THE Georgetown coastal cleanup was carried out at the seawall area in Kingston  between Pegasus and Camp Street as the Annual International Coastal Cleanup (ICC), coordinated by Ocean Conservancy and supported by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is  observed around the world on the third Saturday in September.

It was supported by over 150 volunteers from different organisations, schools and NGOs. Some of the volunteers were from the  Red Cross, President’s Youth Award Republic of Guyana (PYARG),  Green Ambassador’s Environmental Group from Graham’s Hall  Primary, Queen’s College,  Caribbean Youth Environment Network,  Bravo Arts,  St. Joseph High,  Stella Maris Primary,  Eco Trust Society, the Leos Club of Ruimveldt,the  Forestry Society,  Japan International Cooperation Agency, and  Patentia Bible Fellowship Church Youth Department.
The exercise started at 06:30 hrs and volunteers collected over 138 jumbo bags of garbage along the beach. The data gathered from this clean-up will be analyzed by the EPA and a report will be published by November 2013.
On the 28th of September, the clean-up exercises will be conducted at the Mackenzie and Wismar Markets in Region 10 and on the 29th of September at the Uitvlugt Seawall.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment would  like to thank all the volunteers who participated in the clean-up exercises and look forward to their continued support, “as we strive for a clean and healthy environment.”  Persons interested in becoming  volunteers can contact the Pick It Up Coordinator at the Ministry on 231-2506-11 (ext 219).
The Annual International Coastal Clean-up event focuses on removing debris from the shorelines, waterways, and beaches of the world’s lakes, rivers and bordering oceans.
In addition to keeping the  coastal environment clean, this activity also serves as a data-collection opportunity for scientists. The data is analyzed and the information used to strongly support the necessary interventions which must be made at national and international levels to protect  coasts.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment’s EPA along with Pick It Up Guyana (PIUG) has organised coastal clean-ups for the month of September – the Rose Hall Beach clean-up was done on September 15th and Georgetown on September 21st.