SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - Less than a month after the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC), Little Bay Beach is once again littered with trash. During this year's ICC, 180 volunteers collected over 1,554 kilograms of litter and debris from coastal areas across Sint Maarten. Yet, it hasn't taken long for people to start leaving their trash behind again.
Organizers stress that everyone has a personal responsibility to clean up after themselves and respect our natural environment. Government action is equally important and includes stronger enforcement against illegal dumping and the implementation of long-promised measures, such as the Plastic Free legislation aimed at reducing single-use plastics.
Organizers also raise concerns about what appears to be construction waste and filling material, potentially encroaching on public beach space.
"At a time when access to public beaches is already under increasing pressure from development, it is particularly concerning to see these areas being treated with such disregard. Volunteers should not have to keep cleaning up after those who refuse to take responsibility. Protecting our beaches means not only keeping them accessible to the public but also taking responsibility for keeping them clean and healthy," organizers state.
