When Lennox Boodram, executive director of Keep Bermuda Beautiful, comes knocking on your door he means serious business and is considered `a tour de force'.

The Minister of Works and Engineering, Alex Scott, was recently informed that an individual who lived in the St. Monica's Mission neighbourhood was seen both sweeping and cleaning up the area even as the rain continued to fall.

The minister described this as a most gratifying development. He went on to speculate that this is a clear indication of the growing pride and sense of community that was taking place in the St. Monica's Mission neighbourhood.

He attributed the sense of pride to the growing enthusiasm of the residents for an improved community and the partnership between the community, Government and Keep Bermuda Beautiful, (KBB) the latter conducting one of their more successful community clean up efforts in the area several months ago.

Minister Scott declared that the past year has been an extremely busy one for KBB. The annual Coastal and Marine Clean Up that was held last month was the most successful of the series organised by the KBB - over recent years. When the last truckload headed for the dump, over 12 tons of trash had been picked up despite the inclement weather.

We asked Mr. Scott what role had he played in regard to the work of KBB and he replied: "I oversee the entire operation of Works and Engineering which includes the KBB operation and I am happy to report that the Ministry of Works and Engineering provides financial, technical and back up support in the form of trucks and labour to assist KBB.'' The minister stated that in addition to technical and financial support, the Ministry's Waste Education Officer, Jane Brett, is the ministry's liaison person who assists with many of KBB's projects, programmes and campaigns.

"To my knowledge'', said Mr. Scott, "this year also marks the most successful year in terms of assisted clean ups. KBB has worked the CedarBridge Academy on their Community Day as well as helped to implement recycling programmes. The organisation has helped to establish litter clean up and recycling programmes within the Elliott Primary School.'' "Good news travels fast,'' The minister said with a smile.

Many groups, both local and overseas, have come out in force to help clean up around Bermuda. KBB continues to do an essential job in the fight to keep the island beautiful and does it well.

To the question as to how the ordinary citizen could preserve Bermuda's beauty, Mr. Scott invited the public to help by never throwing trash on the ground or in the ocean which inevitably has negative and destructive effects on the flora and fauna of the environment as well as being visibly unappealing. He stated emphatically that the government, through the Ministry of Works and Engineering, interacts with KBB to keep Bermuda clean.

"Our efforts as a country can be made to be 10 times more effective if each Bermudian does his or her part in keeping their piece of the rock clean,'' he said.

KBB has just completed one of its more successful years because of the hardworking staff and dedicated volunteers.

Looking to the future, the minister expressed the view that Bermuda's most serious environmental problem and challenges were related to the fact that the island is one of the most densely populated places in the world.

Consequently, the loss of open space looms large as an immediate environmental challenge.

Mr. Scott explained: "Associated with our population density is the condition of traffic congestion and vehicular emissions. Garbage and litter increase noise pollution, and marine pollution follows closely as problems on the rise that must be addressed.'' Minister Scott concluded by observing that KBB could not do it alone.

"This is not a KBB fight, this is the responsibility of every Bermudian!'' He added that this responsibility must also be shared by the business and private sectors. Business can help by becoming involved in the "Adopt-a-Park'' programme and the "Rock Watcher'' programme.

The idea of these programmes require that businesses assist in cleaning up and maintaining the condition of a specific are around Bermuda. In return these responsible, corporate citizens will have a small plaque on the park sign which recognises the particular company that is involved in the beautification of the site.

"It would be remiss of me as the Minister of Works and Engineering and supporter of the KBB programme not to mention the tremendous encouragement I receive personally from the energy and initiative shown by KBB director, Lennox Boodram, who represents a tour de force.

"You are almost afraid to say no to Lennox when he comes knocking at your door on behalf of KBB.'' Minister, Alex Scott Mr. Scott believes in the Adopt-a-Park programme and pictured here is the Filapino Association of Bermuda volunteering at the Avocado Lodge Park on behalf of KBB.