Call for ban on development in national parks
By MEGAN REYNOLDS
Tribune Staff Reporter
mreynolds@tribunemedia.net
AN EXUMA activist has criticised the Bahamas National Trust for not opposing dredging and excavation at Bell Island in the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park as he calls for development in all national parks to be banned.
Terry Bain, spokesman for Save The Exuma Park (STEP) committee, is outraged at the granting of permission to dredge and excavate more than 13 acres of land and seabed around Bell Island in the Exuma park and the apparent compliance of the Bahamas National Trust (BNT).
Mr Bain spoke out on behalf of STEP's 180 members at a public meeting called by the BNT in Great Exuma last Thursday to discuss the Bell Island development with members of the community.
He said it was not made clear at the meeting that the Department of Physical Planning had already granted permission to excavate 4.32 acres of upland area for a yacht basin, 2.56 acres of seabed for an outer channel, 4.28 acres of marine area for a barge landing and a further 1.9 acres of seabed for the outer area of the barge landing on September 21.
Local tour boat operators spoke out at the meeting claiming dredging is already being done at Bell Island; claims flatly denied at the meeting by BNT executive director Eric Carey.
Conditions of the permit state an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) must be approved by the Bahamas Environment, Science and Technology (BEST) Commission before work can begin, and the EMP is expected by Mr Carey this week.
Plans were submitted by Islands of Discovery Ltd after Islamic spiritual leader and billionaire Prince Karim Aga Khan IV bought the island last year.
Details of the development emerged as Environment Minister Earl Deveaux confirmed he had accepted the offer of free transportation in the Aga Khan's helicopter to travel to Abaco with his wife and two friends to attend a public event before going on to Bell Island to conduct a land assessment the next day. In answer to his critics, Minister Deveaux said that in no way did this courtesy by the Aga Khan to make it possible for him to attend the two meetings -- one in Abaco, the other in Bell Island -- influence his decision on the Bell Island application.
It was also alleged by Tribune sources that the Aga Khan donated $1 million to the BNT after he purchased the island.
Mr Carey has issued no comment on the donation claim, however a BNT statement on the development maintains: "Every landowner in the park has contributed generously to the funding of the BNT."
Mr Bain said: "The Trust has gone along with every development in the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, and I have been trying to save the Trust from themselves by trying to keep development out of the parks."
STEP has been lobbying for an amendment in the BNT Act to prevent development in the Exuma park and all national parks across the Bahamas since the group was founded 17 years ago.
But recent amendments passed in Parliament do not include such changes, and STEP now continues to fight a battle Mr Bain says the BNT should fight for itself.
The activist of Farmer's Cay, Exuma, further stated how locals and fishermen find development in the 176 square mile park hard to accept as they are prohibited from taking anything within its boundaries.
In an editorial column published in The Exuma Breeze this month, Mr Bain called on all Bahamians to speak out against development in the Exuma park and all national parks.
October 29, 2010
tribune242
A political blog about Bahamian politics in The Bahamas, Bahamian Politicans - and the entire Bahamas political lot. Bahamian Blogger Dennis Dames keeps you updated on the political news and views throughout the islands of The Bahamas without fear or favor. Bahamian Politicians and the Bahamian Political Arena: Updates one Post at a time on Bahamas Politics and Bahamas Politicans; and their local, regional and international policies and perspectives.
Showing posts with label Eric Carey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eric Carey. Show all posts
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Earl Deveaux - Environment Minister - Resignation Sought Over Billionaire Islamic Leader - The Aga Khan Matter
Calls made for Earl Deveaux to resign
By MEGAN REYNOLDS
Tribune Staff Reporter
mreynolds@tribunemedia.net:
CALLS were made yesterday for the resignation of Environment Minister Earl Deveaux over plans to develop Bell Island in the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park.
Dr Deveaux said he was minded to approve plans submitted by Island of Discovery Limited, understood to be billionaire Islamic leader the Aga Khan. He also admitted accepting a free ride in the Aga Khan's helicopter to attend a film screening in Abaco before going on to Bell Island with BNT executives the next day.
However, former PLP MP Philip Smith said: "Does this sound familiar to anyone else?
"In late 2006, Shane Gibson, quite correctly, resigned from Cabinet in a similar matter involving a permanent residency permit for an American entertainer.
"Maybe when he tenders his resignation from Cabinet, Dr Deveaux will also tell the Bahamian public how much it will take to buy him since he claims he does not 'think a helicopter ride could buy' him.
"I look forward to reading the resignation statement; or failing this, the letter of dismissal from the Prime Minister."
