Grand Bahamians Team Up for World Oceans Day Cleanup

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GRAND BAHAMA – For Grand Bahamians, Xanadu Beach is a place to relax, swim and spend time with family, and keeping beaches clean and pristine is part of the appeal.

That’s why the Ministry of Tourism’s Sustainable Tourism Development Department joined with community partners to mark World Oceans Day with a major cleanup effort.

Jermaine Johnson is the Coordinator of Sustainable Tourism Development at the Ministry of Tourism.

He said that the goal wasn’t just to pick up garbage, but to remind people why protecting the ocean matters.

Jermaine Johnson – Coordinator, Sustainable Tourism Development

“The oceans are extremely important to the islands of The Bahamas. Not just for fishing and our way of life, but, of course, our number one industry depends on our waters as well. People are coming to visit our country to see our beautiful ocean, to see our beautiful waters, and the marine life that dwells and lives therein that helps to sustain us, but also helps to provide an excellent tourism product.”

Johnson said tourism depends on healthy beaches and clean water, making environmental protection everyone’s responsibility.

And that’s a message that resonated with groups like Waterkeepers Bahamas.

Javan Hunt says what ends up on the beach today can quickly find its way into the ocean tomorrow.

Javan Hunt – Waterkeepers Bahamas

“A part of our motto is clean, drinkable, fishable and swimmable waters, and most times the trash kind of migrates into the water. Or if people are on boats, it floats onto the land and it becomes a messy, really trashy, no pun intended, situation. And so with us, we partnered with some groups because we are in it wholesale, and we want to keep this place clean.”

Organizers say the cleanup was about more than just one day of service.

It was about changing the way people think about littering, from assuming someone else will clean up the mess to taking personal responsibility for the environment.

Jinnel Marie of the Bahamas National Trust says the strong turnout was encouraging.

Jinnel Marie – Bahamas National Trust, Grand Bahama

“It warms our hearts to know that Grand Bahamians also care about the natural environment and preserving that which is ours. We’ve been given this beautiful island, and it is our responsibility to keep it clean and pristine.”