Volunteers who participated in the clean-up.
LITTLE BAY--Sixty-five volunteers joined St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) and Nature Foundation St Maarten for a community clean-up at Little Bay Pond, collecting five truckloads of garbage on Sunday, November 2.
From 7:00am to 9:00am, volunteers donned gloves and removed trash, discovering abandoned car parts, industrial equipment, countless empty glass and plastic bottles, and an excessive number of Styrofoam food containers. Organizers noted that these materials pose a danger to the ecosystem, particularly the animals inhabiting the pond.
The event aimed to restore and preserve one of the island’s key ecological sites, reinforcing SMMC’s commitment to protecting Blue Forest ecosystems, a value that directly inspired the interior design concept of St. Maarten General Hospital (SMGH). The hospital said its focus on community, culture, and the environment “drives meaningful projects that enhance the overall well-being of the island and its people.”
Following the clean-up, hosts from Nature Foundation led volunteers on a bird-watching tour to showcase the various inhabitants present at Little Bay Pond.
SMMC and Nature Foundation St Maarten thanked faculty and pupils of Learning Unlimited, students of St. Dominic High School, clients and group leaders of Sr. Basilia Center, Teen Times members, the Belair and Cay Hill communities, and SMMC staff volunteers for their vital contributions to the success of the event.
The organizers also urged citizens to refrain from littering and to “reduce, reuse and recycle as much as possible, as poor waste management affects not only wildlife but also the quality of life for all inhabitants of the island.”
