blink l bmobile in coastal clean-up

“The environment is our business.

We all have a part to play in its protection and preservation to ensure that we leave a good and healthy environmental legacy for our children”, said Onica Blackman, Enterprise and Communications Manager, TSTT, Tobago Operations. Blackman noted that staff at TSTT are always eager to be a part of the operation and have been participating in the coastal clean- up for the past few years.

In Tobago, the coastal clean-up activities were spearheaded by the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment of the Division of Agriculture, Marine Affairs, Marketing and the Environment.

Director Linford Beckles explained that the purpose of the coastal clean-up is essentially a data collection exercise, which helps to monitor citizens’ performance in terms of the way we treat with solid waste, particularly near the shore or coastal areas.

Beckles further explained that in Tobago, the department uses the exercise to build awareness of solid waste management issues and general environmental issues. “We take the opportunity at this time to encourage people to be much better stewards of the environment,” said Beckles.

It has been noted that not all trash on the Tobago coastline comes from neighbouring communities, as trash is sometimes washed downstream from South American countries. However, Beckles noted that in Tobago there is an issue with solid waste management at community and household levels. He stated, “If we continue to indiscriminately dispose of waste at household and community levels, it is always going to end up on the coast via drains and rivers etc.”