THE Fisherman’s Beach in St Ann’s Bay, and sections of Priory Beach in St Ann, received much-needed facelifts from Sandals Foundation ambassadors recently.

Staff from the newly opened Sandals Dunn’s River cleared more than 1000 pounds of garbage and discarded items from the beach on Thursday, June 22.

In a two-pronged environmental effort, a team of Sandals Foundation volunteers from Sandals Royal Plantation staged an environmental awareness session with students of the Salmon Basic School in Exchange, St Ann.

The tourism workers explained the importance of keeping the beaches clean and urged the students to assist in anti-litter campaigns in their community.

The beach clean-up is part of a monthly coastal clean-up campaign that the two Sandals resorts will be undertaking at several beaches in the parish, in partnership with the team at Beaches Runaway Bay.

The volunteers filled scores of bags with items washed ashore, such as plastic and glass bottles, clothes, household items, sandbags, and car batteries.

Through this monthly initiative Sandals Dunn’s River, Sandals Royal Plantation, and Beaches Runaway Bay hope to spread awareness and encourage everyone to stop trash at the source, a mission the Sandals Foundation supports fully.

The labour of love will be a monthly collaboration between three environmental groups: the Sandals community volunteers, Earth Guardians, and the Sandals Foundation Ambassadors.

The teams started their efforts Friday, combing the beach for plastic bottles, paper and plastic as well as disposable masks, among other debris.

“We are really excited to have the environmental groups from both resorts participating in this important environmental exercise,” Sandals regional public relations manager with responsibility for the resorts Ian Spencer said. “As tourism-driven organisations we understand the importance of our beaches and the role we as good corporate citizens play in keeping them clean and in a condition that will attract, not just tourists but locals as well.”

Spencer said the Sandals Foundation is cognisant of the fact that the beaches are heavily patronised by members of the local community for leisure and commerce, “which is why we are so happy to be able to work with members of the local community to keep this particular beach clean”.

Shanice Hinds, environment health and safety (EHS) manager at Sandals Dunn’s River, said the Earth Guardian group commits itself to preserving the natural surroundings through projects in the environment.

Tajay Walker, EHS manager at Sandals Royal Plantation, pledged his resort’s community to help preserve the local marine life habitat.

Members of the neighbouring communities praised the Sandals Foundation and its volunteers for their assistance in clearing the beach, and said they looked forward to closer collaboration between all stakeholders.