International Coastal Clean-up 2016...Coming soon!

On September 17 2016, be part of the global movement against marine debris.

STAY TUNED FOR FURTHER DETAILS!

ICC 2014

Annually, the 3rd Saturday in September, volunteers around the world remove millions of pounds of discarded material from oceans and waterways as part of the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC). Trinidad was no exception as on Saturday 20th September, 2014 at approximately 19 beaches and waterways across the country, dedicated volunteers rendered their time and service in this data collection exercise.

The Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) journeyed to the east coast to Manzanilla to clean up the surrounding environment and improve the beach's aesthetics for ICC 2014. The Honourable Minister Ganga Singh as well as the Honourable Minister Romana Ramdial, alongside the Permanent Secretary, Ms. Vidiah Ramkelawan and representatives of the Ministry's Head Office, the Environmental Policy and Planning Division (EPPD), the Communications Department,Human Resources, the Accounts Division, the Water and Sewage Authority (WASA) and the National Reforestation and Watershed Rehabilitation Programme (NRWRP) all braved the inclement weather on that morning to support’ Trash Free Seas’. 

Within their groups of four, participants enthusiastically collected plastic bottles, food wrappers, grocery bags, bottle caps, fishing rope, dead animals and other debris both natural and anthropogenic. By the end of the cleanup exercise, several bags of debris were collected and the condition of the beach improved considerably, as did the weather. 

All sponsors and volunteers deserve commendation for continuously organising and supporting this event.  Their efforts are useful for providing quantitative data to inform decision makers, researchers, the public and   organisations such as the Caribbean Network for Integrated Rural Development (CNIRD) and the National Planning Committee (NPC). Additionally, this initiative provides substantive evidence of the need for us to heighten our environmental cognizance and alter our behaviour, in the hope that in future years less debris will be collected from these coastal sites. 
 

Honourable Minister of the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Ganga Singh (centre)
 with the staff of the MEWR  who participated in ICC 2014.

 

 

Save the Date - International Coastal Clean-up 2013

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. 

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 is Saturday September 21st, 2013. Stay tuned for further information on the various sites and partners who will be at several beaches and rivers throughout Trinidad and Tobago on this date.

Implementing the Green Government Policy

The official Green Government Policy (GGP), which was approved in 2011, emphasizes the need for conserving domestic resources and reducing pollution locally. More specifically, it seeks to minimize the adverse effects of Government's operations on the environment. It is ultimately envisioned that the principles set out in this Policy will be integrated into the routine operations of the government.

 

In support of the GGP, the Environmental Policy and Planning Division (EPPD) has piloted several initiatives aimed at integrating some of the Policy's elements into our everyday operations. Some of these initiatives include the collection and recycling plastic and glass bottles, styrofoam containers as well as used paper, newspapers, cardboard and ink cartridges. The recycling drive was recently formalized through the procurement and installation of recycling bins at our offices in San Juan.

A composter (as seen below) was also installed for collection of organic wastes. Composting organic materials helps to reduce the volume of solid waste entering the landfills and in the long run, reduces the production of methane and leachate formulation in the landfills. 

In conjunction with these initiatives, the EPPD along with representatives from the Green Fund and the Basel Regional Coordinating Centre, has established a Committee to evaluate and record the success of these initiatives for use by other Government offices and agencies. The Committee is also charged with investigating other mechanisms through which the policy can be actualized. 

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!