GCRA  OVERVIEW  FAQ  NEWS  ARTICLES  PHOTOS  REEF ISSUES  RESTORATION  PAPERS  LINKS 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, October 4^th, 2006

 SAVE THE BAHAMAS MEETS WITH GREAT SUCCESS

 The first meeting of Save The Bahamas was held this past weekend in Freeport with an all day seminar and meeting at the Westin Resort at Our Lucaya.  Focus was on the issues relating to the effect of developments on the environment, local communities, economy, the local culture, and local industries. Also discussed was the need for a stronger local government position for all of the islands, public consultation concerning developments, and protecting Crown Land for future generations of Bahamians.

This meeting was the first time an organized event  had been held to target these hot-button topics. Save Guana Cay Reef Association, fresh from the victories in Privy Council, that has stopped all work at Baker's Bay, Guana Cay by Discovery Land Company, hosted the event.   "I am very excited that we have formed Save The Bahamas.  It was amazing to talk to the other islands and realise that they all are experiencing the same problems as Guana.  The same irresponsible development and lack of environmental protection is apparent in all areas of the country.  Together we can make a difference in what we leave behind for our children.  We need to get the message out to our government (both present and future) that our marine and terrestrial environments are the only natural resource we have and we need to get some serious legislation with teeth,  in place,  to protect them," said Troy Albury, President of Save Guana Cay Reef Association.

In attendance were local business and community representatives from Freeport, Nassau, Abaco, Bimini, and San Salvador.  Also, there were representatives from many well known environmental organizations; Sam Duncombe from ReEarth, Eleanor Phillips from The Nature Conservancy, Erik Carey from The Bahamas National Trust, Lori Kenyon from Friends of The Environment, and local business owners who's businesses depend on niche tourism like; diving, fishing, eco-tourism, small resort management/ownership and real estate. Dr. James Cervino from Pace University in New York, a leading coral pathologist and Dr. Thomas Goreau, President of the Global Coral Reef Alliance were also in attendance. Both gentleman spoke about the ill effects of development damage to local reefs and beaches, and noted that Bahamians need to be pushing for environmentally friendly developments.

Dr. Goreau, formerly a Senior Scientific Affairs Officer at the United Nations Centre for Science and Technology for Development, also debuted his film “ TOURISM, WATER QUALITY AND CORAL REEF HEALTH” at the conference. The film highlighted the impacts of captive dolphin and turtle pens and excessive waste on water quality that effects reef health and can be viewed at www.globalcoral.org

Plans are in the making for additional meetings in the near future. In the process of planning this event Save Guana Cay Reef Association was contacted by numerous individuals from all of the Bahamian islands who support their desire to expand Save The Bahamas to include everyone affected or concerned with similar issues. A representative from Bimini who attended the meeting was delighted to have had the opportunity to network, in particular, with members of organizations operating within The Bahamas who have effectively dealt with problems similar to those Bimini is now facing.  “In order for The Bahamas to survive as a tourist destination, it must protect and preserve it's incredibly rich marine environment by insisting that development be properly scaled, properly regulated and sustainable."

Summing up the event Sidney Weatherford, a seventh generation Bahamian from Great Guana Cay, Abaco noted  "I would hope that Save The Bahama's will encourage more Bahamian's to voice their outrage at what is happening to our island's. We need to stand up and say no more "give away's" of our Crown Land, no more destruction of our mangroves and no more golf courses and marinas near our sensitive reefs. We need tough environmental laws in the Bahamas and the laws need to be enforced!"

###