The GraceKennedy Foundation will focus on the ongoing restoration of Kingston Harbour during its 36th Annual Public Lecture, set for June 5 in observance of World Environment Day.
The lecture, titled Kingston Harbour Cleanup Project: From Vision to Reality, will examine how partnerships, technology, and scientific research are contributing to Jamaica’s first large-scale initiative aimed at reducing solid waste pollution flowing into Kingston Harbour.
The Kingston Harbour Cleanup Project is funded by The Ocean Cleanup and led by the GraceKennedy Foundation in partnership with Clean Harbours Jamaica. Organizers said the initiative has prevented nearly 13 million pounds of plastic and waste from entering the harbour over the last five years.
“This project demonstrates what can be achieved when science, business, and community come together around a shared purpose,” said Caroline Mahfood, chief executive officer of the GraceKennedy Foundation.
“Our partnership with The Ocean Cleanup and Clean Harbours Jamaica has shown that meaningful progress is possible. Through this lecture, we hope to share both the impact of the project on the Harbour and the broader message that the restoration of natural resources is achievable through sustained collaboration and commitment,” she added.
The annual lecture series, established in 1989, has long served as a forum for discussions on regional social and environmental issues. This year’s event revisits concerns first highlighted during the Foundation’s 2019 lecture, Clean Kingston Harbour: Pipe Dream or Pot of Gold?, which brought increased national attention to the harbour’s pollution challenges.
Presenters for the 2026 lecture will include Mahfood; Michael McCarthy, managing director of Clean Harbours Jamaica; and Mona Webber, the GraceKennedy Foundation James S. Moss-Solomon Senior Chair in Environment at The University of the West Indies, Mona.
A special video message is also expected from Boyan Slat, founder and CEO of The Ocean Cleanup.
The lecture will be moderated by Michael Taylor, professor of climate science and dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology at the University of the West Indies, Mona.
Members of the public will be able to view the lecture virtually through a livestream on GraceKennedy’s YouTube channel. Registration is available through Eventbrite, while additional information on the cleanup initiative can be found at Clean Kingston Harbour.
