Planning, Economic Affairs and Development Minister Dr. Kennedy Swaratsingh, is stating for public information that the government of Trinidad and Tobago, under the leadership of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, has agreed to continue supporting the local implementation of the annual International Coastal Clean-Up (ICC).
An annual subvention of one hundred and twenty-one thousand dollars ($121,000.00) will continue to be administered through the Ministry of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development, which is the ministry with responsibility for Trinidad and Tobago’s environment. This makes the Ministry of Planning the largest financial sponsor of the ICC.
The Caribbean Network for Integrated Rural Development (CNIRD), continues to serve as the national coordinator of the ICC since it introduced the initiative to the country. It acts as the country liaison with the global body, Ocean Conservancy, and leads the coordination of the annual event. CNIRD, in conjunction with a National Planning Committee, comprising representatives from government agencies including the Environmental Policy and Planning Division of the Ministry, the private sector and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), implements ICC activities annually in Trinidad and Tobago.
According to Minister Swaratsingh, “The ICC represents a cost-effective and highly visible environmental initiative that delivers measurable environmental, social, educational and policy benefits, while reinforcing Trinidad and Tobago’s leadership in marine environmental protection and sustainable coastal management.”
Government funding for the ICC facilitates the coordination of nationwide clean-up activities across Trinidad and Tobago, including the provision of logistical support, clean-up materials, volunteer safety equipment, transportation, data management, training, public education and stakeholder engagement. This funding is instrumental in fostering environmental stewardship and civic responsibility by mobilising thousands of volunteers from government agencies, youth organisations, schools, private sector entities and civil society groups. This national participation is critical to the coordinated clean-up activities across beaches, mangroves, rivers and other coastal areas.
In 2025, ICC activities were conducted at fifty-two (52) sites in Trinidad and ten (10) sites in Tobago. Over 4,478 volunteers cleaned approximately 100 km of the country’s coastline, collecting 21,861 kg of marine debris. Plastic debris ranked 7 out of the top 10 items collected, with the top three (3) items being 68,780 plastic beverage bottles, 19,288 plastic foam pieces and 12,591 plastic bottle caps.
This year, the ICC activities led by the Ministry of Planning, in collaboration with our agencies the Environmental Management Authority, the Institute of Marine Affairs and Promar will be conducted at the Foreshore along the Audrey Jeffers Highway on Saturday September 12 from 9:30 am. Registration is now open.
Beyond removing litter, the ICC provides valuable national data on marine debris that supports environmental management, policymaking and public awareness initiatives. This data assists government agencies in identifying pollution hotspots, evaluating the effectiveness of waste management interventions, supporting the development of targeted policies and legislation to reduce single-use plastics and other problematic waste streams while strengthening integrated coastal zone management. The data gathered for ICC also contributes significantly to reporting commitments under various international environmental agreements, including the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Clean Seas Campaign, the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 14, Life Below Water and other similar international treaties.
Minister Swaratsingh adds that the assurance of this financial support demonstrates Government’s commitment to implement national environmental and climate resilient policies that aim to reduce marine litter entering coastal and marine ecosystems, protect critical habitats such as mangroves, coral reefs, seagrass beds and beaches while enhancing the resilience of coastal ecosystems that provide natural protection against climate-related hazards in Trinidad and Tobago. This is also a key project being implemented under the environmental and climate change mandate of the Ministry of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development.