RC Maracas/St. Joseph: "Please Take All Your Garbage With You"

International Coastal Clean Up Day is considered to be the world’s biggest coastal cleanup. The event has been held internationally each year for over 24 years, when people head to the beaches and begin removing debris and rubbish from shorelines, waterways and oceans.

 

In 1986, the American Centre for Marine Conservation held the first beach cleanup on the Texas coast with the aid of 2,800 volunteers. Since then, the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) has included inland lakes, rivers, streams and underwater sites in the cleanup and approximately half a million people in more than 100 countries have participated in the cleanup.

 

“While many focus on the beaches and shorelines, we concentrate on the Maracas Waterfall area and he Morang River.  These are essentially river courses and watersheds that supply the populated East/West corridor of Trindad.  Like our shorelines, it is important to keep our river paths clean,” said Anil Sieukumar, Club Secretary and Environmental Services Chair, Rotary Club of Maracas / St. Joseph.

 

He continued by saying, “Working with the ICC, the Morang River and Maracas Water Fall and its Trail were identified as Key watersheds and inland water ways feeding local rivers.  The area like many others continues to be plagued by the absent minded littering from the general public. Our mission is to rid the area of rubbish but more importantly to document our findings in an effort to educate the nation as to the impact we as humans have on nature through littering.  Additionally, the problem of marine debris does not necessarily start in the ocean, but is dumped further inland and washed down into the oceans. Each year, there is a vast increase in the number of marine animals injured or entangled in debris found in the oceans. Turtles mistake floating plastic bags as food and thousands of seals, whales, dolphins, sharks and birds die from entanglement in fishing line and other debris. Apart from the carnage to animals, there is the issue of flooding which is a nightmare for citizens.  We, as citizens, have the power to make a positive difference by stop littering.”

 

Sharing the statistics on the amount of garbage collected at the Maracas Waterfall was Assad Mohammed, President of Rotary Club of Maracas / St. Joseph.  He said, “Approximately 345 Kg / 759 Lbs of garbage was collected at the Morang River and Maracas Waterfall this year at the International Coastal Clean Up exercise organized by the Rotary Club of Maracas / St. Joseph.  Of the total amount of garbage, glass bottles represented 94.5 Kg or 27.4%; plastics and cans represented 70.5 Kg or 20.4% and miscellaneous items represented 180 Kg or 52.2%.” 

 

He continued by saying, “Approximately 210 Kg of garbage was collected last year which represents an increase of 135 Kg or 64% more waste to the total amount collected for 2015.  This significant increase was attributable to the expanded area covered along the Waterfall trail notably the hillsides and resting points where visitors seem to be throwing garbage, this is worrisome and alarming.  It’s still a lot of garbage that can cause havoc to our environment.  As citizens we should aim for a zero tolerance on littering. Our mantra has been for citizens to take their garbage with them – stop littering.  This applies not only for Maracas Waterfall but for all of T&T.”.

 

Mr. Ian Thomas, Group HR Manager, Coosal’s Limited who was on site and participated in the Rotary Club’s ICC exercise commented, “Littering is a serious problem.  The Coosal’s group is committed to working with any group who is concerned with the preservation, protection and conservation of the Valley, as you know we have been intimately embedded in the Valley for a number of years now and we will continue to work with all stakeholders as we have done before to minimize the impact of our operations to its residents”

 

Mr. Thomas continued “I commend the Rotary Club of Maracas / St. Joseph and all the stakeholders for recognizing the importance of ICC.  I commend the Rotary Club of Maracas / St. Joseph for its continued efforts to preserve the Maracas Waterfalls & Morang River.  Trinidad and Tobago continues to be a beautiful island.  Let’s commit to properly disposing our garbage so that we can continue preserve and to enjoy tourist sites like the Maracas Waterfall,” concluded Mr. Thomas.