Renad Ghanem

Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — Cleaning workers are struggling to keep the Jeddah Corniche clean after families leave the place.



Despite efforts by the municipality to develop the place and make it one of the main attractions for the city’s visitors, they are struggling to increase awareness about keeping the place clean and civilized.



It is becoming normal to see families leave huge piles of rubbish behind them when they leave the place.



It is believed that they think it is the cleaning worker’s job to clear up after them, without feeling any sense of responsibility toward public facilities.



Jeddah Corniche is a favorite spot for families throughout the week.



The sad picture, according to many people interviewed in this report, is that families condone littering all over the place even when there is a garbage container close to where they sit.



Most families do not object when they see their children acting in this manner.



People expressed joy when the Corniche was developed to a high standard, yet the vast majority of visitors fail to keep the place clean.



Saudi Gazette interviewed some of the visitors who were complaining about families leaving their garbage behind.



Samar Ouda, a regular weekend visitor to the beach from Syria, said she was disappointed with the behavior of some visitors to the Corniche.



She accused these people, especially Saudis, of abusing public property.



She said: “The Corniche is very long.



“I see cleaning workers doing their bit collecting garbage containers and cleaning after families. It is sad that these families have no sense of responsibility.



“The way such families are behaving outside on public property reflects the way they behave inside their homes.



“A family that keeps their place clean is civilized. The opposite is the family that keeps the place dirty during and after they leave. Some of my Saudi friends accuse expats who visit the Corniche of leaving garbage around.



“This is not true, because I see many Saudi families leave a lot of garbage behind. To me that is a greater crime because it is their country and they should be more responsible and take good care of their public facilities.”



Khalid Salman, a Saudi employee who was interviewed also on the Corniche, said visitors who leave trash behind them should be banned from visiting the place.



“To be honest, I see cleaning workers struggling to keep the place clean.



“Dirty visitors, however, are making their job difficult.



“They leave a lot of garbage around.



“Sometimes I wonder how their house looks like. The Corniche is one of my favorite places to gather with my family.



“I usually pick up the mess that we make and put it in the trash.



“I respect visitors who do the same.



Salman said the municipality should issue a fine to any visitor who throws or leaves garbage on the Corniche.



“Trash cans and garbage containers are everywhere and within a walking distance. The culture of keeping a place clean should be instilled in everyone.



“I often notice people who are very active on the beach yet they are too lazy to pick up their garbage and put it in the trash can.”



Shojon Amer, a Saudi housewife interviewed on the Corniche, said some visitors need awareness and reeducated on how to keep public places clean.



She said the Corniche was developed for the public to use.



“The worst thing is when people do not appreciate what they have. I love the Corniche and I love to spend time there.



“I am keen on keeping the place clean because I want the family who sits after me to enjoy it the same way I did and because I’m coming back again.



“Some other visitors deal with the place as an aberration and they will go to extreme measures to keep it dirty and trash the facilities.



“Visitors from some Arab countries appreciate this place because they do not have such a beautiful Corniche in their own countries.



“Like these visitors we should appreciate the place and be more responsible.”



Saudi Gazette asked one of the cleaners at the Corniche if the attitude of messy visitors was bothering him.



He said: “It’s my job to clean the place during my shift and unfortunately what some visitors do ensures we are doubling our efforts. They throw garbage around them instead of throwing it in the trash.



“My job is to clean so they make the place dirty. If they pick up their trash when they leave they will help us more and we will feel appreciated.”