PRESS RELEASE

Continuing its mission to create and maintain a sense of environmental stewardship among community members, the Sandals Foundation rallied over seven hundred (700) volunteers across the Caribbean for the largest one-day volunteer event in the world – International Coastal Cleanup Day.

Here in Antigua, sixty volunteers, including team members from Sandals Grande Antigua, Scouts from the Antigua and Barbuda Scout Association, and community members gathered to complete cleanup activities from Dickenson Bay to Runaway Bay and the surrounding environs of Sandals Grande Antigua Resort and Spa including the outskirts of the nearby salt pond.

Heidi Clarke, Executive Director at the Sandals Foundation, said, ―ICCD is a dedicated time where the world comes together to show solidarity and care for our oceans. We continue to support environmental stewardship through mobilizing members of our community, empowering them to take action in protecting our coastlines. Every action counts and we are encouraged by the ongoing support and collaboration from our partners and community members who volunteer their time to take care of the spaces that we call home.‖

Sandals Grande Antigua General Manager David Latchimy said the resort is pleased to continue supporting environmental sustainability through the Sandals Foundation. ―We are proud to have our Sandals Foundation volunteers join the Antigua and Barbuda Scouts Association for this year’s International Coastal Cleanup. Partnerships like this demonstrate what we can achieve when we come together with a shared commitment to protecting Antigua and Barbuda’s beautiful coastline and environment.‖

The 2026 cleanup activity provided an opportunity to turn environmental awareness into meaningful community action as International Coastal Cleanup Day is about more than removing litter from our beaches; it is about encouraging greater environmental responsibility within our communities.

Working alongside all our community partners allowed us to engage young people in that mission while demonstrating the importance of protecting the natural spaces we all enjoy. We are proud of our volunteers and grateful to the Scouts for partnering with us on this important initiative.‖ Sandals Public Relations Manager and Sandals Foundation representative Leon Norville added.

Since 2009, the Foundation has mobilized close to 200,000 persons in various environmental conservation efforts including marine sanctuary management, coral restoration, environmental education, and biodiversity conservation across the Caribbean.