thebahamasweekly.com - Environment Ministry pays courtesy call on Governor General

From:TheBahamasWeekly.com

Bahamas Information Services Updates
Environment Ministry pays courtesy call on Governor General
By Gena Gibbs
Jul 6, 2011 - 12:15:59 PM

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Minister of the Environment the Hon. Earl Deveaux and departments of the ministry pay a courtesy call on Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes, seated third from right, and Lady Foulkes, second from right. Also pictured sitting from left: Peter Deveaux-Isaacs, Diana Lightbourne, Minister Deveaux and at far right Minister of State Phenton Neymour. (BIS Photo / Kristaan Ingraham).

Nassau, The Bahamas – Sustainability and stewardship are the necessary elements for guarding and maintaining the heritage and future of the Bahamian environment and its natural resources.

And, according to the Hon. Earl Deveaux, Minister of the Environment, a book was produced which documented the Ministry's stewardship over a three-year period. On July 4 Minister Deveaux presented the book to Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes during a courtesy call at Government House by all departments of the Ministry.

Minister Deveaux gave brief remarks about the sustainable future of The Bahamas through using renewable energies. He also provided information to the Governor General about developments underway in the Exumas, particularly the Aga Khan's purchase of Bell Island.

This aerial photo shows how Over Yonder Cay is overdeveloped with renewable energy sources. The Government is encouraging Family Island residents to invest in renewable energies with proper town planning resources. (BIS Photo / Gena Gibbs).

“When we agreed as a government to allow the Aga Khan to purchase Bell Island, we agreed to a number of other things, one of which, was to permit him to develop the property for the use of his family. And so, all that came as a result, was a direct consequence of that decision.

“However, in talking to him, he [the Aga Khan] also indicated his long term interest in doing for The Bahamas, what he has done everywhere else that he has been, which is to develop healthcare systems as well as sustainable living,” said Dr. Deveaux.

Minister Deveaux explained to Sir Arthur and Lady Foulkes that the July 2 Exuma flyover exercise by the ministry proved that The Bahamas and all its cays are still one country, interdependent economically on the domino effect of development from one island to the next.

“The reason we took the flyover of the Exuma Cays, as we started from Ship Channel Cay, where we can keep the appreciation for the connectivity of the Exumas to Barra Terre, Great Exuma, and the Cays. And to allow people an appreciation, that the Cay they have at Black Point is nearly as long as Long Island and Great Guana Cay,” said Dr. Deveaux.

Ship Channel Cay is the first sight of life in the Exumas, after passing the Sail and Dog Rocks. The Ministry of Environment is concerned with the impact of boats practising improper waste and sewage disposal. (BIS Photo / Gena Gibbs).

“And to find the wall that separates The Bahamas? Nobody found it because it doesn’t exist, Sir Arthur. The boats that we see leaving Nassau are leaving waste disposal systems that are in all these occupying cays, and the great diversity that allows life in Norman's Cay, Highbourne Cay, Warderick Wells, Farmer’s Cay, and Staniel Cay.”

The Ministry of the Environment is planning a seminar this Friday to plan for a sustainable future for the Exumas. They want to encourage building principles of planning that are consistent and complimentary to the 2010 Planning and Subdivision Act.

Developmental industry planners such as, architects, engineers and town planners would be able to work in ways to permit the sustainable supply of energy, disposal of waste, and sustainable building systems. They would also have the freedom to promote renewable energies in proper planning strategies that would supply an even flow of natural energy.

“We will essentially strengthen the capacity of The Bahama Islands, to live as we used to live, and expand our ability to take advantage of our modern environment. The best illustration of that is a cay called Over Yonder Cay,” said Dr. Deveaux.

Minister Deveaux further stated that: “Over Yonder Cay is a little cay where the children of an old lady wanted her to live in comfort. On this cay, they have a wind farm that is capable of supplying all the power, a solar farm that is capable of supplying all the power, and a diesel generator that is capable of supplying all of the power. This is the greatest abundance of over-redundancy, you’ll ever see and people call it good planning.”

The use of renewable energies on Over Yonder Cay shows Bahamians the potential we have of making ourselves independent of energy, if we allow our town planners to place the systems in positions that could yield the best results for the communities they will serve.

“It’s [Over Yonder Cay] exaggerated, it’s exuberant, and it’s extreme. But it’s not sound planning principles because it covers the whole cay. The things that they had to remove from the cay to make this renewable energy component work are a good illustration of why we want to plan soundly and sensibly,” said Dr. Deveaux.