Last Saturday, several persons came out to assist with clearing excess vegetation along Vesey Street in Devonshire. Others assisted in helping to provide the needed items to carry out the tasks at hand.

I would like to thank all those who participated in multiple ways.

First, much thanks must be given to Curtis Charles and Dennis Spenser of the Department of Public Works. These gentlemen provided the needed power tools, hedge trimmer and weed whacker to get the job done.

Without those tools, the job would have taken twice the time.

They also provided the trucking to pick up the multiple trash bags of debris.

Second, the neighbourhood store Belvin’s Variety, located on Vesey Street, provided us with 50 heavy-duty trash bags, which we put loose debris into and two cases of water to keep the workers well hydrated for the few hours that we laboured in the summer heat.

Those two entities demonstrate that the private and public sector can indeed work in conjunction to do their part to keep our island moving in the right direction.

If any other private company wishes to contribute in any way shape or form, please feel free to contact myself.

Which brings me to this point.

No amount of power tools, water or trash bags can get rid of excess vegetation, collectively or on their own. This can be achieved only via physical labour.

The biggest thank-you is reserved for the Trott family of Hermitage Road.

During the past year of our clean-ups, we have had different individuals of different demographics come out to assist. Some young and some mature. Some male and some female.

What we have never had is an entire family show up to assist.

On Saturday, Llewellyn Trott, his wife, Norma, daughter Aisha, son, Akil, and grandson came out at 9am sharp. Not only did they come out, they brought their own tools and safety gloves.

All that was left for me to do was point them as to which area they would be working. It is not a stretch of the imagination to say that, working as a well-oiled machine, they did the bulk of the work that was completed that day.

Perhaps the moment that captured it all was seeing his grandson, wearing gloves and safety goggles, taking up the blower in his hands and operating like a professional.

Without a doubt, that was down to the upbringing and loving guidance of Mr Trott, himself a veteran educator in the technical fields. He is an extremely strong advocate for more of our Bermudian young people to be involved in the vast number of trades that require a person to use both their hands and heads.

Trades such as automotive technology, construction and, yes, landscaping, which indeed is a trade that requires much training.

Our country is in need of more skilled tradespersons, and landscaping is a trade that they will never find themselves without work or without the ability to start their own business.

Our next big clean-up is scheduled for September 29 along Jubilee Road in Devonshire. If you would like to assist, feel free to contact me.

• Christopher Famous is the government MP for Devonshire East (Constituency 11). You can reach him at WhatsApp on 599-0901 or e-mail at cfamous@plp.bm