SUCCESS FOR THE BIMINI ECO-MOVEMENT
April 24, 2010 – BIMINI – The new educational, eco-movement directed to teach Bimini’s youth the importance of protecting their island’s environment and conservation, launched on Thursday, April 22 at the Pep Rally. Movement organizers Danielle Dunfee and Lucy Lopez, both employees of Bimini Bay Resort presented the event to students during school hours on Wednesday April 21 to create excitement and hype. Each student was told to do three things for the event: wear green, collect and bring bottles and auto batteries for the recycle drive. “Every single student on island complied with our requests. We collected 14 auto batteries and over 6,000 bottles,” stated Lucy Lopez.
Volunteers from Bimini Bay Resort arrived to the baseball field in Alice Town at 1:30pm to set-up speakers, DJ equipment, recycling bins, games for the children and prizes. Present at the Pep Rally was the island’s Chief Council Commissioner, Mr. Lloyd Edgecombe, Head of Environmental Health, Ms. Linda Bowe, Bimini’s Ministry of Tourism team, parents and teachers of all schools. Speeches were made by Danielle Dunfee and Lucy Lopez as well as remarks from Suzette, the island’s bottle recycling activist and Antoinette Stuart of the Ministry of Tourism. “It was truly outstanding to witness and be part of this union on the island. Everyone diligently worked together to count and separate bottles, batteries and trash,” Dunfee stated. Children were provided with trash bags at one point in the Rally for a competition in trash clean-up to tackle the surrounding area of the event. “I’ve never seen children so excited to pick-up trash,” exclaimed Lucy Lopez. “During the 15-minute clean-up, we collected over 15 bags of waste.” To conclude the Pep Rally, a “GREEN Homecoming Queen and King” were crowed. A special congratulation to Andre King and Destiny Rolle!
“Earth Day was an exciting day for Bimini this year, we hope to maintain efforts on conservation and clean-up throughout the year now,” said Danielle Dunfee. Below are photos of the event put taken from Curtis Smith (www.CurtisSmithPhotography.com) who traveled to the island from Miami to donate his time and services to the cause. Curtis Smith is a frequent visitor to the island as Bimini Bay Resort’s preferred photographer for all events. “This is the least I can do to give back to an island that has rewarded me with such beauty for my work,” stated Curtis Smith.
