As part of its commitment to community service, the GCO organized a Beach Cleaning Drive on Friday 27th February 09. This event was held under the patronage of the Bausher Municipality.
About 150 Goan adults and youth reported at 8 am at the pandal arranged by Mr. Alan D' Costa of Technical Services and Rock Blasting Company on the beach adjacent to the Jawaharat Al Shatti Mall. Each of the volunteers donned a T shirt sponsored by Stomach Restaurant, put on gloves and took hold of a garbage bag.
Following a prayer and welcome note by the President Mr. Flynn de Lima,
the volunteers divided themselves into two groups and went about their
task seriously and cheerfully. Despite being blessed with a clean and
safe environment in Muscat, Goans were shocked and amused to see the
type and quantum of rubbish strewn on the beach, especially at the
periphery. The discarded items included cigarette packets/butts,
plastic bags, bottles, caps, broken toys, barbecue materials, broken
crockery, wood, pipes and even truck tyres. In just this portion of the
beach extending up to the British Embassy, the volunteers were able to
fill up more than 50 large garbage bags, which were later carted away
by the Municipality workers. The Director General of Bausher
Municipality was so impressed that he spoke very appreciatively to the
Television and Press and thanked the Goan Community in Oman for the
interest they had evinced in helping maintain the cleanly reputation of
Oman.
Considering the large number of volunteers who turned up, and volume of
garbage collected, the GCO beach cleanup drive was a most successful
endeavour. More significantly, the exercise served to impress upon the
volunteers the importance of being careful in disposing of items when
we picnic at the beach next. And besides the work involved, there was
lots of bonhomie and lightheartedness. Thus, on completing the activity
at 10 am, most felt that it was an enjoyable morning spent in the midst
of friends, and there was a sense of satisfaction at seeing a pristine
beach restored to its former glory.
The GCO is grateful to the following sponsors: Mr. Austin D'Silva for
the T shirts, Al Mudhish Company for the chips, WJ Towell for the
softdrinks, and Mr. Flynn de Lima for the water.
Special thanks to Mr. Alan D'Costa who took up the challenge after the
initial schedule was postponed, liaisoned effectively with Bausher
Municipality and ensured success of the event. Thanks also to Mr.
Anthony Lourence, Mrs. Revati Sanzagiri and Mr. Sebastian Almeida for
the arrangements made by them and for enlisting the sponsors. The
photographs were very professionally taken by Master Nishad Sanzagiri.
The GCO places on record its grateful thanx to all the Goans who
responded to the appeal, spared their precious Friday morning and
turned up at the beach to make this event a success. It shows how Goans
can be community conscious, and be so united in responding to a cause.
The next GCO beach clean up drive at Calangute, Baga and/or Colva will
be announced in shortly....
Click here to view event photos.
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