NGARAARD, Palau (Island Times) — Ngaraard State expressed deep appreciation to the U.S. Pacific Partnership 2025 team for assisting in a two-day coastal cleanup that collected more than 50 bags of trash from Kuabes Park and surrounding beaches.
“On behalf of the Ngaraard State Government and the people of Ngaraard, we extend our appreciation to the U.S. Pacific Partnership for helping us with the coastal cleanup,” said Governor Sharp Sakuma. “We also collaborate on youth programs, like movie nights promoting a drug-free lifestyle and community health initiatives.”
At the request of the Ngaraard State Government, Pacific Partnership teams worked alongside state staff and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Environment to clean areas along the Kuabes beachfront, the park, and nearby school grounds.
On the first day, volunteers collected more than 20 bags of debris, including washed-up ropes and even a refrigerator, which were brought to the Ngaraard State Office for disposal. The following day, another 30 bags were gathered, bringing the total to about 50 bags of marine waste.
Marine debris remains an ongoing environmental challenge across Palau, particularly for the northern and eastern states where ocean currents and waves carry trash from distant countries onto local shores. These cleanups, though vital, are a constant struggle for states and communities, consuming limited resources and posing threats to marine life and the people who depend on the ocean for food and livelihoods.