Recently, during a festival, a man said he can throw litter wherever he wants. He added beer caps, cigarette packs, and fast food containers to the mess on Grand Anse Beach. This is a big problem that needs to change.
We wonder what could make him think differently. Maybe when the beach becomes so full of trash that there's no more sand to enjoy? Or when tourists stop coming because they see Grenada as dirty, which hurts the people who work in tourism? Or maybe when he gets sick from diseases spread by mosquitoes breeding in the litter?
The truth is, all these bad things are already happening. Dengue is spreading, beaches need constant cleaning, and tourists complain. But this person doesn't feel responsible. He thinks these problems just happen to him and his country. He doesn't see the connection between his littering and the consequences. If in doubt, he blames the government.
Telling him facts and figures may not work. He believes littering is a right and part of our culture. He thinks someone else will clean up after him. But we all pay for it, and those who clean often don't earn much. So, why not throw all our garbage on the streets and beaches if it's okay to litter?
Some people even believe the sea can handle infinite trash without harm. But the truth is, litter hurts marine life and can end up in our food. We must face these issues, not ignore them.
To change this attitude, we must start with children. They haven't been influenced yet, so we can teach them about the environment and why littering is wrong. They can even convince their parents to change.
But we also need to reach adults. Facts and numbers may not work for them. It's more about how they feel. We need to make littering offensive and dumping waste disgusting. People should be proud of their country and want to keep it clean, just like they take pride in their cars. Cleaning, planting, and painting events, like on Independence Day, can inspire people to care for their surroundings all year round.
In conclusion, we need a plan to tackle littering in Grenada. We must educate the young, make littering socially unacceptable, and foster a sense of pride in our clean and beautiful country. Let's work together to say, "This is my country, and I'm proud to keep it clean by throwing trash where it belongs - in the bin."