Co-op Bank & SPECTO Collaborate to Protect Leatherback Turtle

The Grenada Co-operative Bank Ltd is not only striving to help customers cut costs and become more climate friendly, but, its concern also spreads to the marine environment. This concern manifested itself through the inclusion of a popular non-governmental organization from the parish of St Patrick, called SPECTO whose main focus is to protect and conserve the Leatherback turtle and its eggs especially during nesting season.

During the Bank’s inaugural Green Property Expo held on 20&21 July, the Barnacle held an exclusive interview with Director of the St Patrick’s Environmental and Community Tourism Organisation (SPECTO), Ms Claudette Pitt. According to her, the main purpose of the organization is to protect the Leatherback turtle especially as it comes to lay in the Levera area, which is located in the north of Grenada and is home to one of the largest nesting areas to the Leatherback Turtle. Additionally, the Levera Beach is currently the island’s lone site designated as Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Sites), and is protected by the Ramsar Convention of Global Wetlands.

She also expressed sincerest gratitude to the Grenada Co-operative Bank for seeing the need to get the message out to persons about the protection of the Leatherback turtle. She is also grateful to the Bank for the efforts in partnering with the organization.

SPECTO grasped the opportunity to raise awareness through its display of local arts and crafts during the Bank’s Green Expo. These branded conservation items showcased clothing and cushions with environmentally friendly messages i.e. ‘I am NOT food’, and wooden carvings and keyrings which persons can purchase to show their support for the protection of the Leatherback turtles.

A number of Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and groups have taken the onus to help safeguard the turtles and their eggs especially during the nesting season which is usually from late March to August. During this season, SPECTO oversees and organizes tours for persons interested in seeing the turtle laying.

The St Patrick-based organization collaborates with other environmental groups including Ocean Spirits to accomplish its mission of protecting the Leatherback turtles and its eggs. Additionally, Ms Pitt informed the Barnacle that the Leatherback turtle is listed under the Endangered Species Act, and faces a number of threats on nesting beaches as well as in the marine environment. Items such as plastic bags are extremely hazardous to the turtles. Hence SPECTO carries out beach clean up campaigns throughout the year, in collaboration with other conservation and environmentally friendly organizations. “We do more than just talk…we put our hands where our mouth is.”

Probing further into the reason the Leatherback turtle is now endangered, the Barnacle was told that the eggs of this specific turtle are said to be an aphrodisiac. Hence it is important to safeguard the eggs when the turtle comes up to lay. According to one of SPECTOs Tour Guides, Samuel Roberts, the turtles come up to the beach to lay 6 to 7 times per nesting season (March to August). However, at this time, the turtles are not coming up as often to lay, hence the season has been declared closed.