ROSE HALL, St James — THE John Rollins Success Primary School in Rose Hall, St James, was a beehive of activity last Friday, with the launch of the Lasco Releaf Environmental Programme (REAP) 2015/2016 competition.

The school earned the privilege of hosting the launch under the theme ‘Pick Up the Pace to Zero Waste’, because it won the 2014/2015 competition, which is in its fourth year. The school won 10 desktop computers and a cash prize of $100,000, as well as the LASCO trophy.

Conceptualised by Stephen Newland of Roots Underground, the programme seeks to increase environmental awareness in primary schools across Jamaica.

Students are judged in several areas including tree planting, best garden, and most plastic bottles collected.

According to Newland, the programme has grown beyond his imagination and this year there will be incentives for the teachers, including a trip for two to Florida.

Montego Bay Marine Park Executive Director Hugh Shim, who was the guest speaker at the launch, shared with children drawn from several schools across St James and as far as Trelawny, the work of the marine park.

“Some people don’t even know there is a marine park where certain activities are restricted in order to protect our coastal waters,” Shim said.

His creative dub poem ‘We haffi find a solution to the pollution’ was well received.

Member of Parliament for East Central St James Edmund Bartlett, Councillor for the Rose Hall Division Jason Cummings, Ministry of Education Regional Director Michele Pinnock, Regional Manager for the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) Kenya Keddo Laing and LASCO Brand Manager Krishta-Gay Lewis Harewood gave greetings.

All were of one accord in underscoring the importance of environmental best practices to guard against phenomena such as global warming and climate change. Skits and songs performed by students of the host school, as well as Albert Town and Catherine Hall Primary Schools carried the message of collective responsibility to ensure a cleaner, safer and sustainable environment.

The Lasco Releaf Environmental Programme has reaped much success in its short tenure.

Some 100,000 trees have been planted, 500,000 bottles collected and 150 gardens have been either assisted or started.

All schools present at the launch were given trees to start their planting exercise and the competition manuals outlining the rules of the competition.