The Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

A prominent Bahamian pastor yesterday said there should be “a public outcry” by the Bahamian people over the latest revelations about Carnival Cruise Lines’ pollution of this nation’s waters.

Bishop Simeon Hall told Tribune Business that it was “contradictory” for the Government to be enforcing the 25 cent per plastic bag charge when large corporations were seemingly causing harm to the environment without any punishment.

“The pain for the bag is to help clean up the environment, while we have big business throwing stuff in the sea,” he said. “Our local authorities must enforce heavy penalties against Carnival and others who pollute our water and environment.

“It is contradictory for Joe Average on the street to pay for bags to clean up the sea while mega ships pollute it. I think there should be a public outcry.”

Carl Bethel QC, the attorney general, yesterday pledged that the incidents detailed by Tribune Business will receive the “seriousness it deserves” from Bahamian authorities and that the government will seek damages from the cruise industry leader.

He said: “Look, the protection of the environment is of critical importance, not only to the government but to the people of The Bahamas. Recently we passed the most modern environmental protection legislation around, part of which allows for damages for historic pollution.

“All I can say is that I was surprised to see the story in the paper today, and we will be having discussions, firstly with the Bahamas Maritime Authority, and subsequently with all of the parties that may be involved and we will see where we can go from there.

“But certainly steps will be taken under the environmental protection laws that we have to seek recompense, compensation, the assessment of any damages, etc. Everything depends on the level of damages, and there is also the fundamental principle, the cruise lines, all of them, know full well there is to be no dumping in the archipelagic baseline waters of the Bahamas, period.

“That is a well-known principle of law. They are never supposed to be dumping within our archipelagic baseline. That means within the territorial waters of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas.”

Mr Bethel added: “At the end of the day we all share an interest in preserving the pristine environment of our country. That is something that is marketable by the cruise lines, and marketable by The Bahamas, and enjoyed by both the Bahamian people and the visitors to this country. So the protection of the integrity of our environment is of critical importance, and will be dealt with the appropriate seriousness by the Government.

“We don’t know what the facts arE. Every cruise line, every ship, must maintain a log which records every incident that occurs during any voyage. All the major ships, all the major shipping lines, all the major shippers and all the major cruise lines.”

“So we will have due access to all of the relevant information in short order, and I just want to assure the Bahamian people that this matter will be dealt with, and with the seriousness that it deserves. We are now armed with a host of environmental laws that gives the Government real power to deal with these matters.”