The Tribune

BAHAMAS National Trust executives have been meeting the Minister for Grand Bahama, Hutchinson officials and Grand Bahama Port Authority representatives to review the proposed new and extended parks for the island.

The two new proposed parks for East Grand Bahama and the Northshore-Gap, as well as the extended Lucayan and Peterson’s Cay areas, are featured in televised advertisements to be released this month. Using first-time drone video footage, the advertisements were created to solicit feedback from the public on the proposed areas.

“The government has been very keen to support our request for more parks, but have been very clear that they want public consultation and feedback,” said Lakeshia Anderson, BNT’s Grand Bahama Parks Manager. “We are asking for the public to review our ads, then go to the website to view the proposed areas, and sign the petition if they support them.”

Dr Michael Darville, the Minister for Grand Bahama, said: “Our job as residents here is to protect our island. Nothing is carved in stone and we want the best solution for all. We fully support the BNT and their partners, but the 19 proposed areas for park inclusions must receive broad scale review.”

Sarah St George, GBPA Chairman, and Graham Torode, President and CEO of Grand Bahama Development Co, Senator Tanisha Tynes, Permanent Secretary Melvin Seymour of the Ministry of Grand Bahama, Betty Bethel of Grand Bahama Tourism Board, The Nature Conservancy and local environmental NGOs were given a preview of the adverts and a detailed description of the boundaries and resident feedback.

BNT President, Larry Glinton, emphasised the need to “fully embrace our environment, not just give it lip service”. He said: “Be very clear we at the BNT are not anti-development; rather we seek to protect the natural beauty that makes us so desirable as a destination.”