We have heard and read a lot about keeping our environment clean. Despite all the numerous efforts that have been put together to educate our nation on the need for a clean environment, we don?t seem to have got the message yet.

The morning following the Ganga Asnan festival, I went for my regular jogging session on Mon Choisy Beach. As usual, I took a few moments to enjoy the peacefulness of this quiet beach before starting. As it was a Saturday morning, few people could be spotted on the beach. Not only was it almost empty, but no human voice could be heard. Nothing but the wave ending its journey on the beach, the gentle morning breeze of summer and the chirping of birds could be heard.

As I was enjoying the beauty of our Indian Ocean, I noticed something peculiar in the early-morning crystal clear water. When I walked closer, I could see plastic bags floating on the water surface. And when I turned to take a closer look at the beach, I was horrified to see that there was litter lying everywhere. In fact, there was too much to count. What made matters even worse was that not even the holy ganga had been spared. I was disgusted and ashamed. How could we pollute the very same holy ganga to which we all came to pay respect?

I was thinking to myself that it is high time for the Securiclean management to include in their staff-training program swimming lessons now, to clean the sea as well. How could we come here, make full use of the beach and the sea and leave them in such a pitiful state? Is this the image we want to project to the tourists hanging around this supposedly white sandy paradise beach?

It is sad that, despite the large number of garbage bins placed in several corners of the beach, very few people seem to notice them. To make these garbage cans more obvious to the public, I believe the authority should place an attractive sign next to all garbage cans on the beach reading something like: PLEASE USE ME AND DON?T LEAVE ME EMPTY.

If only this vulnerable beach could voice out and complain about our misuse of this beautiful place or even stop us from making it dirty. How unfortunate for this beach to rely only on the Securiclean people to keep it clean. If each and every one of us does not make that special effort to keep our environment clean, FORGET ABOUT A CLEAN MAURITIUS OR A PARADISE ISLAND.

Parvedy S. CHETTY