INTERNATIONAL COASTAL Clean-up Day 2002 will be celebrated this year on Saturday, September 28, 2002. The day, which should have been celebrated on Saturday, September 21, 2002, was rescheduled due to the inclement weather affecting the entire island.
The day, usually celebrated on the third Saturday in September each year was initiated by the Centre for Marine Conservation in Washington, United States of America in 1986. The event sought to provide an opportunity for organisations, groups and individuals all over the world to participate in the shared responsibility of cleaning-up the coastal environment.
This year marks the 17th anniversary of International Coastal Clean-Up Day, which aims to heighten public awareness about the problem of marine debris and unite citizens in a collective effort to deal with the issue of pollution in their communities. This year, a number of activities involving government and non-governmental organisations have been organised to mark the event in Jamaica.
The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) will clean the Half Moon Bay area of Hellshire while the Negril Coral Reef Preservation Society (NCRPS) will undertake underwater and land-based clean-up activities. The sites to be cleaned underwater include; Xtabi to Blue Cave Castle, South Negril (from River to Hi-Lo Plaza) and Rock House. Land based sites include; North Bloody Bay (two sites), the public beach area between Issa's House and Mahogany Inn, the public beach area between Issa's House and the Beach Park, Orange Bay and Little Bay. The meeting place for the clean-up activities will be the Negril Community Centre at 8:30 a.m. Clean-up activities will end at 2:30 p.m.
The NEPA is urging members of the public to support and participate in beach clean-up activities organised in their respective communities across the island. Those who wish to participate may contact the NEPA at telephone number 754-7550-1/4/3, 1-888-991-2986 or their parish environmental organisations for further information.