Plans to dredge and excavate at least 8.8 acres of marine sand flats, rock and vegetation for two channels, 12ft and 14ft deep, a barge landing and 20 slip yacht basin, as well as roads across the 349-acre island, have been passed on to the BNT for their input, Dr Deveaux said.
But after they were revealed in The Tribune yesterday, conservationists opposed to any development in the park expressed further concerns over allegations the BNT accepted a $1 million donation from the Aga Khan last year.
Sam Duncombe, from conservation group reEarth, said: "By allowing development in the park, they are destroying the natural beauty, the ecological diversity and history associated with being the first marine park started in the world.
"Does a million dollars negate this critically important focus?
"If this is the case, the BNT hierarchy should resign immediately followed closely by the Minister for the Environment, because it's painfully clear that they have abandoned their directives."
BNT executive director Eric Carey refused to comment on whether the Trust accepted a donation from the Aga Khan, nor would he state the Trust's position on the Bell Island development despite being the usual spokesman for the Trust.
"This isn't an environmental issue anymore," Mr Carey said.
"It's getting too political.
"This requires input from the board so I will let the president know that a statement is expected and he will meet with his colleagues on the board to address all of the concerns that have been raised."
He said BNT president Neil McKinney is expected to return to Nassau next week.
An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) conducted by Florida consultants Turrel, Hall and Associates Ltd concluded the development would not have a significant environmental impact and the planning applications state "no negative environmental impacts expected".
But in an area where fishermen are arrested for taking anything within the 112.6 acre park, the possibility of approving plans to dredge and excavate in a zone that has been protected since 1958 has astounded former Exuma MP and PLP Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries George Smith.
He said: "We will arrest a Bahamian from Black Point who passes through the cays and catches a few fish, but we're going to let a man come in, because he's Mr So-and-so, and do dredging to 15ft?
"If it was John Brown from Long Island I think it would be a different story.
"I cannot envision that we would want to see that in the park, where after the dredging, the silt will settle on reefs and on shoals in an area that has not been disrupted from the day it was made a park."
September 15, 2010
tribune242
By MEGAN REYNOLDS
Tribune Staff Reporter
mreynolds@tribunemedia.net:
CALLS were made yesterday for the resignation of Environment Minister Earl Deveaux over plans to develop Bell Island in the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park.
Dr Deveaux said he was minded to approve plans submitted by Island of Discovery Limited, understood to be billionaire Islamic leader the Aga Khan. He also admitted accepting a free ride in the Aga Khan's helicopter to attend a film screening in Abaco before going on to Bell Island with BNT executives the next day.
However, former PLP MP Philip Smith said: "Does this sound familiar to anyone else?
"In late 2006, Shane Gibson, quite correctly, resigned from Cabinet in a similar matter involving a permanent residency permit for an American entertainer.
"Maybe when he tenders his resignation from Cabinet, Dr Deveaux will also tell the Bahamian public how much it will take to buy him since he claims he does not 'think a helicopter ride could buy' him.
"I look forward to reading the resignation statement; or failing this, the letter of dismissal from the Prime Minister."
Plans to dredge and excavate at least 8.8 acres of marine sand flats, rock and vegetation for two channels, 12ft and 14ft deep, a barge landing and 20 slip yacht basin, as well as roads across the 349-acre island, have been passed on to the BNT for their input, Dr Deveaux said.
But after they were revealed in The Tribune yesterday, conservationists opposed to any development in the park expressed further concerns over allegations the BNT accepted a $1 million donation from the Aga Khan last year.
Sam Duncombe, from conservation group reEarth, said: "By allowing development in the park, they are destroying the natural beauty, the ecological diversity and history associated with being the first marine park started in the world.
"Does a million dollars negate this critically important focus?
"If this is the case, the BNT hierarchy should resign immediately followed closely by the Minister for the Environment, because it's painfully clear that they have abandoned their directives."
BNT executive director Eric Carey refused to comment on whether the Trust accepted a donation from the Aga Khan, nor would he state the Trust's position on the Bell Island development despite being the usual spokesman for the Trust.
"This isn't an environmental issue anymore," Mr Carey said.
"It's getting too political.
"This requires input from the board so I will let the president know that a statement is expected and he will meet with his colleagues on the board to address all of the concerns that have been raised."
He said BNT president Neil McKinney is expected to return to Nassau next week.
An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) conducted by Florida consultants Turrel, Hall and Associates Ltd concluded the development would not have a significant environmental impact and the planning applications state "no negative environmental impacts expected".
But in an area where fishermen are arrested for taking anything within the 112.6 acre park, the possibility of approving plans to dredge and excavate in a zone that has been protected since 1958 has astounded former Exuma MP and PLP Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries George Smith.
