REGGAE singer Duane Stephenson is once again embarking on another major philanthropy project, this time spearheading the Surfrider Foundation Jamaica’s basic mandate which is dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the island’s beaches and shorelines.
Stephenson, is still a very active humanitarian ambassador for many other charity projects including the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) which last year provided thousands of meals to Africans living in conflict zones known as the Horn Of Africa. Duane is the director of the newly founded Surfrider Foundation of Jamaica which is the latest affiliate of the global non-profit environmental organisation based in the US that boasts over 250,000 active members.
In a statement from Stephenson it was noted that lack of proper funding from the national agencies sometimes plays a major role in littering. “Here in Jamaica the economic situation sometimes undermines the effort of something as simple as keeping a community clean. Across the island low-income communities don’t have adequate facilities to manage the volumes of garbage so they end up with overflowing receptacles. Surfrider Foundation Jamaica is here to raise awareness across the island and to help policy makers make the necessary changes to keep our beaches and surroundings clean.”
To date the Surfrider Foundation of Jamaica has been cosigned and supported by several A-list reggae artists through social media, including Beres Hammond, Gyptian, Morgan Heritage, Gregory Issacs, Sick Puppies, The Wailers, Busy Signal and Queen Ifrica while organisations such as VP Records are also playing an integral role in spreading awareness.
During the Easter weekend the local Surfrider Foundation Jamaica staged a beach clean-up in Negril which saw dozens of volunteers with garbage bags picking up plastic bottles, litter and other debris off the beach. The Negril clean-up saw Bran Nu Entertainment and The Rockhouse Hotel coming on board to support the worthy cause that benefits all Jamaicans.
According to Surfrider representative Christopher Campbell, several other clean-ups are currently being planned islandwide. “Well on April 22nd, which is regarded as Earth Day, members of the Surfrider Foundation will stage another beach clean-up and this time we will be looking to have a number of artistes and media personalities taking part. Duane Stephenson is already confirmed, even though the 22nd is his birthday he is still fully committed to the cause and that right there is commendable. Another prospective clean-up date will be June 8th which is World Ocean Day, and again we are looking to do something special.”
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