A sweeping national cleanup campaign in Barbados, inspired by a young student’s heartfelt appeal, has successfully removed more than 700 tonnes of bulk waste from communities across the island. The initiative, titled ‘One Nation, One Mission, One Clean Up,’ was launched following a plea from nine-year-old Naomi Dummett, who envisioned a ‘beautiful Barbados.’ Environment and National Beautification Minister Adrian Forde praised Naomi as a young ‘Earth Champion’ and highlighted the program’s significant progress. The cleanup effort began two weeks before the school island cleanup, targeting schools reopening in early September, and has since expanded nationwide. Forde emphasized the removal of bulky items such as fridges, stoves, washing machines, and microwaves, underscoring the importance of collective action. ‘We are seeing success, but it is a costly exercise for the government. We urge Barbadians to do their part and honor their country,’ he stated. The initiative also includes the ‘Gullies are Life’ project, which has cleared 13 tonnes of solid waste from gullies, protecting the island from climate change impacts. Forde highlighted the rediscovery of the Barbados thread snake, the world’s smallest snake, after 136 years, as a testament to the project’s ecological benefits. Additionally, the ministry is launching a community beautification competition, tree-planting initiatives, and enhancing green spaces like the Botanical Gardens. ‘Barbadians must have green spaces to connect with nature,’ Forde emphasized, reaffirming the government’s commitment to environmental sustainability and beautification.