Clean-ups under way, under rain |18 September 2004

This year’s campaign, which is marked by the theme En Kominote Prop pour en Meyer Lasante, or “A Clean Community for Better Health,” will run through on Saturday and Sunday.

The campaign was officially launched on Friday morning at the site of the former Prison Headquarters, Union Vale, where Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Ronny Jumeau and other senior officials welcomed to the festivities new Australian High Commissioner Ian McConville, who pitched in for the clean-up efforts.

Holding up a gold beer can to the press on Friday during the clean-up, Mr McConville said “in Australia we have too many of these.”

The high commissioner – after uncovering an old car battery that was not properly disposed – said he was proud that Australia’s diplomatic corps was helping to sponsor the campaign in Seychelles.

The chairman of this year’s Clean Up the World committee, Jude Florentine, said this year’s campaign put an emphasis on the effects that waste management can have on health.

Mr Florentine said as in previous years, there have been lots of positive responses from ministries, the private sector and other organisations for participation in the campaign.

When asked whether the rain would put a dent in the campaign’s schedule, Mr Florentine said it was “too early to say, but (those participating) have come quite equipped.”

He said unless a major storm developed, activities would go on as planned.

Friday’s campaign launch had nearly 40 clean-up operations scheduled around Mahe, including a Coast Guard and Seychelles Fishing Authority clean-up of the yacht basin and a Seychelles Centre for Marine Research and Technology – Marine Parks Authority operation around the Ste Anne Marine Park. Activities were also launched on Praslin and La Digue.