On Apr 8, 2026
Basseterre: A renewed national push to protect the environment is gaining momentum, as the Ministry of Environment intensifies its “Environment for Everyone” campaign to combat illegal dumping and promote shared responsibility.
The Honourable Senator, Dr. Joyelle Clarke, Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment, Climate Action and Constituency Empowerment, described the initiative as a powerful collaboration across multiple agencies, including Parks and Beaches Unit; the Solid Waste Management Corporation; S.T.E.P; His Majesty’s Prison; the Department of Public Infrastructure; Ministry of Health; St. Kitts Electricity Company Ltd.; Traffic Department; and the Ministry of Environment and Constituency Empowerment.
“Our environment for everyone campaign has been ramping up its work. This is a branch off from our Annual Christmas Cleanup, which has become a movement which couples public service, volunteerism and personal accountability,” said Senator Clarke. “Bringing all these ministries together, we have taken on the eyesore of garbage and illegal dumping.”
Recent cleanup efforts in the Beacon Heights area revealed the scale of the challenge, with teams removing large volumes of waste, including mattresses, appliances, and plastic debris, items deliberately discarded in public spaces.
Minister Clarke questioned the behaviour behind such actions, highlighting the unnecessary burden it places on communities and the environment.
“Why would you go through the hassle and offload these goods there when solid waste has the lowest tipping fees, and it costs you next to nothing as a trucker to take the waste where it belongs?” she asked. “So, we really have to continue education and sharing knowledge about the impact of illegal dumping. Littering scars our environment, and it really takes away from our natural beauty. And if our national tourism campaign is ‘Venture Deeper’, then we have to protect the environment. It is not just about the beaches, it is about every single green space, every area in Saint Kitts and Nevis,” Senator Clarke added.
The campaign, supported by new legislative authority through the Community Beautification and Safety Bill, is expanding across constituencies and relies heavily on citizen participation. According to Dr. Clarke, the message is clear: protecting the environment is not just a government responsibility; it belongs to everyone.
