Falmouth’s Jobson Bay Eco Park gets welcome facelift

WESTERN BUREAU:

POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE (PET) plastic bottles, old tyres, pieces of zinc, and other debris were among the items collected from the shoreline and mangroves of the Jobson Bay Eco Beach Park in Falmouth, Trelawny, by environmental volunteers from the Sandals Foundation, Sea The Change Foundation, and members of the Kiwanis Club Coastal Falmouth as part of International Coastal Cleanup Day, which was observed on Saturday.

Kirsten McCarthy, corporate director of sustainability at Sandals Resorts International, told The Gleaner that the 385-acre beachfront property, which is also known as Half Moon Bay Beach, was littered with hazardous materials when they arrived for the clean-up exercise.

“This beautiful place here was covered in trash when we arrived, and it’s a fantastic little community. So we are here with a team of volunteers from Sandals Resorts International to clear up the trash and make this beach beautiful again,” said McCarthy, whose clean-up team collected 55 bags of materials weighing 935 pounds. “

“Of course, we would love to be in a position where we didn’t have to do this at all. It would be fantastic if we could just walk along the beach and never see a plastic bottle again,” said McCarthy, while noting a commitment to driving single-use plastics.

McCarthy further noted that Sandals Resorts International is committed to environmental protection and has long been an advocate and champion in promoting the environment and the beautification of locations, especially those in the proximity of their resorts across the Caribbean.

“So this is an essential part of what we do in terms of working with the community to give back this beautiful resource that the local communities can come and enjoy but also to remove the plastic that would otherwise end up in the ocean and affect our marine life. So it touches many strands of our commitments and many strands of our strategy,” said McCarthy. McCarthy said the Sandals chain is committed to continuing to work with locals and visitors on the importance of preserving the environment, especially in the face of increasing global warming.

“From a Sandals perspective, we’re committed to making sure that we are recycling waste so any waste that is produced on our properties and resorts doesn’t get into the ocean and end up on our beaches like this,” said McCarthy.

Mikhail Jobson, executive director of the Sea The Change Foundation, was elated as he watched the volunteers gather for their third beach clean-up in partnership with the Sandals Foundation.

“Every time we do this, our numbers grow,” said Jobson, who expressed appreciation for the dedication shown by the volunteers in removing the hazardous materials, which is a way of helping to protect marine life.

“The volunteers worked tirelessly. Their efforts transform the beach and prevent debris from entering the sea. We are hoping to see even more participants in future clean-ups,” said Jobson.

To help promote a greater awareness of the importance of keeping the Jobson Bay Eco Beach Park clean, Jobson said that going forward, educational signs would be erected, encouraging beachgoers to keep the area clean and avoid pollution.