By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
FREE National Movement Chairman Darron Cash chided Prime Minister Perry Christie yesterday for delivering a speech to the United Nations on climate change that “belies” Mr Christie’s record of addressing local environmental concerns.
Speaking to representatives of member states during Tuesday’s United Nations Climate Summit in New York, Mr Christie implored developed countries to honour their commitments to providing $100 billion a year by 2020 to combat climate change. Mr Christie also highlighted the vulnerability of small island nations like the Bahamas when faced with rising sea levels and other consequences of climate change.
Mr Cash said Mr Christie’s “words sounded great on the world stage”, but are hollow in view of his record in addressing local environmental concerns like those posed by major developers, the Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) and the New Providence landfill.
He criticised Mr Christie for “failing” to sensitise Bahamians at home of the issue of climate change and the goals that must be attained to deal with it.
“For starters,” he claimed, “Prime Minister Christie has a very bad environmental record.”
Mr Cash said the prime minister’s “crowning achievement” in terms of Family Island development, Resorts World in Bimini, “has been embroiled in sustained fights with environmental groups due to alleged dredging related damage.”
Mr Cash added: “On top of this, the sustained fires at the public dump and the related school closures and health problems point to a government asleep at the switch or intentionally turning a blind eye to environmental destruction. These blemishes on the Christie record were noticeably absent from the UN speech.”
Mr Cash said Mr Christie’s “ineffectiveness” in clearly outlining the future of BEC “diminishes his credibility on energy reform and environmental matters.
Mr Cash also said the government’s “lackadaisical” response to addressing an oil spill from two weeks ago which affected Adelaide beach demonstrates the Christie administration’s “indifference” to dealing with environmental issues.
“Prime Minister Christie must understand that nice sounding speeches do not go far enough,” he said.
“He must back up the speech with serious action. To date he has been short on action and long on talk. While the tides creep up on the shore due to climate change, this prime minister’s opportunity for leadership and meaningful action is slowly slipping away.”
Comments
GrassRoot 10 years, 2 months ago
of course. they are all good talkers. don't think the world was listening anyway when the PM of the Bahamas of all places parades brain farts at the UN.
asiseeit 10 years, 2 months ago
If the PM is so interested in the environment then he will have no problem bringing into force the North Bimini Marine protection area, right? Also he should be hot on the heels the serial Clifton oil leak. While he is at it maybe he can explain why BEC is going to buy 6 generators (never mind every one of the exsiting ones) that burn bunker C fuel, the worst for the environment there is? The list goes on but Lets see if the man is just paying lip service as usual, I.E. election promises. Politicians are the sphincter' s of the human race, they spew crap constantly.
TalRussell 10 years, 2 months ago
Even if Comrade Daron is correct it will not remove the negative way Bahamalanders view he and his red colleagues or anything connected the reds. The PM knows exacrtly this and that as long it is but the reds leading the opposition force - it gives him a license do as he and his cabinet colleagues damn well feel like doing. Only the reds would have a deputy leader establishing her campaign beachhead up in Palookavile, Abaco. Loretta knew better than to have attempted pulling off such nonsenses in her own Long Island constituency. Tell you what Tribune. You took my advice to dispatch your reporter into Fort Charlotte to ask questions about Dr. Andre. Why not fly your reporter into Long Island so you and Loretta can get a ear full? She done knows where she doesn't stands with Long Islanders. Long Islanders loves talk, particularly about they's House of Assembly representative. Comrade deputy leader Loretta isn't helping her party, if Palookaville red shirts turns out be the last hard-core colonialists left standing in all Abaco?
asiseeit 10 years, 2 months ago
People need to stop worrying about the yellow and red and start worrying about OUR BAHAMAS, Keep up with that red and yellow CRAP and we ALL LOSE!
TalRussell 10 years, 2 months ago
Both parties still remain the governing and official opposition parties. Unless you attack directly to diminish their roles how else can you deal with them?
The_Oracle 10 years, 2 months ago
Christie was only there looking out for his piece of the $100 Billion a year promised by the First World countries. Our Government since 1973 has been feeding on hand outs from every conceivable international source, completely unable to stand on our own two feet. Now they (IMF) threaten to take away our training wheels, so we can fall flat on our collective face! Seems we are not capable of running our own affairs properly after all.
proudloudandfnm 10 years, 2 months ago
You know all of you who tell us to stop thinking red or yellow need to understand that we live in a party system. Period. You cannot vote best man for the job. Suppose that best man is a PLP? You have to vote party. Period. And unless you live on acid there is only one choice out of the two... FNM. Period. PLP has not contributed positively to this party in over 5 terms in office. 25 years of nothing but pure corruption and nonsense from the PLP, no one has any logical reason for voting PLP. Unless of course you are a criminal. Then the PLP is the party for you....
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