Acting Portmore Mayor to Engage Citizens on Environmental Issues

Acting Mayor of Portmore, Leon Thomas, said the Council will be looking to increase engagement with citizens, particularly the youth, on caring for the environment.

He was speaking to JIS News at the recent clean-up of the 1.7-kilometre Hellshire Bay Beach in the municipality.

The activity was organised by the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), Urban Development Corporation (UDC), and the Portmore Municipal Council for International Coastal Clean-up Day.

It attracted a large turnout of citizens, including students from various schools in Portmore and the wider St. Catherine.

Councillor Thomas hailed the strong support from the youth, which he credited to interaction and engagement with schools in respect to cleanliness and the environment.

“The Portmore Municipal Council had gone into the schools to educate the children, from basic to primary to high schools and to the wider community,” he told JIS News.   He said the education process will continue but will target adults as well.

Director for Environmental Management and Conservation at NEPA, Anthony McKenzie, said it is evident that people are beginning to realise that what is done on land affects the beaches and coastlines.

“With the youngsters getting the message and willing to do something about it means our future looks positive,” he stated.

Member of Parliament for South St. Catherine, Fitz Jackson, also expressed pleasure at the support from the children and young adults.

“I’m overwhelmed by their enthusiasm to participate. This is not a paid or fun event; it’s about clean-up and they showed up,” he noted.

“We have a number of schools that brought small teams to the event.  It is all those little groups added together that is responsible for this large outpouring,” he added.

Mr. Jackson said it is such participatory activities that will bring about the change that is needed in Jamaica.

“Not only as it relates to the environment or the respective beaches but to all facets of national life.  These are some of the things I talk to young people about and encourage them to do as nation builders. They can do their part to transform Jamaica; that’s what we need to celebrate and promote,” he noted.

Teacher at Cumberland High in Portmore, Diana Goslin-Green, told JIS News that the school decided to participate in the beach clean-up exercise in order for the students to better understand the real impact of pollution on the environment, what being good stewards of the environment means, and how their participation will impact climate change.

Mrs. Goslin-Green said she was really surprised at what was found on the beach.

“The many things that we found that can be recycled was alarming. Had the public been more aware and how important it is to keep the coastline clear of debris and that would cause damage to the natural and marine habitat, then it would be better,” she argued.

Fifth form student at Cumberland High, Tiffany Hibbert, told JIS News that is important for young people to “really understood what is happening to the coastline and the impact of uncaring behaviour on the environment.”

“If we do not start now, we won’t have anything to look forward to,” she pointed out, while calling on citizens to be more careful about how they dispose of garbage.

International Coastal Clean-up Day was observed under the theme: ‘Nuh Dutty Up Jamaica’.

The Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) coordinated a number of clean-up efforts islandwide with the support of the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) and other State entities.

The clean-up exercise usually attracts thousands of Jamaicans from all walks of life volunteering their time and efforts to restore the beauty of the country’s beaches.