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<p>We can still have the sun, sand and sea - we just need to get rid of the trash.</p>
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<p>This supports The National Environment and Planning Agency's  (NEPA) call for the public to show support for a trash-free Jamaica by participating in International Coastal Cleanup Day (ICCD) 2019 on <strong>September 21</strong>.</p>
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<p>NEPA and the Urban Development Corporation
(UDC) have partnered to execute a cleanup exercise at the Barmouth Beach in St.
Catherine, starting at 7:30 a.m.</p>
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<blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><p>"It is a bold display of a group’s ability to unite for a cause greater than any one individual"  </p><cite>  — Travis Bartley, NEPA’s Public Education and Community Outreach Officer</cite></blockquote>
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<p>NEPA’s Public Education and Community Outreach Officer, Travis Bartley, said that the annual observance “is the largest one-day volunteer event globally”. </p>
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<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/09/NEPA_Beach_cleanup-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-9413" /></figure>
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<p>‘It is a bold display of a group’s ability
to unite for a cause greater than any one individual. The beaches are of great
value to Jamaica in social, environmental and economic terms. For both NEPA and
UDC, preserving our nation’s beautiful beaches helps to provide the best
quality of life for the citizens of Jamaica,” he noted.</p>
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<p>He pointed out that marine pollution
affects the health of marine life, ecosystems, recreational water quality and
public health.</p>
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<blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><p>“We will provide the volunteers with resources to effectively participate in the day"</p><cite>   — Travis Bartley, NEPA’s Public Education and Community Outreach Officer </cite></blockquote>
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<p>“Garbage that ends up in our waters causes
damage to reefs, which provide protection and tourism earnings; loss of biodiversity;
loss of arable land and decreased agricultural production and the deaths of
more than a million seabirds,” he added.</p>
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<h5 style="text-align:center">OVER <em>2,600 KILOGRAMS OF GARBAGE COLLECTED AT HELLSHIRE BAY BEACH IN 2018</em></h5>
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<p>Mr. Bartley shared that more than 400 bags of garbage, weighing in excess of 2,600 kilograms, were collected at the Hellshire Bay Beach in St. Catherine during ICCD 2018.</p>
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<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/09/Beach-Cleanup-Buzz-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-9421" /></figure>
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<p>More than 500 volunteers from different
groups, including non-governmental organisations, community-based organisations,
and secondary and tertiary schools, are expected to participate in this year’s
event. </p>
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<p>“We will provide the volunteers with
resources to effectively participate in the day, and we are inviting you to
sign up for ICCD 2019 by September 6,” Mr. Bartley said.</p>
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<p>Persons wishing to join the UDC and NEPA can
contact Chalene Roye-Myrie at <a href="mailto:charlene.roye@nepa.gov.jm"><strong>charlene.roye@nepa.gov.jm</strong></a> or 754-7540 ext. 2214 to
register.</p>
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