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.

 

IDB Beach Clean-up

On Friday 24 May. 2013 the staff members of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Country Office and the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) partnered together on the IDB's Day of Volunteerism to clean-up the Grand Riviere Beach, one of the nesting sites for leatherback turtles on Trinidad's North coast.

Source: http://www.turtlevillagetrust.org/turtle-watching.htm

The MEWR was represented by members of the EPPD, Green Fund Executing Unit, Drainage Division, Forestry Division as well as its agencies the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) and the Water and Sewage Authority (WASA). Students from the Grand  Riviere A.C. Primary School were also present to participate in this important exercise that reinforced the non-governmental and governmental co-management approach to improving the state of the environment.

The day’s activity proved to be very fulfilling to all who participated. Though we were in one of the country’s most pristine and beautiful areas, we were all cognisant in knowing that we assisted in maintaining the accessibility of the leatherback turtle to the beach to lay their eggs.  In addition, we helped a community that generates a large portion of their livelihoods from the turtles presence on the beach.

 

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!