On Monday, the National Conservation Authority (NCA) spearheaded a cleanup of Vigie Beach following the passage of Tropical Storm Bret on Thursday and Friday.
The Department of Infrastructure, Vigie, and La Clery residents participated.
“We are all concerned about the environment, as well as the tourism industry, which has been impacted,” NCA Technical and Implementation Manager Benoit Michel stated.
Michel said seeing so many stakeholders participating in making the environment more presentable for locals and visitors was beautiful.
But the NCA official observed that Saint Lucia has a serious litter problem.
He also lamented a lack of concern for the environment.
Michel disclosed that the marine litter on Vigie Beach came from communities.
“It eventually gets into a river and downstream – ends up on the sea, makes it difficult for the reefs, the marine environment as well as for us to enjoy the pristine environment that we really would like,” he noted
According to Michel, the NCA cleans the beaches daily.
“Certain beaches we clean in the morning and by the afternoon the beach is already dirty,” Michel said.
“Our people need to be more conscious of the environment,” he asserted.
Michel disclosed that cleanup participants found items, including vehicle parts, on the beach.
He stated that those items were disposed of elsewhere but ended up on the beach.
Vigie resident Donna Devaux, who participated in the beach cleanup, explained that people in the area have a chat group.
Devaux said the residents had organised a beach cleanup on Friday but still came out to support Monday’s NCA-led exercise.
On Sunday, the opposition United Workers Party (UWP) also held a Vigie Beach cleanup.
Isn’t that the same beach the UWP supporters cleaned? Our other beaches need attention too.
All hands on deck and that was very refreshing. NCA would be pleased to know that Henry Charles would be back home any time now, and the clean up is a good gift to let him know that his efforts did not go in vain. A clean up will soon be effected at the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College and Charles will be happy as well.
There’s a litter problem because no one is shelling out money to pay fines. In Texas 5 pounds of litter cost the perpetrator $500USD. Maryland is among the states with the strictest litter laws. Violators pay $1,500 fine and possible 30 days in prison to a $30,000 fine with possible 5 years in prison. In Germany and Switzerland even worse penalties for the smallest infraction. These places are super clean.
I have witnessed first hand the trashing of the place. Illegal dumping of construction materials, plastic bottles thrown anywhere etc. It’s sad that pristine places are just being trashed by a few.
Being clean starts in the home. Animals breed animals. Litter wardens might be a good place to start. What the home doesn’t teach, then the law should. Thanks to everyone who fight the battles for cleanliness and protecting our environment.
How many post Bret cleanups is Vigie Beach going to have! Dammnnnnn