PRESS RELEASE – WATER – it’s one of the world’s most precious natural resources and fundamental to life on our planet.
This is just one of the facts that were shared with students from the Ave Maria Girls Primary School and the Gros Islet Primary School, following a water conservation presentation from Fitzgerald John, Education Coordinator UNDP/ NEMO. The interactive and informative presentation was arranged by RBC Royal Bank and offered creative ways through which water can be conserved.
The presentation was a part of the RBC Blue Water Day activities as volunteers from team RBC also distributed drinking water to the students. Employees took the time to explain to students that local water sources aren’t limitless, and they’re under continual and growing stress from population growth, climate change and pollution. They also encouraged the students to protect this most precious resource.
“Our focus is to help protect local water where we live and work,” said Sandra A. Fontenelle, Country Manager – St. Lucia. “For the past five years, RBCers around the world have been hosting education sessions and have put on their gloves and grabbed rakes and shovels to protect water in the communities where we live and work.”
Blue Water Day was celebrated on June 2, and for the past week, RBC employees across the world RBC have been engaging in make-overs—beach clean-ups, tree plantings, and awareness-building activities, culminating on June 9. Over 300 employees have participated in 14 makeovers across the Caribbean.
Isaac Solomon, Managing Director for the Eastern Caribbean, in speaking to participants re-affirmed the bank’s commitment to giving back to the community and highlighted the need to conserve this important resource. “Through our Blue Water Day initiative, we are sharing our love of our local waters and helping to raise awareness about water preservation for future generations,” said Solomon.
“RBC has a longstanding commitment to environmental sustainability,” said Myreen Cenac, a Business Support Representative at the bank and the team’s Blue Water Champion. “We understand first and foremost that every little bit we do today can help a lot tomorrow. We’re proud that our employees in St Lucia, and around the world, are willing year after year to help their communities prosper through RBC Blue Water Day Makeovers.”
Since its launch in 2007, the RBC Blue Water Project has committed CAD$50 million over a 10-year period to help provide access to swim-able, drinkable and fish-able water. Over the years, the RBC Royal Bank St. Lucia team has engaged in several activities inclusive of tree planting activities, beach clean-ups and supplying NGOs, homes and schools with supplies of drinking water in support of the project’s objectives.
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