The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

A PLANNED protest on Sunday afternoon about recurring fires at the New Providence landfill during this weekend’s Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Inter-American Investment Corporation (IIC) conference will be “peaceful” and “non-political”, according to organisers.

Heather Carey, spokeswoman for Raising Awareness about the Bahamas Landfill (RABL), the local environmental awareness group organising the protest, said the event is not aiming to “show up or embarrass” any particular political party.

She insisted that the proposed action comes only because “public outcry” is intentionally being overlooked.

Government

According to Ms Carey, RABL members have long worked with the government on matters concerning the New Providence landfill. However, she said after the group staged its “Breathe Better Bahamas” demonstration in downtown Nassau last year, government support for RABL dwindled “dramatically” and Minister of Environment Kenred Dorsett “became hard to reach”.

“This is why we are going forward with our effort this weekend,” she said. “Persons have tried for so long to get their concerns out there. Our fight isn’t against one administration. Yes, the present government is the focus, but I assure you if after the next election another government is elected - the DNA or the FNM - we will shift our focus to them. We need this problem fixed and the excuses aren’t working anymore.”

She added that while the number of supporters that will attend Sunday’s demonstration isn’t known, she expects a major turnout.

“I have no idea what to expect. I have no clue at this time. We have been communicating with a number of groups that have given their word that they would aid us in this regard. While we are working to determine that, one thing remains, this would be a peaceful, non-political protest.”

Stressing the concept of peace, Ms Carey said there is some concern in the group that persons not associated with the cause are attempting to undermine RABL by “planting” persons within the protest to “incite violence and chaos”.

“I want everyone out there to know that we are going to have a silent, civil and organised protest on Sunday. We have checked off all of our boxes with this one. Our aim is to get the point across that the dump is an issue that needs to be corrected. We aren’t here to interrupt the peace or interfere with the livelihoods of anyone,” she added.

Sunday’s protest - scheduled for 4pm outside the Straw Market by the Melia Nassau Beach Resort - will coincide with the 2016 IDB-ICC annual general meeting being hosted at the Baha Mar convention centre.

Ms Carey noted that the IDB has given a number of developmental grants to the Bahamas in recent years to help with improving solid waste management in the country. She added that the bank should be given “an update” on what those projects concluded.

Between November 1994 and February 1999, the IDB approved four separate grants for waste management efforts.

According to the IDB’s website, on November 28, 1994, the bank approved a grant for $750,000 to carry out a feasibility study for solid waste management - project number TC9309429.

In May 1997, another grant was given to assist with solid waste management - project number BH0003 - this time for $800,000. In the same month, $100,000 was granted for a feasibility solid waste management project - project number TC9703168.

Lastly, in February 1999 the IDB granted $33.5m for another solid waste management project. Of that amount, the Bahamas has received $21m to date and has repaid the IDB $15.8m of the grant.

Grants

Referring to the grants, Ms Carey said the government has had the ability to correct the issues that existed at the New Providence landfill…but has refused to generate any substantial plan.

RABL has secured the necessary permits needed to hold their demonstration.

Meanwhile, Janeen McCartney, the government’s local project co-ordinator connected to the IDB-ICC conference, told The Tribune that project executives remained hopeful that the demonstration would not affect the conference.

Mrs McCartney added that co-ordinators and police are prepared to ensure that the conference goes on without an issue.

Sunday is the final day of the IDB-ICC conference.