The Planning Ministry is encouraging citizens to register and join T&T’s leg of the 2023 International Coastal Cleanup (ICC).

This year, the exercise is set for September 16th.

The Ministry says it will team up with the Environmental Management Authority to tackle the Foreshore along the Audrey Jeffers Highway.

However, it says there are 30 to 40 other sites all over T&T, which means persons have the option to join clean-up activities close to their communities.

These other sites are being managed by the Caribbean Network for Integrated Rural Development, which coordinates the local chapter of the ICC.

The International Coastal Clean-up is a global exercise involving millions of volunteers all over the world to bring attention to the detrimental effects of marine pollution, especially plastic waste.

Planning Minister Penelope Beckles says the plastic pollution trend has persisted over the years and so remains a national priority.
Plastic bottles have topped the list of items collected in beach clean-up exercises over the years, followed by plastic bottle caps and plastic bags.

Other waste items such as vehicle tyres, home appliances such as televisions and stoves, clothing articles and others have also been recorded in alarming numbers along the nation’s coastlines.

In order to stem the tide of marine waste, the Ministry says there is active engagement in the development of an International Legally Binding Instrument on Plastic Pollution including in the marine environment.

It says “This action is being taken globally to tackle this pervasive issue. This future instrument has the potential to not only catalyse national environmental laws and policies governing the production, use and management of plastic products and its associated wastes in countries worldwide; but it can also provide the significant support and collaborative initiatives that are required to effectively implement such an instrument. Trinidad and Tobago will continue to engage in this process, to ensure that our country’s circumstances are adequately considered throughout the development of this treaty while also contributing to the momentum required to see this massive undertaking become a reality.”