PHILIPSBURG:--- On Saturday, September 16th, 2023, members of the Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunset joined by over 40 various members from the Lions, Leos, and the Rotary Club of St. Maarten Mid-Isle along with other local volunteers gathered by the Philipsburg Pond area (Ring Road) to collect thirty-six (36) garbage bags of trash totaling 550 pounds along with lumber and cardboard boxes. Members and volunteers cleaned up the areas between the Centrale Bank van Curaçao and Sint Maarten and the L.B. Scott Sports Auditorium. The cleanup was organized jointly by the Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunset’s Disaster Relief Committee led by Chairwoman Linaisa Mardenborough and the Sint Maarten Lions Club led by President Felix Richards in an effort to bring awareness to the importance of keeping our island and particularly our shorelines free from pollution and waste.
International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Day is celebrated on the third Saturday in September
every year, and it is the largest one-day volunteer event in the world. Awareness is spread,
about preserving and protecting the world’s oceans and waterways. Supporting the
environment is an area of focus for Rotary International and Rotary clubs worldwide. Through the Rotary Foundation, more than $18 million has been allocated to environment-related projects over the past years and Rotary clubs now have more opportunities to bring about positive change in the world and in our community.
According to Disaster Relief Chairwoman Linaisa, “I am very pleased with the turnout of this morning. This year for the ICC 2023 we collaborated with our fellow Sint Maarten Lions Club and the St. Maarten Leo's Club to reach a common goal, which was to clean up around our Great Salt Pond. Though rain caught us out in the field, our energy remained high in order to complete this project. I look forward to many more successful collaborations with the different service clubs on our island.”
In addition, President Felix stated, “As we stand here today, we see the potential for even greater achievements when we come together and work in harmony. Let us extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunset for initiating this endeavor. This project paves the way for future collaborations, bigger projects, and a more profound impact on our communities.”
On behalf of both organizations, we would sincerely like to thank Wilco NV and Captivate Construction & Cleaning for assisting us with the cleaning equipment and collecting of the trash after the cleanup. We would also like to thank CC1 for providing cases of water and juices, and Carl & Sons Unique Bakery for providing the delicious sandwiches.
The Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunset would like to encourage the community to support our
future projects and we would also like to remind the general public and visitors alike to work together to keep our island clean during their outings. Let us protect the scenery and ecosystems of our country.
The Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunset meets every second and fourth Monday of the month at Carl N Sons Unique Inn and Conference Facilities in Colebay at 7:30 PM. The club can be contacted via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or via the official Facebook page at facebook.com/rotarysxmsunset.