By the end of the year, environmental advocates want Prime Minister Perry Christie to lay out the proper consultancy process of the proposed LNG pipeline and inform the public of both the positive and negative impacts it could have on the country.
Yesterday, in a passionate plea, Sam Duncombe of ReEarth and Margo Blackwell of the Bahamas Environmental Research Centre said the public should be involved in decision-making regarding a development as it is presented to the government.
Questions Environmentalists are still seeking answers from the government despite having put forth questions in February, 2003, regarding Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA).
“We would expect that the government during this Christmas season would take some serious time to reflect on the processes which they have put in place for dialoguing and consulting with its citizens, not just on terms of labour and environment but in all aspects,” said Mrs Duncombe.
“By New Year’s Eve we want the prime minister to lay out for us the proper consultancy process.
“As 2003 draws to a close we wish to take stock of and reflect on environmental issues in our country,” added Mrs Duncombe.
Businesses
“The environmental assessment process was designed to allow businesses, governments, civil society and communities to share information and concerns regarding the environment and development,” said Mrs Duncombe.
“In order for this to be effective, the public should be involved in the decision-making regarding a development as it is presented to the government. Indeed, international conventions, which we have signed, require this.”
Mrs Duncombe said the nation’s environmental sustainability is under “serious threat” and it must be a concern of all citizens.
“It is our national responsibility to ensure that the development that takes place in our country is sustainable,” she said. “This can only be achieved once there is consistent, thoughtful, and truthful exchange of information and a process is put in place that ensures that all of us have an opportunity to understand the implications which a development may have on our lives today, and in the future.”
Added Mrs Blackwell: “We are living now with what we know are some very detrimental aspects to the environment developmental decisions made by our forefathers, who really knew no better or different but, nonetheless, have impacted our environment severely, and which will cost millions to restore if this is at all possible.
“Our environmental experience is no different than that of those around us and, in part, our concern comes from this and from which we can learn as well,” said Mrs Blackwell.
Mrs Blackwell said the destruction of habitats around the Bahama islands has had a “measurable and adverse” effect on life in the country. “Land in the Bahamas is being cleared at a rate believed to be ten times that of the clearing of the rain forest,” she noted. “This cannot be sustained.
“We all know our reefs and our fisheries are under severe threat. Natural habitats have been and are systematically being destroyed in the name of development – to our own detriment.”
Mrs Blackwell also said that awareness of these issues is not new. “It is what had us as a nation commit to an international convention that requires an integrated approach regarding developments that impact on our environment,” she said. “This was, in fact, an understanding and concept, that the Progressive Liberal Party came to power as a government that cared for the environment.”
Mrs Duncombe said it is past time for this the government to put those words into action.
“It is time for us all to recognise that to continue to make developmental decisions in absence of thorough and intensive environmental review and the involvement of civil society is unacceptable, short-sighted and inane,” said Mrs Duncombe.
“It is time for recognition that our birthright and our world is not a piece of real estate for sale,” she added. “It is also a recognition that we are all stewards of our planet, and no one government or country has the divine right to make decisions that impact our future without our input.
“We invite all Bahamians at this time to think deeply about this and to take time to reflect on how they too – each and everyone of us -has a responsibility to ensure that our government acts with this understanding in mind.”
Said Mrs Duncombe: “It would be imprudent for the Bahamas government to proceed with any project without thoroughly exploring and fully and truthfully disclosing the project’s positive attributes in balance with the negative impacts to our country, and to take measures to eliminate or mitigate these impacts. It is time for them to allow all of us to understand this.”
Mrs Blackwell said that a “hasty and murky” deal could result in long-term costs that far exceed the short-term gain.
“The government decision makers and the public must be given the opportunity to make a clear assessment of all the costs and benefits of a project prior to its commencement,” she said. “This has not been done for any of the development projects in front of the government, those announced, those in process and those being currently presented.” According to Mrs Duncombe and Mrs Blackwell, the public was given 20 days to review the 3,000-page document and to write comments and concerns to the BEST Commission by November 21 on the AES LNG project.
“We wish to know when we will get an extension period to review this document again, and how our concerns will be addressed,” they said. “The BEST Commission is reviewing this El Paso Commission for this development. As was noted in the AES process, 20 days is not sufficient time to review these documents. When is the public going to be allowed access to this EIA?”
They also agreed that the public should be a part of determining what studies should be conducted to alleviate or mitigate any potential issues later concerning the Tractebel LNG project.
Other proposed legislation they want the public to review is the Marine Mammal Protection Act, Regulations for Dolphins in Captivity, the Fisheries Act and Clifton Pier.
By Arthia Nixon, The Tribune
