Civics could aid Kingston Harbour clean-up – Christian
FROM THE reintroduction of civics into schools to policy interventions that are enabling to private enterprise, youth leader Tijani Christian has made the case for the development of human capital as essential to the restoration of the Kingston Harbour.
Despite its reputation as the world’s seventh-deepest natural harbour, a source of livelihood for fisherfolk and a site for recreation, the harbour has, for decades now, been plagued by pollution.
“The need for civics, with a key focus on environmental responsibility, to be reintroduced into the school curriculum as a way of building awareness of sustainability is critical, as citizens fail to familiarise themselves with the laws and regulations of the country,” Christian writes in his article titled ‘Reclaiming Kingston Harbour by using its Untapped Human Capital’.
The article was published as part of the 2019 GraceKennedy Lecture.
“The task is for the residents of communities within and around the harbour to make the effort to protect their environment by obeying the laws. This is critical in the enforcement of the laws, as there is a shared responsibility among civilians and law enforcers, as we all coexist within the same environment,” he added.
According to Christian, chairperson for the Commonwealth Youth Council, “public outreach, education and training” are among the ways to tap into and enhance human capital in the interest of Jamaica’s natural resources, including the Kingston Harbour.
“These measures are not only feasible, but practical and can be beneficial and effective if each steward plays an active role in conserving the environment through investing in his or her own behavioural change,” he noted.
“The ripple effect of tapping into the human capital of the Kingston Harbour communities would extend beyond the goal for holistic sustainable development, and also improve the economy and livelihoods in a vibrant downtown Kingston,” Christian added.
The GraceKennedy Foundation is looking to harness partnerships in order to rid the harbour of pollutants.
“It is much bigger than us and it is not a short-term project either,” Caroline Mahfood, executive director for the foundation, told The
Gleaner last month.
The foundation, she explained at the time, has developed a concept note for sharing with potential funders, with the goal to “connect people, funders, agencies, and to drive the process”.
Christian used the example of the plastic ban to make the point about policy intervention and enterprise.
“Young, innovative entrepreneurs took advantage of the ban by filling the void with creative alternatives to the banned items. A young, dynamic group of four, Those Creative People Tings (TCP Tings), highlighted just how much of a ‘pot of gold’ a ‘scandal-free’ Jamaica can be with catchy signature lines like ‘One Bag ah Tings’, ‘Scandal Free Life’, and ‘Nuh Inna Di Scandal’,” he noted.
Meanwhile, in what could be interpreted as a salute to the efforts of the foundation and other stakeholders, Christian also emphasised the need for partnerships.
“The combined efforts of the private sector, Government and citizens are needed for the restoration, conservation and sustainability of the Kingston Harbour as this is a collective responsibility. The harmonisation and unification of efforts to restore and revitalise the Kingston Harbour is dependent on the Jamaican people,” he wrote.
“Recognising that each action has a consequence, citizens must play their part in ending the pollution crisis and the illegal dumping into gullies, streams and landfills surrounding the harbour,” Christian added.