World Earth Day : Cleanup Campaign to be held in Anse-La-Raye this week

OECS Media release

World Earth Day will be celebrated on April 22, 2018 under the theme “A World Without Plastic Pollution”. Hence, the Anse La Raye Disaster Committee in Collaboration with the OECS Environmental Sustainability Cluster, the New Zealand High Commission, the European Union, Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility Segregated Portfolio Company (CCRIF SPC) and the Saint Lucia Solid Waste Management Authority have organised a cleanup activity in the village of Anse-La-Raye, Saint-Lucia for Friday April 20. Residents, schools, cooperatives, and journalists are invited to the activity that will start at 8:30.

A rapid increase in population accompanied by a lack of environmental awareness, has resulted in the community of Anse-La-Raye facing a major challenge with regard to waste management which has particularly impacted the areas surrounding mangroves and waterways. Other factors that have contributed to the situation include changing consumption patterns, changes in packaging material resulting in wider use and disposal of plastics containers, the non-recycling of used items such as bottles, old and inefficient waste management technologies and low stakeholder participation.   

The cleanup activity aims at raising awareness about the consequences of improper waste disposal and the need to maintaint safe and healthy environment. This initiative also seeks to restore wildlife habitats and reduce the incidence of vector-borne diseases, such as Zika and Chikungunya which are spread by vectors that thrive in polluted environments. 

The cleanup activity will include the removal of litter from public areas such as streets, drains and other waterways, the clearing of illegal dump sites, the planting of trees and education and awareness programmes on waste management. 

Residents and volunteers will participate in the cleanup campaign. Journalists are invited to contribute to the raising of environmental awareness and particularly on the dangers posed by plastic waste, which is the focus of the theme for World Earth Day 2018.   

   This story aligns with OECS Strategic Objective No.4: Assure the Security and Well-being of Citizens.
   This story aligns with OECS Strategic Objective No.5: Drive Key Economic Priorities.

Josette Edward-Charlemagne

Programme Officer, OECS Social & Sustainable Development Division

OECS Communications

Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States

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The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) is an International Organisation dedicated to economic harmonisation and integration, protection of human and legal rights, and the encouragement of good governance among independent and non-independent countries in the Eastern Caribbean. The OECS came into being on June 18th 1981, when seven Eastern Caribbean countries signed a treaty agreeing to cooperate with each other while promoting unity and solidarity among its Members. The Treaty became known as the Treaty of Basseterre, so named in honour of the capital city of St. Kitts and Nevis where it was signed. The OECS today, currently has eleven members, spread across the Eastern Caribbean comprising Antigua and Barbuda, Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and The Grenadines, British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Martinique and Guadeloupe. 

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