Sandals Earth Guardians, NSWMA join forces to tackle ocean pollution

Vanassa McKenzie / Our Today

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Sandals Earth Guardians unite! Earth Guardians from Sandals Montego Bay show us a portion of the 500 pounds of waste collected from their cleanup in collaboration with the NSWMA along Old Kent Avenue Road (Photo: Contributed).

Residents in and around the Montego Bay area will now have access to cleaner beaches and roadways after scores of Earth Guardians from Sandals Resorts and members of the National Solid Waste Agency (NSWMA) recently concluded a clean-up activity on Old Kent Avenue Road in the second city.

The clean-up activity resulted in some 500 pounds of garbage being removed from the coastal roadway.

Environmental health and safety officer at Sandals Resorts, Haniff Richards, said that the clean-up activity was in keeping with the company’s values on environmental sustainability.

Environmental Health & Safety Manager for Sandals Montego Bay, Haniff Richards, (centre) poses with the Sandals diving team as they return to shore with the cast of underwater pollutants recovered at a recently staged Buccaneer’s Beach clean-up dive (Photo: Contributed).

“The team and I are eager to effect positive change regarding environmental awareness and are charged to action further beach cleanups that can hopefully bring about a lasting impact,” Richards said.

Customer relations officer at Western Parks and Markets Waste Management Limited, Sharnon Williams, pointed out that due to road isolations civilians have used the area as an illegal dump site for old appliances, dead animals, furniture and general refuse.

She further noted that citizens have become neglectful of the harmful impact that the improper disposal of waste has on marine life that is in proximity to the dumping site.

Sandals Regional Public Relations Manager Rochelle Forbes – Reid (right) assists NSWMA Steward, Herman Malcolm during the cleanup effort on Old Kent Avenue Road (Photo: Contributed).

“It’s a travesty to see the condition of this road, not only is it unsightly but it is dangerous for aquatic life in the area. It is a deterrent for tourists that pay to enjoy our water bodies, problematic for the people in the surrounding communities that depend on fishing for their livelihood and it also acts as a breeding site for mosquitos that may potentially spread harmful diseases,” Williams said.

Regional public relations manager at Sandals Resorts, Rochelle Forbes-Reid, said that every piece of garbage removed during the clean-up activity is indicative of the small victories gained in the fight against ocean pollution.

Sandals Foundation volunteer Camille Spence (centre) poses for a picture with a group of students from the Salt Spring Primary School, who were excited to showcase their winning ‘Save our Seas’ poster and prizes during an Ocean Conservation session at their school (Photo: Contributed).

She further noted that Sandals Earth Guardians and Foundation volunteers will remain relentless in their effort to reduce human waste and encourage environmental stewardship among communities and students.

“Though our work thus far is admirable we acknowledge that we still have a way to go with our conversation efforts to forge greener and cleaner path ahead,” Forbes-Reid stressed.

Sandals Foundation volunteers have embarked on several environmental activities such as the ‘Save the Coral Ree’ initiative which was facilitated through the Montego Bay Public Relations Department. This initiative saw 103 students from Salt Spring and Farm primary schools being educated on the dangers of coral reef degradation and ocean pollution.