The Tribune

By FAY SIMMONS

Tribune Business Reporter 

jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

BLACK Point’s former acting chief councillor yesterday said asserted that the way in which Bahamas Moorings’ buoys were introduced to the Exuma Cays was “haphazard”.

Pat Smith said that while he is not against the installation of mooring stations, the District Council for the Exuma Cays should have been consulted about the project and given its permission before work began.

Speaking to Tribune Business, he added that the lease deal with Bahamas Moorings to install 253 moorings at “key locations throughout the Exuma Cays” did not receive any permits or approvals from local government or other agencies prior to commencing work and was therefore “illegal”.

“Moorings are a good thing for us because you have those big boats dropping an anchor and, when they pull it up, they are taking our reefs and sea beds. So, I’m not against moorings, let’s make that very clear, but the procedure how it is being

done is where the issue lies,” said Mr Smith.

“It seems like they got a lease of the sea bed from the state. That’s just the lease with them. In order to install moorings, you must present an application - in this case, to the district council - and you must receive a permit to install moorings. With that permit you can apply for the other permits.

“The district council of Black Point knew absolutely nothing about them. They never consulted, they never gave approval and, if the district council of Black Point never gave approval, then they are illegal.”

Mr Smith said the moorings were a hazard for mariners as they had no lights or GPS location signals to make unwary boaters aware of them in the night. “You have to have GPS location as a part of it, but those moors were just being installed. The navigation community has to know that there’s work going on; that these moorings are in place so they can look out for them,” he said.

“Although they are intended to do well, if you know, they are a hazard and can cause an accident. These things have to be placed on the new maps and the boating guides, but if it’s done without the proper procedure, it’s kind of haphazard and it presents a risk.”

The Office of the Prime Minister announced yesterday that the Davis administration is not moving forward with the agreement with Bahamas Moorings and the company was “voluntarily relinquishing their leases”.

The statement said Bahamas Moorings was required to meet “environmental and other conditions” prior to commencing work but began to install the moorings prior to receiving the necessary approvals and will remove any installations at its own cost.

“Bahamas Moorings Ltd is a Bahamian-owned company recently granted a seabed lease to install moorings in the Exuma Cays. The lease required that the company meet environmental and other conditions. When the company began to install some moorings in advance of meeting all such conditions, they were ordered to cease and desist,” the Government said.

“The Office of the Prime Minister has since become aware that an employee of our office acted as a witness to the leasee. We are conducting an internal review of the matter. The placement of

moorings prior to the full set of approvals and the involvement of an OPM employee have raised concerns about the venture.

“As a result, the Government and Bahamas Moorings Ltd have agreed not to move forward with the agreement, with Bahamas Moorings voluntarily relinquishing their leases. Bahamas Moorings will remove any moorings already installed, at their own cost,” it continued.

“We are grateful for their cooperation, and for the vision they shared with the government regarding how to manage moorings in our waters in ways which are consistent with marine conservation principles.

“It’s important that the Bahamian public has confidence that mooring rights are handled transparently and in a manner consistent with the national interest. We are committed to moving forward with a process that includes broader stakeholder and public consultation, including the convening of local government officials and representatives of the marine industry, in order to formulate a new policy structure for managing seabed leases.”