The Tribune

FIFTEEN countries participated in a four-day oil spill workshop in mid-December at the Lowell Mortimer Maritime Institute on Coral Island.

Under the theme Networking and Enhancing Partnerships, Minister of Transport and Aviation Glenys Hanna Martin said that such workshops were extremely important, and comprised a mechanism for evaluating the National Maritime Policy Plan.

“Regional co-operation is crucial in planning and responding to oil spills,” she said. “The objective is to review and improve national and regional oil spill plans.”

Once the plans have been reviewed, they are enhanced in order to further strengthen the region’s response capabilities.

She said that the protection of the marine environment is “crucial” to sustained development of the wider Caribbean region and The Bahamas. “It must be remembered that the oceans are connected, hence what impacts one nation potentially impacts all,” she said.

She said The Bahamas is committed to the protection of the marine environment, which is considered to be one of the most precious resources next to human capital.

“The establishment of the National Oil Spill Advisory Committee and National Oil Spill Plan was critical in the assisting to protect the marine environment. There are several governmental and private sector entities that comprise the national oil spill advisory committee. All stakeholders were consulted in the establishment of the plan, which is constantly reviewed by stakeholders,” said Mrs Hanna Martin.

The Bahamas is party to the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation (OPRC), an international maritime convention establishing measures for dealing with marine oil pollution incidents, nationally, and in co-operation with other countries, and MARPOL, an International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships.