‘This is an ongoing mission’

GraceKennedy Foundation mobilises over 700 volunteers to remove over 7,000 KG of waste from the Kingston Harbour

27 Sep 2024, 05:07 · The Gleaner

Kingston Harbour Cleanup Project runners, Chadrick Henry (left) and Michael Coke (right), haul heavy items — including refrigerators, plastic bins and more — from the shoreline of Sirgany Beach during the project’s International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Day activity on September 21, organised by the GK Foundation.Contributed

From left: Steven Whittingham, deputy CEO, GraceKennedy Financial Group Limited; Prof Lila-Rao-Graham, GraceKennedy Foundation (GKF) Carlton Alexander chair in management, The University of The West Indies; Frank James, CEO, GK Foods – Domestic; Gabrielle Sang, marketing manager, Consumer Brands Limited; and Crystal-Gayle Williams, acting operations manager, GKF, take a break from collecting waste at GKF’s annual beach clean-up on September 14 at the Gun Boat Beach in Kingston.Contributed

The GraceKennedy Foundation (GKF), in collaboration with The Ocean Cleanup and Clean Harbours Jamaica, through the Kingston Harbour Cleanup Project (KHCP), hosted a beach clean-up at Sirgany Beach in Kingston, in recognition of International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Day on Saturday, September 21.

Over 360 volunteers from universities, the public and private sectors, and multilateral organisations participated in the clean-up, which removed over 3,370 kilogrammes of waste from the coastline.

The ICC Day effort followed closely on the heels of GKF’s annual beach clean-up, which took place at Gun Boat Beach in Kingston on September 14. Over 370 volunteers, including 100 GraceKennedy (GK) team members and their families, alongside high school and university students, successfully removed 3,926 kilogrammes of waste from the beach.

Together, the ICC Day and GKF annual beach clean-up activities removed 7,296 kilogrammes of waste from the Kingston Harbour coastline, a media release outlined.

Tamara Reynolds, environmental warden for the KHCP, spoke about the project’s ongoing community engagement efforts, and highlighted positive shifts in public awareness and action regarding waste management.

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Reynolds explained, “Since the launch of the KHCP, we have been raising public awareness about recycling, reusing, and protecting the environment. Our efforts go beyond just ICC Day — this is an ongoing mission. As citizens, it’s our responsibility to care for the environment, remembering that our actions on land can harm marine life. Everyone can play a part in preventing waste from entering our gullies and our ocean.”

Since 2022, the KHCP has played a critical role in reducing pollution in Kingston Harbour, removing over 2.1 million kilogrammes of waste through clean-ups and the use of innovative waste-trapping technology at the mouths of seven gullies that flow into the harbour. GKF, as the facilitator of the KHCP, manages all outreach activities and stakeholder engagement.

Crystal-Gayle Williams, acting operations manager of GKF, emphasised GK’s commitment to both community and environmental sustainability. “Our efforts today are not just about cleaning up; they reflect our responsibility to protect the environment and preserve the resources we depend on for future generations. By cleaning Kingston Harbour coastline — GK’s home for over 100 years — we’re not only taking care of our surroundings, but also leading by example in sustainable practices for our industry and the wider community.”

In addition to the KHCP, GKF also manages other environmental sustainability initiatives on behalf of GK and has hosted ICC Day activities along the Kingston Harbour coastline since 2015. Through these ongoing initiatives, GKF remains focused on making a lasting impact by fostering environmental stewardship and ensuring the protection of Kingston Harbour for generations to come.