CYEN urges Barbadians to help rid 16 beaches of garbage

By Sheria Brathwaite

The Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN) is calling on Barbadians to join them in the next few weeks to rid 16 of the island’s beaches of waste.

During Wednesday’s launch of the September 16 – October 22 event which is part of the Barbados International Coastal Cleanup (BICC) initiative, national coordinator of CYEN Shannon Weekes said this initiative is important as the island’s marine space is an economic driver for countless Barbadians.

“Barbados, like many islands around the world, faces the profound challenge of climate change and its effects such as rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and ocean acidification which threaten the very essence of our beloved paradise,” she told those gathered at the Bay Street Esplanade in St Michael for the launch. 

“But here, along the turquoise fringes of our island, lies a pivotal connection between climate change and our pristine marine space. Our oceans are not just a breathtaking backdrop; they are the backbone of our island. They provide sustenance, recreation, and economic opportunities for our people. And yet, they are threatened by pollution, particularly plastic pollution daily.”

The BICC started in 1994 and throughout the years, Weekes said, data was compiled from the cleanups and sent to various climate-focused and coastal institutions such as the Coastal Zone Management Unit.

“This is not your ordinary beach cleanup. It is a platform for action and a data-driven force for change. In its nearly three decades of operation, BICC has evolved to become a data powerhouse, contributing critical information that fuels local and global policy decisions, marine debris monitoring and conservation efforts. Therefore, the relevance of BICC to climate change is undeniable. By addressing pollution at its source, we are mitigating one of the contributors to climate change while preserving our natural heritage,” she added.

In 2020, CYEN collected over 55 000 pieces of marine debris, including 10 688 microplastics. Plastic bottle caps accounted for 12.51 per cent of the material collected, while plastic bottles were about 5.29 per cent. 

Due to the health restrictions induced by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, there was no cleanup. However, CYEN removed over 39 000 pieces of waste last year, and 36.8 per cent of that debris was microplastics – bottle caps and plastic bottles.

Weekes said this data emphasised the importance of cleanup campaigns such as this and the need for continued data collection.

Several CYEN members on Wednesday expressed concerns about the lack of enforcement of laws pertaining to littering. 

They stressed that littering is just as detrimental to the environment as illegal dumping and called on the relevant authorities to enforce the legal framework that speaks to littering, especially on the island’s beaches.

The theme for this year’s cleanup initiative is Preserving Paradise: Unite for a Cleaner Coastline in Barbados. 

Weekes said she hoped to trigger the interest of hundreds of Barbadians this year as she noticed that there was a decline in participation last year. In 2022, around 400 people took part in the annual event. Weekes said that prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 800 people participated. 

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb