of his state and staff of the Council of Chiefs managed to accomplish on May 17th.
The people of Kayangel had, through an initiative of the Council of Chiefs, collected approximately 4,700 pounds of unnatural debris from the east coast of the State of Kayangel.
According to Blekuu Sbal, Council of Chiefs’ grant coordinator, the work in Kayangel is similar to that which had been conducted in the other states.The Council of Chiefs, through a grant from the US National Fish and Wildlife Federation, had developed a program that aims to rid, as much as possible, Palau’s coastal shores of marine debris.
Sbal said that due to the limited amount of funds to support the program, the Council of Chiefs solicited for support from the states’ leadership.Each state sent a representative to attend meetings with the Council of Chiefs prior to the implementation of the program.
The program has since been implemented in Ngchesar, Melekeok, Ngiwal, Ngaraard, Ngarchelong, Ngardmau, Peleliu, and Kayangel.
Sbal indicated that each of the state received a $1000.00 check to be used as funding for the coastal clean up.The money given had, for the most part, been used to purchase gasoline, gloves, trash bags, and other cleaning tools needed.Volunteers – young and old – had done all of the work.
The work in Kayangel, Chiokai said, could not have been started if the people did not take part in it.Chiokai further added that Kurt Ngiraked, the state’s representative to the Council of Chiefs, had done an excellent job in organizing the clean up of Kayangel State.
In addition, Chiokai said that he is very thankful for the effort that the Council of Chiefs as it has successfully initiated a program that has brought people together to work towards keeping Palau’s environment clean.
The people of Kayangel, Sbal said, were only able to clean about a half-a-mile of the east coast of the main island of Kayangel.However, they managed to collect 360 pounds of glass bottles, 760 pounds of assorted rubber slippers (zorries), 283 pounds of styro foam products, 667 pounds of assorted plastic bottles, and 2530 pounds of assorted debris – ropes, nets, and other miscellaneous items.Most of the debris collected, Sbal said, is being prepared to be transported Babeldaob or Koror for recycling and proper disposal.
Sbal added that the people of Kayangel have decided to continue the cleaning Kayangel’s coastal shores on the 31st of this month and will continue every weekend there after until all its shores are free of unnatural debris.
According to Sbal similar efforts will begin in Angaur this weekend.Further, he said, other states are still in the planning process as to how they will conduct their clean up efforts.
