Department of Environment Successfully Completes Annual Coastal Cleanup with Youth Engagement

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – Friday 25 October 2024- The Department of Environment successfully hosted its Annual Coastal Cleanup, mobilizing 30 students from each secondary and the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College in St Kitts. A total of 240 enthusiastic Social Studies and Geography students accompanied by 16 teachers from the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Exam (CAPE) programs participated in this important initiative.

Designated beaches included Dieppe Bay, Conaree Beach, Hermitage Bay, North Frigate Bay, Keys Beach, and the Industrial Site Bay. During the morning activity, volunteers collected and categorized waste into several categories such as general waste, plastic waste, and glass waste. All items were recorded and weighed, highlighting the importance of data collection in environmental efforts.

Following the cleanup, the students convened at the Frigate Bay Lawn where they were met with Ministry officials including Permanent Secretary Colincia Levine and Director of the Department of Environment, Derionne Edmeade.

The coastal cleanup aligns with several local and global goals and commitments like the Sustainable Island State Agenda for St Kitts and Nevis, the upcoming federal ban on single-use plastics, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #14 Life Under Water. The overarching aim of the initiative is to encourage a mindset of environmental conservation, heighten the awareness of impacts of human activities on climate change, encourage eco-friendly practices, and reinforce the students’ role as environmental stewards.

The Director of the Department of the Environment, Derionne Edmeade, said activities such as these help to protect biodiversity, and he feels that engaging our youth is the way to start.

He said, “The enthusiasm shown by our students today is a testament to their commitment to protecting our environment. By engaging them in such a way is crucial for building a sustainable future.”

The event was a partnership among KOSCAB St Kitts Ltd, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and The Chipeen Volunteer Center.

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