Controversy is brewing over the planned multimillion-dollar Ritz Carlton development on Rose Island as the present and former ambassadors for the environment lock horns over the project.
Recently, Lynn Holowesko, former chairman of The Bahamas Environment Science and Technology Commission (BEST), in a letter to the editor raised concerns over whether BEST had conduced proper environment studies in and around Rose Island.
In her letter, Mrs. Holowesko accused the government of allowing a development on the last viable offshore picnic grounds, which are surrounded by snorkeling waters frequently used by Bahamians.
“How indeed will the necessary excavation and construction take place without damaging and polluting the precious marine environment in the area? And further what provisions will be made for disposal of the daily sewerage emanating from the development?” she asked.
In response to the letter, current BEST Chairman Keod Smith, the member of parliament for Mount Moriah, told The Bahama Journal that as is the policy of the Christie Administration, all government projects are required to have an environmental study before moving forward – and such is the case with Rose Island.
“While I appreciate her having the need to maybe write to the world, it would have been, I think, common sense for her as a former ambassador of the environment and chairman of the BEST Commission to write those very same concerns to me so that perhaps she may have been bringing something to my attention that we may have missed,” Mr. Smith said.
Mrs. Holowesko also pointed out that back in 1988 when Prime Minister Perry Christie was the Minister of Agriculture, the land in question was identified to be set aside as a residential park as part of a list of areas the government was considering adding to the national park system.
” In 2002, Mr. Christie proclaimed that the Bahamian people need a government that would be real guardians and protectors of the environment and pledged to lead a government that would be exactly that,” Mrs. Holowesko said in her letter.
But Mr. Smith found her statement to be curious considering that during the 10 years of the Inghrahm Administration and the her tenure as Chairman of the BEST commission, no moves were made to protect that island or make it a national park.
“She is not a conservationist, she is an opportunist,” Mr. Smith charged.
“If you look at what she did in regards to Clifton (Cay) she stood in favour of getting rid of Clifton and turning it into a gated community.”
But the BEST Chairman did not completely dismiss Mrs. Holowesko’s comments and charges.
“Now that I know, I will take this matter up with my technical staff and ask them whether any or all of the things said have been taken under consideration,” said Mr. Smith, who was referring to the revelation that Rose Island had once been designated to be a national park.
“It might very well have been because the issue of recreation is a part of what we consider in our environmental review. Just as I stand firm on LNG, do you think that I would not stand firm on something else that I believe in? I put my neck on the line every day to protect our environment.”
Mr. Smith has insisted that the government should not approve any of the liquefied natural gas projects being proposed until a regulatory framework is in place.
By: Stephen Gay, The Bahama Journal
