Jamaica Red Cross teams cleaned over 8 beaches islandwide for International Coastal Cleanup Day

Over 300 volunteers from the Jamaica Red Cross helped to clean over eight beaches across the island in the annual International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Day on Saturday, September 16, 2023 under the theme, “Sea The Change.”

The Jamaica Red Cross (JRC) officially registered to clean five beaches, including Fort Rocky Beach in Port Royal, Kingston; Shallay Beach in Yallahs, St. Thomas; Jervis Beach in Port Maria, St. Mary; Forbes Town Beach in Priory, St. Ann and Fishing Village Beach (along Howard Cooke Boulevard) in Montego Bay, St. James.

However, the JRC also collaborated with the Jamaica Civil Servants Association to clean the Red Cross’ Peach Beach in Discovery Bay and joined forces with the Maude McKay High school to clean Galleon Beach in Brampton, St. Elizabeth and with the Forestry Department to clean Rocky Point in Clarendon. A team from the JRC also undertook an additional unregistered beach cleanup activity at the Foreshore Road in Port Antonio, Portland.

Mr. Adrian Reid, JRC Youth Officer said: “We are pleased with the level of support from all our volunteers, partners and sponsors and this could not have been possible without any of them. Most of our participants were young Red Cross volunteers from across the island and this is a testament of our youth’s passion and commitment to protecting the environment.”

This is the third staging of the JRC’s ICC Day activities, organized by the youth section. The
JRC is committed to the sustainable management, conservation and restoration of the natural environment and has implemented several initiatives, such as the ICC Day activity, to help facilitate this mandate.

This year’s JRC ICC Day activity was supported by the following sponsors: Sun Island, Stylus Screen Print, Restaurant Associates Limited (Little Caesars Pizza, Burger King, Popeyes), Lifespan Spring Water, Island Mist Spring Water, Irie Spring Water, National Supply, Island Car Rentals, Chas E Ramson (Ramson’s, Kisko, Martha White, Double Seven, Foska Oats, Magic Malt), Gustazos, Soccer Xpress Prints and Manufacturing, Jamaica Bauxite Mining Limited, Lasco and Recycling Partners of Jamaica.