Providenciales, TCI, September 21, 2016 – On Saturday, 17 September, a 237 people collected a total of 455 bags of trash country wide! The well attended clean-up, hosted by the Department of Environment & Coastal Resources (DECR), was in aid of International Coastal Clean-up Day and saw countries around the world working together to fight for trash-free seas.
The event was open to all, and participants from all spheres of the community signed up to keep the TCI beautiful by nature! A total of 23 organisations, took to beach accesses, bushes, roads and of course the beach for a few hours, tidying up any litter and other debris they found.
“Litter is still a big problem faced by the TCI’s environment, but the DECR is encouraged by both the growth of this initiative, compared to last year’s efforts, as well as the increase in communities who have decided to take matters into their own hands by arranging their own community clean-ups. We hope to see International Coastal Clean-up Day continue to grow to be one of the largest annual, environmental calendar events in the TCI.” Said Amy Avenant, the DECR’s Environmental Outreach Coordinator.
This year the DECR partnered with the Triple Double Basketball Program as they sought to raise funds for their organization and teach their players about taking care of the country they call home. The group saw a total of 23 persons comprised of its players, coaches, parents, and volunteers come out to collect nearly 70 bags of trash across Providenciales from 5 Cays to Long Bay. They even had help from some of the country’s larger corporate entities such as FortisTCI and Beaches Turks and Caicos who not only aided with volunteers, but also provided supplies and donations toward their fundraiser. All together the donations totaled to just under $1000 and the monies collected will go toward ensuring that the program is able to continue providing these types of experiences to the youth of these “Beautiful by Nature” islands.
The following organisations registered with the DECR and took up their trash bags in the fight for trash-free seas:
- Beaches Resort
- B.E.S.T Institute
- Big Blue Unlimited
- Blue Haven Resort & Marina
- Blue Water Divers
- British West Indies Collegiate
- Clement Howell High School
- Department of Maritime & Shipping
- Edward C. Gartland Youth Centre
- Enid Capron Primary School
- FilCom Inc
- FortisTCI
- International School of the Turks & Caicos
- Mills Institute
- Provo Primary
- Rotarrec, Grand Turk
- School for Field Studies
- Seven Stars Resort
- Surfside Ocean Academy
- TCI Middle School
- TCSPCA
- Triple Double Basketball Program
- Turks & Caicos Islands Sailing Association
The DECR would like to thank the Turks & Caicos Tourist Board, KK&T and the Filipino Community in TCI, for their assistance with the disposal of the collected garbage, as well as donated materials, on Providenciales. This initiative could not have been a success without all the volunteers that were up early, on their Saturday morning, to fight for Trash-Free Seas!
Please visit www.oceanconservancy.org to see how the TCI was involved in a global initiative and how you too, can make a difference!