He said: "We will arrest a Bahamian from Black Point who passes through the cays and catches a few fish, but we're going to let a man come in, because he's Mr So-and-so, and do dredging to 15ft?
"If it was John Brown from Long Island I think it would be a different story.
"I cannot envision that we would want to see that in the park, where after the dredging, the silt will settle on reefs and on shoals in an area that has not been disrupted from the day it was made a park."
September 15, 2010
tribune242
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Bahamas National Oil Spill Committee is set to present its disaster management plan...
Oil disaster management plan to be presented
By MEGAN REYNOLDS
Tribune Staff Reporter
mreynolds@tribunemedia.net:
THE National Oil Spill Committee is set to present its disaster management plan today as it was revealed that "favourable winds are the only thing preventing the Gulf of Mexico spill from reaching the Bahamas.
As the committee prepares to confront the world's worst offshore oil disaster, weather predictions suggest the current prevailing wind direction will protect the Bahamas until Tuesday, however a change in wind pattern is expected to move the oil towards the western Bahamas.
A detailed national strategy devised with two International Maritime Organisation (IMO) experts will be presented to committee chairman, Captain Patrick O'Neil and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) director Captain Stephen Russell today and passed on to Environment Minister Earl Deveaux.
The multi-agency committee will also meet with the IMO and the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) today as Florida braced for an oil sheen containing thousands of tar balls, heavy globs of decayed oil, to reach the white sand beaches of Pensacola on the west coast.
However, southern winds predicted over the next five days will keep surface oil in the Gulf and west of Florida, Department of Meteorology chief climatological officer Michael Stubbs said.
"The winds are providing a protective barrier in the meantime," he told The Tribune.
"But the news now indicates the oil has entered the loop current, which feeds directly into the Gulf Stream and that moves towards our western shores.
"Ultimately, that is our concern, that it could end up in the Gulf Stream.
"However right now there is no need to panic, at least until Tuesday next week."
If the wind changes direction and spreads to the Florida Keys it will take about a week to then reach the Bahamas, National Oil Spill Committee spokesman Eric Carey said.
"We feel confident that the weather patterns are still in our favour," he said.
"Most of the currents are pushing it on shore of the Gulf and keeping it away from the Bahamas.
"But if it gets into the Florida Keys it would be an indication that it would be here in a week or so, and whatever gets to Florida and the Keys, we will probably get the same type of material."
Oil slicks are not expected but tar balls could drift towards the western coastlines, Mr Carey said.
As it will not be possible to install a 600-mile long boom to protect the Bahamas' western shoreline, the national strategy will involve booming key areas and cleaning up affected rocky shores.
Mr Carey said: "If we can boom off beaches we will have to clean up other areas like rocky shores as much as we can."
Meanwhile scientists are collecting evidence of tar-free shorelines, and having completed field work in Cay Sal Bank, the westernmost point of the Bahamas 145km west of Andros, they will move on to Bimini and other western coastlines to document baseline samples from sediment and fish.
Leading marine ecologist Dr Ethan Freid and marine biologist Kathleen Sealy will start training of more than 20 volunteers from Andros, Exuma, Abaco and Grand Bahama at the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) base in Coral Harbour on Monday.
The volunteers will then return home and train others to help them collect samples from the islands.
Mr Carey said: "If in the future the Bahamas is going to claim to some international litigation process, that the Gulf oil disaster is responsible for effects we see on tourism, fisheries resources, blue holes or other water resources, then we will have to prove that these people were properly trained.
"And as this oil event continues in the Gulf we need to have very credible samples."
Samples will be kept in a US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certified laboratory so they may be presented as evidence in court if the government decides to seek compensation for the clean-up costs and destruction from the spill.
The United States Justice Department announced on Tuesday it has launched criminal and civil probes into the spill.
Attempts to plug the well with mud failed over the weekend and subsequent efforts to cut off the fractured pipe and seal it hit a snag when a saw became stuck in a thick pipe on the sea bed on Tuesday, prompting a sharp decline in BP's shares on the stock market.
It is now estimated the oil could remain uncapped for two months or more as BP is drilling two relief wells to permanently plug the leak, but they are not expected to be completed until August.
The impact of the spill could be worsened by the impact of a cyclone, storm or hurricane in the Gulf this season which could hamper efforts to plug the spill and spread the oil.
Deep waters surrounding Cay Sal Bank, Abaco and Bimini are among the most important fishing grounds in the Bahamas and the extensive creek system on the west coast of Andros is largely protected by a national park boundary which the Nature Conservancy is hoping to extend with funding donated by Disney through the release of the child-friendly documentary "Oceans."
