Campaign To Protect The Environment Continues

The disruption to human activities caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has had positive effects on the environment, such as improved air quality, with the slow-down in industrial actions that generate a good deal of carbon emissions.

Environmentalists believe that the campaign to protect the environment should continue and the next generation must be educated about their role in the process.

One such advocate is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Founder of Global Anunaki Tech Enterprise (GATE) Limited, Mario McGregor.

Having spent years living in North America and having first-hand experience with multiple recycling practices, Mr. McGregor was excited to play his part in the local recycling of plastic bottles when the Government of Jamaica implemented the ban on single-use plastics.

One of his methods of collection for recycling is through coastal clean-ups.

“We’ve been doing the coastal clean-ups since 2019 and the purpose is to keep the country clean, because protecting the environment in the long run, saves lives. As simple as it looks, plastics cost a lot and it destroys the environment, so it is better we keep the environment clean. Since we started in 2019, we have collected over 5,000lb of plastic so far,” Mr. McGregor tells JIS News.

On May 15, GATE Ltd. hosted another of its coastal clean-ups and plastic recycling drives along a section of the Palisadoes strip. The activity attracted volunteers from several schools, including the Allman Town Primary, whose recycling programme receives support from the company.

“We got involved with the Allman Town project because I know a few educators there and the connection was made. They are already doing recycling, so it made sense to make partnerships instead of doing our own thing. It is important to create awareness, especially among the schoolers, because they will be the ones to take care of the environment later on,” says the GATE Founder.

GATE Ltd. helps Allman Town Primary in their own collection of plastics for recycling and teaches the students about its importance.

Other students who participated in the coastal clean-up came from Alpha Primary, August Town Primary, New Providence Primary, Eltham High, Camperdown High and St. Hugh’s High Schools.

Together, the small group of masked and sanitised students collected more than 120lb of plastic bottles.

“I haven’t had the opportunity to participate in other extracurricular activities since COVID-19, so I decided to participate in local recycling. It has taught me a lot, such as teamwork, giving back and taking care of the environment,” shares past student of Papine High, Tasianne Perkins.

Camperdown High student, Antesha Barracks, who has been volunteering at GATE Ltd. coastal clean-ups since 2019, says working with Mr. McGregor “motivates you to want to come out and clean up the environment”.

“It is our environment and we have to learn to keep it clean, because we are the ones living in it and we are the ones that are going to be affected in the end,” adds Ms. Barracks.

Along with upcoming coastal clean-ups in August and on International Coastal Clean-up Day in September, Mr. McGregor tells JIS News that the company has a partnership in the pipeline that could open a gateway into islandwide environmental and recycling awareness.

“There is a partnership going on with a company in England and some Jamaican sponsors that are looking towards doing a beautification project for the community of Hermitage and August Town. So, I decided to partner with them and create one team that will create awareness for everyone. We are trying to coordinate and organise together to create awareness across the island,” Mr. McGregor tells JIS News.

“There will also be community competitions as they relate to recycling and beautification. This is for full awareness, because there are lots of benefits to recycling,” he adds.

Mr. McGregor is encouraging the public to be mindful of the environment and to tackle pollution for a clean space “in which we all want to live”.