The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

MINISTER of Transport and Aviation Glenys Hanna Martin said the government is now in the process of developing a maritime policy aimed at protecting and maximising the Bahamas’ most precious resource – water.

She made her comments while announcing that the Commonwealth Secretariat has agreed to provide the country with technical assistance in the creation and development of a framework for the new policy.

Representatives from the Secretariat arrived in the country yesterday and are expected to meet with several government and private NGOs during their three day consultancy stay.

“The intention is to look comprehensively and creatively at this natural resource, water, which occurs in abundance in our archipelago. It is intended to provide a framework for the sustainable exploitation of this resource in pursuance of our future development and in an effort to position the Bahamas strategically in the global reality.

“I have no doubt the focus will come to rest on a number of areas many of which are already very familiar to us, such as fisheries, tourism, the cruise industry and shipping: all of which continue to have tremendous economic potential, some aspects of which are still yet untapped,” she said.
“But there are also new areas which must be explored such as hydro energy, sea plants, minerals, science and technology and the linkages to medicine and industry.

“And the policy may also look to issues such as salvage of sunken vessels on our sea bed containing valuable historic artefacts.

“It is clear, however, that such a policy must be built firmly on the principles of sustainability such that this natural resource will be protected for the use and enjoyment of future generations yet unborn. And so the policy must also look to issues of pollution and the protection of our beautiful waters from toxic emissions including oil and invasive species.”

It is anticipated that this framework will create offshoots such as the development of a maritime transportation policy and a marine policy. The policy will assist us in making more considered judgments in decisions that are made and to enact regulations and laws which provide a rational framework for activities to ensure the best interest of the Bahamas is always protected and advanced.

“Too, we must now consider the economic implications to the Bahamas to the opening of the expanded Panama Canal next year.”

Dr Julian Roberts, a consultant from the Commonwealth Secretariat, said the policy is particularly important because Commonwealth countries are linked by their marine environment.

He said: “Over half of our member countries are island states and all but three or four are coastal states so the marine environment is important to Commonwealth people the world over. We have been working in the field of sea and ocean management for many years and in fact have worked with the Bahamas many times before.”

The Commonwealth Secretariat is providing their assistance free of charge.