BP estimates the disaster has so far cost the company approximately $990 million in clean-up costs since BP's Deepwater Horizon rig exploded on April 20 killing 11 workers and collapsing into the Gulf of Mexico.
June 03, 2010
tribune242
By MEGAN REYNOLDS
Tribune Staff Reporter
mreynolds@tribunemedia.net:
THE National Oil Spill Committee is set to present its disaster management plan today as it was revealed that "favourable winds are the only thing preventing the Gulf of Mexico spill from reaching the Bahamas.
As the committee prepares to confront the world's worst offshore oil disaster, weather predictions suggest the current prevailing wind direction will protect the Bahamas until Tuesday, however a change in wind pattern is expected to move the oil towards the western Bahamas.
A detailed national strategy devised with two International Maritime Organisation (IMO) experts will be presented to committee chairman, Captain Patrick O'Neil and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) director Captain Stephen Russell today and passed on to Environment Minister Earl Deveaux.
The multi-agency committee will also meet with the IMO and the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) today as Florida braced for an oil sheen containing thousands of tar balls, heavy globs of decayed oil, to reach the white sand beaches of Pensacola on the west coast.
However, southern winds predicted over the next five days will keep surface oil in the Gulf and west of Florida, Department of Meteorology chief climatological officer Michael Stubbs said.
"The winds are providing a protective barrier in the meantime," he told The Tribune.
"But the news now indicates the oil has entered the loop current, which feeds directly into the Gulf Stream and that moves towards our western shores.
"Ultimately, that is our concern, that it could end up in the Gulf Stream.
"However right now there is no need to panic, at least until Tuesday next week."
If the wind changes direction and spreads to the Florida Keys it will take about a week to then reach the Bahamas, National Oil Spill Committee spokesman Eric Carey said.
"We feel confident that the weather patterns are still in our favour," he said.
"Most of the currents are pushing it on shore of the Gulf and keeping it away from the Bahamas.
"But if it gets into the Florida Keys it would be an indication that it would be here in a week or so, and whatever gets to Florida and the Keys, we will probably get the same type of material."
Oil slicks are not expected but tar balls could drift towards the western coastlines, Mr Carey said.
As it will not be possible to install a 600-mile long boom to protect the Bahamas' western shoreline, the national strategy will involve booming key areas and cleaning up affected rocky shores.
Mr Carey said: "If we can boom off beaches we will have to clean up other areas like rocky shores as much as we can."
Meanwhile scientists are collecting evidence of tar-free shorelines, and having completed field work in Cay Sal Bank, the westernmost point of the Bahamas 145km west of Andros, they will move on to Bimini and other western coastlines to document baseline samples from sediment and fish.
Leading marine ecologist Dr Ethan Freid and marine biologist Kathleen Sealy will start training of more than 20 volunteers from Andros, Exuma, Abaco and Grand Bahama at the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) base in Coral Harbour on Monday.
The volunteers will then return home and train others to help them collect samples from the islands.
Mr Carey said: "If in the future the Bahamas is going to claim to some international litigation process, that the Gulf oil disaster is responsible for effects we see on tourism, fisheries resources, blue holes or other water resources, then we will have to prove that these people were properly trained.
"And as this oil event continues in the Gulf we need to have very credible samples."
Samples will be kept in a US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certified laboratory so they may be presented as evidence in court if the government decides to seek compensation for the clean-up costs and destruction from the spill.
The United States Justice Department announced on Tuesday it has launched criminal and civil probes into the spill.
Attempts to plug the well with mud failed over the weekend and subsequent efforts to cut off the fractured pipe and seal it hit a snag when a saw became stuck in a thick pipe on the sea bed on Tuesday, prompting a sharp decline in BP's shares on the stock market.
It is now estimated the oil could remain uncapped for two months or more as BP is drilling two relief wells to permanently plug the leak, but they are not expected to be completed until August.
The impact of the spill could be worsened by the impact of a cyclone, storm or hurricane in the Gulf this season which could hamper efforts to plug the spill and spread the oil.
Deep waters surrounding Cay Sal Bank, Abaco and Bimini are among the most important fishing grounds in the Bahamas and the extensive creek system on the west coast of Andros is largely protected by a national park boundary which the Nature Conservancy is hoping to extend with funding donated by Disney through the release of the child-friendly documentary "Oceans."
BP estimates the disaster has so far cost the company approximately $990 million in clean-up costs since BP's Deepwater Horizon rig exploded on April 20 killing 11 workers and collapsing into the Gulf of Mexico.
June 03, 2010
tribune242
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