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Strange Behaviour Of Minister In LNG Affair

If he had any doubts about it before, Prime Minister Perry Christie should be fully convinced by now that opposition to the proposed liquified natural gas terminals and pipelines in The Bahamas has nothing to do with partisan politics. It has everything to do with a genuine concern on the part of many Bahamians that these projects would pose a serious threat to the environment and security of the country.

Two weeks ago George A Smith went public with his opposition to the LNG projects and cited its “potential danger to our precious marine life, the eco-system, the broader environment and the unmatched beauty of The Bahamas” as well as the possibility of terrorist attack.

Mr Smith is a pre-1967 PLP and was a cabinet minister in the old PLP Government. He is still an active party member and from all accounts a Christie loyalist.

Another member of the old PLP Government, A Loftus Roker, in a letter to the press in July 2003, said: “If the government approves the granting of a licence for a company to put up a natural gas plant in The Bahamas and connect us to Florida by a pipeline, this would be the first step on the road to losing our freedom.

“No future government of The Bahamas would be able to rescind that licence, no matter if it determined that its presence is not in the interest of The Bahamian people.”

The terrorism threat was referred to in this column previously and it would be a real one indeed. It is true that terrorists can strike at any target including aircraft, ships and hotels, and so we have our hands full at the moment trying to meet international standards of security in these areas.

LNG terminals in The Bahamas and long gas pipelines to Florida would make far more attractive targets.

The Bahamas is being stretched as it is to find the resources to guard against terrorism and could ill afford to provide the necessary levels of protection the LNG facilities would require.

The obvious alternative would be to have the armed forces of the United States not only patrolling our waters to protect the pipelines but based on land as well. Mr Christie should not have to think long and hard about that.

The case for protecting our environment is even more compelling. We hold in trust for future generations of Bahamians and for the world one of the most beautiful but vulnerable spots on the planet. This is of infinitely greater and longer-lasting value than the vaunted $16 million contribution to the revenue.

A news story in The Tribune reported that some commentators have expressed the fear that this nation could end up “looking a gift horse in the mouth” but this particular animal looks more like a Trojan horse than a gift horse.

Prime Minister Christie should be concerned about the strange behaviour of his Minister of Trade and Industry, Leslie Miller, in this matter. Mr Miller has been talking more like a lobbyist for the industry than a member of a cabinet which is considering the best interests of the Bahamian people.

Mr Miller says he has done everything in his power to facilitate the three LNG projects and is “anxiously awaiting” approval by his colleagues. It is hard to recall another public issue where a minister of the government has exerted such overt public pressure on his colleagues.

Mr Christie should take care that this matter does not blow up in his face.


Sir Arthur Foulkes

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