In the long run

Students of Milton Peters College (MPC) and St. Maarten Nature Foundation recently removed 186 pounds of rubbish from Mullet Bay Beach (see Friday paper). That’s commendable in the interest of keeping the area nice, while such actions also help promote environmental awareness among the youth.

And the latter is important, not in the least because it’s the generation of tomorrow that probably will suffer the most ultimate consequences from continued pollution as well as other unsustainable practices making the world a less pleasant and healthy place. These youngsters and their guides deserve credit for giving their free time for selfless action on behalf of the community.

Regrettably, some people don’t seem to share that opinion, or in any case fail to show it. How could one otherwise explain the fact that littering at Mullet Bay continues unabated, requiring frequent clean-ups, despite the presence of several trash bins?

According to a quick scan of The Daily Herald archives it was reported on April 11, 2017, that MPC students and Nature Foundation had collected 30 bags of garbage from the beach. The August 23 edition of that same year carried a story saying they had removed another 30 bags of waste.

It was then reported on June 1, 2018, that the foundation had teamed up with passengers from Princess Cruise Lines, Fathom Travel and Carib Resorts to collect 728.13 pounds of trash from the beach. That was followed by a September 20 story saying a total of 1,280 pounds had again been removed from there for International Coastal Clean-up Day.

And now, less than a month later 186 pounds had apparently accumulated once more. Mind you, all this while the two beach bar operators to tend to keep their immediate surroundings tidy.

Admiration for those who don’t lose patience and keep cleaning the mess of others is justified, but this whole situation has become – no pun intended – like carrying water to the sea. Active enforcement with stiff punishment for violators and, above all, education are what can help make a difference in the long run.

The Daily Herald

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