In keeping with its corporate social responsibility of protecting the natural environment, The Landings Resort and Spa conducted yet another clean-up exercise in observance of this year’s Earth Day.
Last Friday, April 19, several team members from the resort partnered with eight members of Tropical United Taxi to clean up the area stretching from the gap entering Pigeon Island Causeway to The Landings Resort and Spa.
The early morning clean-up exercise saw team members braving the excruciatingly hot weather for a worthy cause. After two hours of diligent teamwork, 97 bags of garbage were collected. Items collected included glass and plastic bottles, cardboard boxes, car tyres, plastic bags, food containers, and clothing.
Earth Day is observed on April 22 each year to demonstrate support for environmental protection. This year’s theme, “Planet vs. Plastics”, focuses on combating plastic pollution and urges a 60% reduction in plastic production by 2040.
Chief Executive Officer of The Landings Resort and Spa, Paul Collymore, said last Friday’s clean-up exercise was part of the luxury resort’s continued corporate social responsibility to maintain the areas within the Saint Lucian community.
“We see this as a strategic imperative that is very important to us,” said Collymore, who was part of the exercise. “This is an area where we work and is also a main tourism area so reducing the spread of mosquitoes is of critical importance. We want to thank all the team members who came out to support this worthwhile initiative.”
Leandra Foster, Digital Marketing Officer of The Landings Resort and Spa, who also participated in the team clean-up, said the resort being part of the tourism industry comes with its commitment to the beautification of the island.
“The clean-up exercise we did today is not only beneficial to the tourists who come here and see that the place is well kept, but also for the locals who frequent Pigeon Island,” she stated. “Therefore, I encourage everyone to keep the environment clean because it’s part of our home.”
Foster said the exercise not only gave her the chance to play her small part in protecting the environment, but also engage in a meaningful activity and build community with her team members.
Meanwhile, Angus Merius, a member of Tropical United Taxi, said his association felt the need to collaborate with the resort, citing the unsightly nature of the area.
“We realized that the area was very unsightly with garbage so we decided to write to the management at The Landings to partner with them for the clean-up,” Merius explained. “Eight members from Tropical United Taxi joined today’s clean-up. I think people need to be more cautious when it comes to getting rid of their garbage.”
Since its initial clean-up exercise, from the inception of the resort 16 years ago in observance of Earth Day, The Landings Resort and Spa has demonstrated its unwavering support to protecting the natural environment and will continue to do so.