Beach Clean up
Gran Kaz Staff do Beach Clean-up Activity to commemorate clean up the World Day
In line with their community outreach programmes, an initiative they started earlier this year, Gran Kaz staff volunteered their time last Saturday to do a beach clean-up in Anse Royale, ahead of the Clean up the World day which is September 21st.
Staff members showed up bright and early, with their trash bags and gloves ready to tackle as much marine debris and general trash as they could. Amongst them, PR and Communications Manager Shama Amesbury, who took a few minutes’ pause to talk to us about the activity.
- Why a beach clean-up?
September 21st is Clean up the World day. We wanted to do our part by cleaning up an area in our own little corner of the world. The beach was naturally a top contender, it’s a place that we all love, it’s a place that unfortunately suffers a lot from marine debris and the irresponsible behaviour of leaving rubbish behind after a visit, and it’s an open space, so it allows for social distancing whilst still working together as a group.
- Why Anse Royale, and not somewhere closer to where you operate, like Bel Ombre?
These community outreach activities are all about community. Yes we operate in Bel Ombre and town, but that’s not the entirety of our community – our patrons and staff come from all over the island, they are also a part of our community, so sometimes it’s nice to venture out a little further than town and Bel Ombre and to lend a hand in other areas as well.
- Do you feel you’ve learned anything from this experience?
Absolutely, we all know that marine debris washes up on the shores, we also know that sadly, people are not always responsible and do not bother to dispose of their rubbish appropriately, but it is still to see the different kinds of rubbish you find on a beach. You expect to find bottles and take away boxes, as unacceptable as that is, but you don’t expect to find opened tins and cans and broken bottles – it’s so dangerous! As Seychellois we love coming to the beach and those of us with children can think of no better way to spend a day and it makes me sad and scared to think that what starts out as a lovely family day could end up as a trip to the hospital for stitches and shots because of recklessness
- How do you think this issue can be addressed?
It’s simple. Personal responsibility and good mentality. We should always leave these places as we found them, which means take your rubbish away with you when you leave. We all love a good picnic, and it’s not hard to ensure that you always have a trash bag to collect all empty bottles, containers etc. when we’re done. One of the most special things about this country is the beauty of its natural environment. We should have respect for it, and treat it well. Take nothing but memories, Leave nothing but footprints as the saying goes.