Students benefit from environmental awareness programme

MONTEGO BAY — More than 300 students from four schools in St. James have been sensitised about the importance of protecting the environment and marine life, through a series of workshops organised by the Spanish-Jamaica Foundation.

The workshops, which got underway on June 20  at the Anchovy Primary and Anchovy High schools, culminated on June 21 with sessions at the Granville All-age and Spot Valley High schools.

Through video and oral presentations, and power point displays, the students were educated about the social and economic benefits of maintaining a clean environment.

General Manager of the Spanish-Jamaica Foundation, Betty McKenzie, informed that the workshops were part of a $2.5 million environmental awareness programme being carried out in the parish.

“We have been raising concerns about how the lives of the ocean animals have been affected in Montego Bay… so we selected four schools in the area of Montego Bay to share with the kids about environmental protection,” she said.

The Montego Bay Marine Park, United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), MBJ Airports, and Seawind Key Investments, are collaborating with the Foundation on the initiative, which includes the donation of 12 garbage skips to the

St. James Parish Council, and an art competition for schools, with prizes of up to US$1,000 for the winning institution.  

“We are very happy to be able to support this initiative with the Marine Park, with Montego Bay, and to keep our beautiful city clean,” Ms. McKenzie stated.

The environmental programme, she added, is testament of the commitment of all the participating agencies towards a clean environment “which is an invaluable asset for the sustainability of tourism, the prime economic activity in Montego Bay and surrounding areas”.

By BRYAN MILLER, JIS Reporter