Jamaica Environment Trust

The Clean Coasts Project & Nuh Dutty Up Jamaica

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The Clean Coasts Project (CCP) began as a partnership between the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) and the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET). Started in 2014, it has had several phases.

Phase I included:

  • The Launch of the Nuh Dutty Up Jamaica public education campaign in February 2015.
  • Marine conservation themed field trips for over 580 students from secondary schools in Ocho Rios, Montego Bay and Negril.
  • 16 underwater cleanups at eight sites in Ocho Rios, Montego Bay and Negril.
  • Construction of a Debris Containment Boom to collect garbage at the mouth of the South Gully in Montego Bay. This first boom is a pilot to test the approach. It was regularly cleared by the Montego Bay Marine Park, CCP’s local partner.
  • A research day and competition targeted at Tourism Action Clubs (TACs) was hosted in Kingston on Earth Day, April 22, 2015. The event featured seven TACs mounting displays of their research projects on where Jamaica’s waste ends up after it is thrown away – Where the Waste Goes.

In July 2015 JET signed a new grant agreement with TEF to extend the Clean Coasts Project until June 2016.

Phase II built on the success of the first phase:

  • International Coastal Cleanup Day national coordination by JET was included under the Clean Coasts project umbrella. Held on September 19, 2015: 121 sites cleaned up by 7,985 volunteers.
  • Nuh Dutty Up Jamaica Link & Think seminars in March 2016, targeted at tourism and entertainment interests and other relevant stakeholders to promote the campaign and foster partnerships.
  • Qualitative research conducted by JET examining the factors contributing to the South Gully in Montego Bay being used as a garbage disposal site. Report on the main research findings produced and shared on July 27th, 2016 in Montego Bay at a stakeholder meeting and media launch and tour of the South Gully.
  • Ten underwater cleanups carried out at five sites in three resort areas along the North Coast.
  • TAC research day and competition held on Earth Day, April 22nd, 2016 entitled “Sun, Sea and …Solid Waste?” at Terra Nova Hotel in Kingston.
  • 14 field trips conducted in Negril, Montego Bay, Black River, Ocho Rios and Kingston, attended by 802 students and 33 teachers from 10 schools.

Phase III of the Clean Coasts Project began in February 2017.

  • The Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) continued as the main donor for the project and Wisynco was added as the main CCP corporate sponsor. The project activities included:
  • Nuh Dutty Up Di Road (Carnival 2017)
    • Nuh Dutty Up Jamaica: Road Code
    • Nuh Dutty Up Mobay
    • 12 Days of Nuh Dutty Up Christmas
    • Launch of the Nuh Dutty Up Jamaica Plastic Bottle Cleanup Network – 14 cleanups took place across Jamaica in 2017; 20 cleanups registered for 2018.
    • Targeted Nuh Dutty Up Jamaica/Clean Coasts campaign in Trench Town, Kingston, Nine Miles, St Ann and Lakes Pen, St Catherine and production of a short documentary film.
    • The 2017 ‘Big Up Wi Beach’ Clean Coasts Project Secondary School Research Day & Competition held in April at the Jamaica Conference Centre in Kingston.
    • Eight underwater cleanups at four sites in Jamaican resort areas

Phase IV of the Clean Coasts Project began in September 2018.

  • Due to funding challenges, all other project activities were dropped, with the exception of the Nuh Dutty Up Jamaica campaign. The Tourism Enhancement Fund and Wisynco continued as the main donor for the project. Project activities included:
    • Delivery of new Nuh Dutty Up Jamaica campaign products for social and traditional media including the mini campaigns #SayNOtoScandalBags.
    • Compost with me featuring Patria-Kaye Aarons.
    • Reducing the use of single-use plastic featuring Sevana.
    • Nuh Dutty Up Christmas (December 2018).
    • Nuh Dutty Up Di Road (Carnival in Jamaica 2019).
    • The Nuh Dutty Up Jamaica Cleanup Network and a schedule of 21 community cleanups across Jamaica in 2019.
    • Distribution of 150 garbage bins to our three Nuh Dutty Up Jamaica model communities – Lakes Pen, St Catherine; Nine Miles, St Ann; and Trench Town, Kingston
    • The Nuh Dutty Up Jamaica Road Trip (August 2019)

In the summer of 2019, an external evaluation of the campaign was conducted. The results were compared against the 2015 external evaluation and found that the campaign has achieved universal awareness among Jamaicans.

Recent funding was received in 2022 and 2023 to implement aspects of the NDUJ programme.