LAST weekend, International Coastal Clean-up (ICC) Day Jamaica 2024, organised by the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET), saw more than 130 groups of volunteers across all 14 parishes working together to ‘keep wi island clean’.

Under the theme ‘Sea the Change’, ICC Day, celebrated globally on September 21, brought together thousands of volunteers to protect Jamaica’s coastlines and waterways.

ICC Day is typically a one-day volunteer event which takes place on the third Saturday in September and is coordinated locally by JET.

Volunteers are encouraged to not only remove waste but also document the types and quantities of trash collected. This data informs local and global strategies to address ocean pollution. ICC Day is aimed at removing harmful debris from beaches, rivers, and coastal areas while raising awareness about marine pollution.

“We’re grateful for the overwhelming support from volunteers and sponsors this year,” said Dr Theresa Rodriguez-Moodie, CEO of JET. “The participation from communities and groups across the island highlights the growing awareness of the importance of protecting our marine environments,” added Rodriguez-Moodie.

She was supported by Justin Saunders, JET’s programme director who said, “We are now in the process of collating all the data from our site coordinators, so we don’t have an estimate of the total volume of waste collected as yet. Data from the registered groups are to be submitted to JET by October 4, 2024 so that we can prepare our National Report, which will be published in early 2025.”

JET also hosted its own clean-up at the Palisadoes Go-Kart Track, where 657 volunteers collected 6,808 pounds of garbage, mostly plastics.

“While cleanup activities are important, they underscore the urgent need for bold action to tackle Jamaica’s plastic pollution and solid waste management challenges,” said Rodriguez-Moodie.

The Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), JET’s long-standing partner, continues to play a key role in ICC Day’s success, and Dr Carey Wallace, executive director of TEF, praised the turnout as he underscored that clean beaches are integral to Jamaica’s tourism product.

“I am incredibly proud to have participated in this year’s International Coastal Clean-up Day, not only with the dedicated team from the Tourism Enhancement Fund but also alongside 666 volunteers from the Ministry of Tourism and its affiliated public bodies who participated islandwide.

“Since 2008, TEF has been a committed partner in this vital initiative, investing more than $78 million to safeguard its continued success. This year our contribution of $5 million reflects our deep understanding of the need to preserve Jamaica’s invaluable natural resources — particularly our marine and land ecosystems, which are among the true treasures of our island,” said Wallace.

“Our natural resources are at the heart of Jamaica’s global appeal as a premier tourism destination, and we must protect them for the benefit of future generations. It’s a privilege to collaborate with JET, other partners, and volunteers to ensure that our environment is not only cleaned today but maintained and sustained throughout the year,” added Wallace.