Prime Minister Perry Christie on Monday expressed concern over reports of individuals stealing from the historic Clifton site in New Providence, vowing that the culprits would be held accountable.
“For whatever purpose, however motivated and however much they wish to be connected to its history, there is evidence that even parts of a building have been removed from the site. That is obviously a very disgraceful occurrence and something that every Bahamian should help us police against,” he said.
“We are trying to create a one and only experience for Bahamians at that site and every Bahamian must have pride of ownership and must therefore be a part of protecting it.”
The prime minister’s comments followed the Clifton Authority’s regular board meeting on Monday. The meeting marked the first time Mr. Christie met with the board members since assuming responsibility for the Authority.
He provided an update on the Authority’s research and planning activities over the past several months. The prime minister also expressed concerns over reports of continued water pollution in the Clifton area.
“This must come to an immediate stop and people must be held responsible for it,” Mr. Christie said.
“And for those who hear me or will hear what I have said, [they] must stop now or be accountable for the damage they are inflicting on that site, and so we must take all steps to protect the environment of Clifton, and I am very happy to hear the work that has been done – the cleanups, the removal of garbage-The Royal Bahamas Police Force must be sensitized to the need to add protection there.”
After much debate, the government decided that it will develop a national park at Clifton, an historic parcel of land that encompasses several hundred acres.
The Clifton Heritage Park would operate for-profit businesses, including restaurants, a nature conservancy, recreational facilities, as well as sell licensed products and reproductions, according to government officials.
In 1999, international archaeologists discovered that the Clifton site held clues to prehistoric civilization and every historic era in The Bahamas up to post emancipation.
The archaeological team unearthed artifacts eight centuries old, left behind by some of the country’s earliest settlers at the old Whylly plantation at Clifton. Since then, the archaeological finds have remained untouched.
But officials have stressed that creating a national park would mean addressing issues like sensitive zones, Lucayan sites, plantation features, beaches, wetlands etc.
Dr. James Miller, consultant planner, has explained that this would call for putting in place buffers around sensitive areas.
Clifton Authority Chairman Sean McWeeney has continuously stressed that whatever is done to the parcel of land must be to the benefit of Bahamians.
The Authority has also assured that once it proceeds to the stage of determining how the National Park will look, there will be wide consultation through town meetings, radio and television shows and the print media.
By: Macushla N. Pinder, The Bahama Journal
