|
PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands; Thursday, 13th, November, 2008 – The Environmental Health Department in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Human Services - has designated Saturday, November 22nd as National Clean-Up Day throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Kenrick Neely, Deputy Director of Environmental Health in a press event earlier today, said: "We are calling on all residents, all persons living in the Turks and Caicos Islands for that matter, to come out and assist with the cleaning up of their communities, and the cleaning up their yards; as it is our responsibility to keep the TCI Beautiful by Nature and Clean By Choice."
He stated that persons should come together forming groups of five, ten or more persons; in so doing, going out into their communities and seeing to its clean-up. Moreover, he advised that they should inform the department of their group and their location; in turn, the department will make note and visit that location to assist where possible.
With the debris gathered and readied for collection, the department's Environmental Health Officers stationed on each island will be canvassing every community, and deploying convoys for refuse collection to be taken to the dump site. Further, Mr. Neekly is also calling on all persons with vehicles to assist the department in the removal process.
The Deputy Director said though memos and letters were sent to the private sector, civic groups, schools and general public at large - informing them of the importance of this day, and the significance of keeping a clean, albeit pristine environment, he felt it behoved him, to give this initiative media attention.
"We have taken a keen interest in promoting this cause," said Neely, "but this press event today serves as a vehicle to get the message across to persons who may have not have been in receipt of any of the written communications deployed to them."
The National Clean-Up Day campaign commences at 6am through to 3pm. At the end of the exercise, it is the Environmental Health Department's hope that persons take ownership of their community, thus keeping their surroundings clean.
Potentially, this could be a yearly event noted Neely, however, moving forward - it inherently depends on how the communities throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands co-operation, and indication of where they need assistance.
For further information, contact the Environmental Health Departments on:
Providenciales, 941-5068/941-5327
Grand Turk, 946-2801, ext 50301
North and Middle Caicos, 946-7235
South Caicos, 946-3240
END
|
