On International Coastal Clean-Up Day 2023, Policy Forum Guyana actively participated in the Archipelagic Island States (AIS) Forum coastal clean-up campaign. Led by Hema Persaud, the AIS Forum Youth Ambassador for Guyana, the cleanup took place on Saturday, September 16th, at Unity Beach in Mahaica. The AIS Forum, a platform encompassing 51 archipelagic and island states worldwide, focuses on sustainable development issues. It emphasizes concrete actions to empower youth in enhancing the livelihoods of coastal communities through innovative solutions. The AIS mission centers around key areas: Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation, Marine Plastic Debris, The Blue Economy, and Good Maritime Governance. In collaboration with other Caribbean AIS Youth ambassadors from Jamaica and Barbados, the cleanup in Guyana involved volunteers from various organizations, resulting in the removal of 992 lbs. of debris, including plastic bottles and food containers. Such beach cleanups play a crucial role in safeguarding marine animals and ecosystem health by preventing ingestion and entanglement in plastic debris, as well as reducing toxins harmful to coral reefs.
