Beach Clean-Up Program Gets Underway

Using the slogan, “A Clean Beach for Me,” the Ministry of Tourism (SECTUR) kicked off the National Beach Clean-Up Plan on Tuesday, a program that will, during its first phase, clean up five beaches located in three different tourist areas.

“With this plan, we seek to keep our beaches and their surroundings clean and beautiful for all Dominicans and visitors to better enjoy their natural beauty,”

The clean-up program, to initially include beaches in Las Terrenas, Guayacanes, Juan Dolio, Boca Chica and Andrés, is made up of 120 volunteers who will take part in the tidying up effort, according to SECTUR’s Office of Press and Communication.

Tourism Minister, Francisco Javier García Fernández, having initiated the clean-up plan, said that in addition to volunteers, community organizations, town halls and social institutions will also participate in the project. The goal is to establish a systematic follow-up and to maintain and keep the public beaches clean.

He explained that, along with the clean-up of the beaches and surrounding areas, they have also reinforced the signposts and organized the parking areas so that the cars do not damage the sand with petroleum residue and fuel.

García Fernández said they are also going to be disposing of trash in organic, reusable burlap sacks instead of plastic garbage pales in an effort to cause less damage to the environment.

“With this plan, we seek to keep our beaches and their surroundings clean and beautiful for all Dominicans and visitors to better enjoy their natural beauty,” said García Fernández.

García Fernández reiterated that when the work is finished, there will be a follow-up committee to receive regular support from SECTUR…

After the clean-up work is finished in each of the scheduled beaches in this phase, a follow-up committee will take over and provide technical support, hands-on support and the necessary equipment to maintain the beaches.

As the beach clean-up work got underway, García Fernández was accompanied by several regional officials including Elsa de León, undersecretary for the Tourism Ministry in Samaná; Mercedes Tejeda the Director of the Strategic Center for Tourism Development; Ulises Regino, Director of the Cleaning and Organization of Public Beaches and Gabriel Rodríguez, Assistant to Minister García Fernández .

The Plan

The first phase of the National Beach Clean-Up Plan began on Tuesday in Las Terrenas. Workers will stay there until February 6th. On February 11th, the will begin work at Guayacanes Beach which will run until February 18th.

On the 24th of the month they will then begin their clean-up efforts in Juan Dolio until March 2nd. Five day after that, on March 7th, the will continue working in Boca Chica and Andrés, where they will remain until March 18th.

García Fernández reiterated that when the work is finished, there will be a follow-up committee to receive regular support from SECTUR with the goal that these recreational and leisure places will be in good shape for the Dominican family and visitors to enjoy.

Francisco Javier García, officially kicking off the “A Clean Beach For Me” program in Las Terrenas, Samaná.

Tourism Minister, Francisco Javier García, picking up rubbish on Las Terrenas beach.