TEAM members from the Sandals Resorts Montego Bay region Tuesday cleared more than 400 pounds of garbage from a section of the beach and sidewalks in the adjoining White House community as part of the company’s continued community assistance initiative as well as marking World Oceans Day 2022.

The work was done by the Sandals public relations team and the environment group, Earth Guardians.

The team, said a Sandals release, focused on the section of the White House beach adjacent to the new runway expansion of the Sangster International Airport, which is the scene of intense construction work.

The groups started the job at the crack of dawn, combing the community beach for plastic bottles, paper and plastic supplies, as well as disposable masks among other debris.

Sandals Montego Bay environment health and safety manager, Haniff Richards, cited the close collaboration between the resort chain and the community. “While today is a special effort to mark World Oceans Day, it is also a continuation of our close collaboration with members of the White House community which has been taking place for many years. However, since the advent of COVID-19 we have been doing clean up exercises in the area every three months.”

Sandals, Richards noted, is cognisant of the fact it has a major role to play in assisting neighbouring communities in maintaining a clean and healthy environment, “which is why we are so happy to be able to rid the beach and roadside of debris”.

Derrick Clarke, a construction work on the airport runway expansion project and who lives close to the White House community, was pleased with the efforts of the hospitality workers. “When I saw the Sandals team walking along the road with the rubbish bags and all the bottles, I felt really good. That’s really nice. It’s a great job that Sandals is doing in the community and I hope they keep it up. They are helping to keep the environment clean. Mi respect that,” said Clarke.

In lauding the resort group,Victor England, a long-time White House resident and one of the prominent figures in the community, said, “Sandals Resorts and Sandals Foundation are always there to assist the community of White House. Any time we call upon them they are ready to assist, whether it is giving the students school supplies, upgrading the school, handing out toys for Christmas, or whatever the need may be. We are happy to have them as neighbours.”

Ian Spencer, Sandals regional public relations manager, said the Sandals Foundation, the company’s charity arm, had recently, in association with the school board and Airport Authority, assisted in having the White House Early Childhood Centre compliant with the Ministry of Education’s protocols for reopening and that the students were now being engaged in face-to-face classes. The facility was also equipped with hand washing sinks and supplies to fight COVID-19, as well as playground equipment and an upgraded play area.