Credit Unions of Jamaica take on JETS Beach Cleanup at the Palisadoes Strip

Sixty volunteers from the Credit Union Movement took to the Palisadoes Go-Kart Track on

Saturday, September 20, demonstrating a powerful commitment to environmental preservation on the 40th anniversary of International Coastal Cleanup Day.

The dedicated group, comprising credit union staff, members of the NeXGen Change Makers,representatives from the Jamaica Co-operative Credit Union League, and partners from Cumax

Wealth Management, joined with the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) for the second consecutive year.

The Palisadoes Go-Kart Track was targeted as a vulnerable coastline, a key gateway to Kingston

Harbour, which is particularly susceptible to pollution accumulation.

The cleanup effort was both timely and critical. Heavy rains the previous day had washed a significant volume of plastics, Styrofoam, and other debris onto the shoreline, threatening the health of the marine ecosystem. Volunteers worked methodically to collect the waste, aiming to alleviate the risk of the bottles entering the Caribbean Sea, where they could disrupt marine life and block drainage systems.

The initiative reflects the Credit Union Movement’s deep-rooted co-operative principles, which extend beyond financial solidarity to include active citizenship and support for global social development goals. The movement’s hands-on work directly aligns with the ‘life below water’ objective, focusing on tangible steps to reduce pollution.

The successful removal of a substantial volume of waste from the site has made a measurable impact on the local environment. The movement affirms its intention to continue supporting such initiatives, reinforcing its role as a committed partner in Jamaica’s sustainable development and environmental stewardship.

View photos of the team involved in the activity.