Resources, Ganga Singh (front row, third from the left)

4,325.5 pounds of garbage was collected by 1,142 volunteers from Chagville Beach alone. The efforts of those willing participants helped to restore the aesthetics and increase the ocean’s resilience, but also worked towards raising the environmental consciousness by providing tangible evidence on the need for us to alter our behaviour and implement long-lasting, resounding solutions. The overarching purpose of the clean-up effort was in the hope of creating Trash Free Seas in Trinidad and Tobago.

Special thanks go out to the local organizer of the event, the Caribbean Network for Integrated Rural Development (CNIRD) and the National Planning Committee (NPC), all sponsors, site captains and volunteers as it was because of their support this event was a huge success.

 

ICC 2012.. Cleaning up the coasts!

The International Coastal Clean-up (ICC) is a worldwide annual one-day volunteer event coordinated by the Ocean Conservancy geared toward pollution clean-up and pollution prevention. Since 1985, this event has become the world’s largest volunteer effort for ocean health. Nearly nine million volunteers from 152 countries and locations have cleaned 145 million pounds of trash from the shores of lakes, streams, rivers, and the ocean on just one day each year. For more than a quarter of a century, volunteers with the ICC have picked up everything imaginable along the world's shorelines: cigarette butts, food wrappers, and even the proverbial kitchen sink.

Trinidad and Tobago has historically supported the International Coastal Clean-up endeavour of the Ocean Conservancy for many years, with the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources being a major sponsor. The date for this year’s event was Saturday September 15th, 2012. The various Divisions and Agencies of the Ministry all generously participated at various beaches around the country:

• Environmental Policy and Planning Division (EPPD) and Green Fund – Harts Cut Bay, Chaguaramas
• Environmental Management Authority (EMA) – Manzanilla Beach, Manzanilla
• Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) – Marianna’s Bay, Blanchisseuse

Senator the Honourable Mr Ganga Singh participating in the coastal clean-up exercise at Harts Cut Bay, Chaguaramas

The Honourable Minister of the Environment and Water Resources Ganga Singh, a champion for the cause, also actively participated in the event at the Hart’s Cut venue with staffs of the EPPD, MEAU and Green Fund Executing Unit. The Ministry wishes to kindly acknowledge and thank the local organizer of the event, the Caribbean Network for Integrated Rural Development (CNIRD), all sponsors and site captains, and all the volunteers who participated in making this event such a huge success.

Hopefully these heaps will be smaller next year!