Found at: http://www.anguillaguide.com/article/articleprint/4263/-1/140/
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Beach Cleaning Planned:Protecting Anguilla's Natural Resources
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There is to be a clean-up campaign taking in Anguilla’s 33 attractive beaches, a move to protect the island’s natural resources on which the tourism industry is heavily dependent. It is the second time that such a full-scale effort is taking place. The exercise has developed from what was originally the Johnno beach-cleaning at Sandy Ground to an island-wide undertaking with Digicel being the platinum sponsor.
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L-R: Leroy Martinez, Damien Hughes, Johnnos and Stephenie Brooks
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The coming beach clean-up was launched on Tuesday this week when Digicel’s Manager in Anguilla, Stephenie Brooks, presented a cheque for US$6,000 to Johnno Edwards. She underscored the importance of keeping the beaches clean and commended Edwards, Leroy Martinez and the Anguilla Natural Trust, represented by Executive Director, Damien Hughes, for their work. She emphasised the need to involve the community in the effort, saying the beaches belonged to the people of Anguilla and it was for them to help protect the island’s natural resources.
Johnno said he and Mr. Martinez had been involved in beach-cleaning over the past six years and had been able to get some welcome support from businesses and individuals as well as the National Trust. The work is normally carried out by such groups as the Scouts and Guides at US$5 per bag of garbage collected. He was grateful to Digicel for its large sponsorship for the second consecutive year.
Damien Hughes said the National Trust was proud to partner with the others in the clean-up campaign. “For us, we believe that people support that which they help to create and we are in fact facilitating the creation of a better environment. This is because tourism is our mainstay and our beaches are an integral part of the product that we market,” he stated. He added that as Anguilla continued to develop there would be greater stresses on the island’s coastal resources and unless they were preserved, much harm would affect them.
Mr. Martinez expressed “heartfelt thanks to Digicel for demonstrating the good corporate citizenry in sponsoring the programme.” He said the effort had tremendous value in that it was teaching the children to appreciate the environment, keep it clean and that it provided a means for them to raise funds for their organisations from actual working than just receiving handouts.
The clean-up campaign is to commence shortly, following the publication of a calendar showing the various beaches on the island. The youth organisations will then sign up for the beaches they wish to clean early on Saturday mornings.