ICC clearly highlights growing littering issue on Sint Maarten | SOUALIGA NEWSDAY

September 22, 2024

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - On Saturday, September 21st, more than 140 volunteers gathered at Little Bay Beach & Pond near Belair to take part in this year’s International Coastal Cleanup (ICC). Among this, a significant amount of single-use-plastics were collected such as plastic bottles, plastic caps, plastic cups, plastic straws and styrofoam food containers and pieces. Notably, large amounts of heavy construction debris were also found scattered among hidden pathways and the nearby mangroves, adding to the environmental burden.

"It's sad to return and find the area still cluttered with bottles and debris, but it's a reminder of why our efforts are so important," remarked one of the volunteers who ventured onto Little Bay Beach and along Little Bay Pond to retrieve trash. Volunteers also collected data on the litter they collected utilizing the Clean Swell app. Once again, plastic and glass beverage bottles topped the list with some of the most items found, followed by plastic bottles caps and plastic/foam pieces. Unusual items like a car battery, and parts of a floating dock were also found. In total, volunteers collected a whopping 1,518 lbs of debris during the hour and a half clean up.

Several partners, including the St. Maarten Development Fund (SMDF), Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC), Grant Thornton, St. Maarten Pride Foundation and Nature Foundation St. Maarten, hosted the cleanup – in support of “Plastic Free SXM”, a project initiated by the Department of Interior and Kingdom Relations (BAK). This project is supported by the Resilience, Sustainable Energy, and Marine Biodiversity (RESEMBID) programme. RESEMBID is a 47-project programme funded by the European Union and implemented by Expertise France – the development cooperation agency of the Government of France and supports sustainable human development efforts in 12 Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) – Aruba, Anguilla, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Curaçao, Montserrat, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Saint Barthélemy, Sint Maarten, and Turks and Caicos.

“This year’s ICC not only showcased the community's dedication but also emphasized the critical need for a collective approach to reducing plastic and styrofoam pollution on the island. It served as a reminder for individuals, businesses, and policymakers to collaborate on sustainable solutions that can protect the natural beauty of St. Maarten,” stated Program and Development Manager of SMDF Melanie Choisy.

The cleanup drew volunteers from various community groups, businesses, and schools, including Milton Peters College, St. Dominic High, Learning Unlimited, Grant Thornton, Boomerang Boat Charters, Tri-Sport, SXM DOET Project Coaches, LAB Sports Swimmers and St. Maarten Academy Bridge Builders & Key Club who organize regular cleanups in the area and also painted a beautiful mural designed by artist Bernica Michel. Special thanks to Mr. Schaminee from the Ministry of VROMI and numerous families that also participated, with children actively contributing to the cleanup efforts. To encourage involvement, participants were divided into teams for eligible prizes. SMDF and their partners thank the many volunteers and sponsors who made the ICC a success.

The International Coastal Cleanup is a global effort spearheaded by the Ocean Conservancy since 1986, and has led to the removal of an estimated 350 million pounds of trash from beaches and waterways worldwide. Sint Maarten has proudly participated in this event for over 20 years, reinforcing the island's dedication to environmental conservation.