GRAND BAHAMA, The Bahamas -- The Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, in an effort to ensure a clean and pristine Bahamas for the enjoyment of all, continues its advocacy for the clean up of the country’s coastal areas. Each year, in conjunction with the Ocean Conservancy, tourism officials on Grand Bahama Island via the Ministry’s Sustainable Tourism Development Department, join with representatives from over 100 countries world-wide for a cleanup day at beaches and other shorelines.

International Coastal Cleanup Day is set for Saturday, September 21st, and tourism officials are calling on the Grand Bahama community to join the effort to #SeaTheChange by tackling ocean trash.  Jermaine Johnson, MOTIA Coordinator and Manager of the GB Sustainable Tourism Development Department, urged residents to volunteer during a press conference on Wednesday, September 4th, 2024, at the Ministry's office in the Fidelity Financial Centre on East Mall and Poinciana Drives.

“The Bahamas is always happy to participate considering we are an archipelago and coastlines are extremely important to our tourism product,” he said. “We’re looking to clean up 10-12 beaches this year. We’re also looking for support from the community, so those who want to participate can feel free to come out. We’re especially looking for support from our civic organisations -- so that’s our Lions Club, our Pilot Clubs, Kiwanis, the Rotaries, etc., also lodges and greek letter fraternities; so all the sigmas and all the phis, and all the alphas and betas, we’re looking for your support as well in this year’s coastal cleanup. We want this year to be a greater success than it was last year. We want to get as much garbage out of our oceans and off our coastlines as possible,” he added.

The event is set to begin at 8am and wrap up at 10am.

Last year over 30,000 pounds of debris was collected from local beaches. It is important to note that these beach cleanups are not only keeping the island’s beaches beautiful and sanitary, but they also provide valuable data about the quantity and types of refuse that clutter coastal areas. This data is collected and sent off to the Ocean Conservancy to be used in a global report issued each year and it is all in an effort to help policymakers better understand the sources of pollution so they can develop strategies for long-term solutions and effect policy change.

EarthCare, Litter Free Bahamas, Keep Grand Bahama Clean Committee, the Royal Bahamas Police Force Urban Renewal division and local schools are also partnering with MOTIA for Grand Bahama’s observance of International Coastal Cleanup Day.

 
#seathechange The Ministry of Tourism's Sustainable Tourism Development Department of Grand Bahama, joined by partners, is urging the wider community to come out and help keep Grand Bahama's beaches clean and pristine at a beach near you, Saturday, September 21st from 8am-10am.  This effort is in support of the annual International Coastal Cleanup Day and will help in creating long term solutions for protecting the earth's oceans.  Pictured L-R (standing) Marilyn Hall, Litter Free Bahamas and Gail Woon, Founder EarthCare; (seated) Inspector Kelvin Harris, RBPF - Urban Renewal Department; Jermaine Johnson, Manager, Sustainable Tourism Development Department; Sargeant Nathalie Knowles, RBPF - Urban Renewal Department; and Cherish Russell, Keep Grand Bahama Clean.    

(BIS Photos/Jamika Culmer)