Independent MP Whitney Bastian has asked the government to implement an independent committee to review the practices, fees and environmental impact of the AUTEC base in Andros before allowing the facility to renew its contract in January of 2007.
Mr. Bastian, who described AUTEC’s $10.8 million annual fee to government as “cheap at the twice the price,” said the committee should be made up of an equal number of lay and professional citizens from the fields of science, sociology, law and finance.
“I urge the government to take serious note of this address in light of the recent public meeting in Andros [held last Wednesday], when 80 residents gathered to organise a unified response to the government and AUTEC,” the South Andros MP said in a communication to the House of Assembly last night.
That meeting was held the night before government and AUTEC officials met at the base near Fresh Creek, Andros to discuss concerns that activity at the base may be behind reports of health concerns and three whale deaths in the area in less than two months.
A group of very concerned residents came up with more than 60 questions for the government and AUTEC, including: How is AUTEC regulated and supervised by Bahamas government? What are the conditions of the agreement with AUTEC? What is being done to independently assess the cause of mammal strandings and health hazards? Where is the openness of documentation as it relates to testing at AUTEC and its agreement with the government of The Bahamas?
The recent strandings of a massive sperm whale and two rare beaked whales have sparked outrage on the island, where residents have long been concerned that the US military testing facility might have something to do with what some residents have described as “great” changes to the environment, including “depleted fish stocks.”
And some residents feel their concerns have long been ignored.
Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources Leslie Miller agreed that given the unusual strandings of marine mammals, there is a need for an independent analysis and a conclusive investigation to review the allegations and the concerns that have been raised.
He pointed out that last week during his visit to the base, along with Minister of Energy and the Environment Dr. Marcus Bethel and other government officials, AUTEC operators categorically denied that any live weapons were in use at the facility and that all of their operations were governed by very comprehensive rules that are applicable had the facility been located in the US.
Mr. Miller said where there are Bahamian regulations in place that are parallel to American regulations, the facility is mandated to comply with the stricter of the two.
According to the minister, as a result of the meeting AUTEC has committed to meet with the local community to share information and enhance communication; conduct a review of the medical records of AUTEC employees; and share reef monitoring data with relevant government agencies.
In collaboration with Dr. Bethel, Mr. Miller is proposing to establish a working group of appropriate trained professionals to pursue the concerns surrounding AUTEC.
This working group would include two representatives from the Department of Marine Resources; two from the BEST Commission; one from the Department of Environmental Health Services; two from the Public Hospitals Authority; one from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; two from Non-governmental Organisations; and one from the Attorney General’s Office.
“This working group might draw on expertise from outside the public sector, both locally and internationally, in addition to pursuing any possible impact of AUTEC testing and other naval activities on the environment, marine mammals and persons employed there,” Mr. Miller told MPs last night.
The group would also come up with the most appropriate model of sharing relevant scientific data collected at AUTEC with government agencies and establish a protocol for AUTEC to provide assistance with future strandings, he said.
“Under no circumstances should it be inferred that the government is satisfied that the key questions posed [relating] to the recent spate of beachings have been answered,” said Mr. Miller. “However, it is recognised that the exact cause often eludes even the most complete investigations.”
He admitted that in spite of several hours spent at AUTEC last Thursday, the government was only able to address their concerns about the marine life in a “limited way.”
“That visit was the start of what is likely to be a lengthy exercise,” said Mr. Miller, noting that not all Navy activity in Bahamian waters is affiliated with AUTEC.
In the meantime, Central Andros residents have planned a second meeting, which is scheduled for tonight, to discuss their concerns and learn more about the impact of sonar testing on marine life,
Minister Miller has been invited to attend.
By: Erica Wells, The Bahama Journal
