BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – The Department of Environment successfully hosted its Annual Coastal Cleanup, mobilising 30 students from each secondary and the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College in St Kitts. A total of 240 enthusiastic Social Studies and Geography students, accompanied by 16 teachers from the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Exam (CAPE) programs, participated in this important initiative.
Following the cleanup, the students convened at the Frigate Bay Lawn, where they were met with Ministry officials, including Permanent Secretary Colincia Levine and Director of the Department of Environment Derionne Edmeade.
The coastal cleanup aligns with several local and global goals and commitments like the Sustainable Island State Agenda for St Kitts and Nevis, the upcoming federal ban on single-use plastics, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #14, Life Under Water. The overarching aim of the initiative is to encourage a mindset of environmental conservation, heighten awareness of the impacts of human activities on climate change, encourage eco-friendly practices, and reinforce the students’ role as environmental stewards.
The Director of the Department of the Environment, Derionne Edmeade, said activities such as these help to protect biodiversity, and he feels that engaging our youth is the way to start.
He said, “The enthusiasm shown by our students today is a testament to their commitment to protecting our environment. Engaging them in such a way is crucial for building a sustainable future.”
The event was a partnership among KOSCAB St Kitts Ltd, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and The Chipeen Volunteer Center.