$600,000 GRANT – Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Perry G. Christie is pictured here with IDB President Luis Alberto Moreno after signing a $600,000 grant for the Andros Ecosystem Technical Cooperation Project on Thursday morning at Grand Lucayan resort on Grand Bahama. Left to right in the photo are: Jerry Butler, Alternative Representative for the IDB for the Caribbean; the Hon. Khaalis Rolle, Minister of State for Investments, in the Office of the Prime Minister; Dr. Nicola Rolle, Director of Economic Development and Planning, Office of the Prime Minister; the Hon. Michael Halkitis, Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance; Prime Minister Christie; Mr. Moreno, IDB President; the Hon. Obie Wilchcombe, Minister of Tourism; and the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville, Minister for Grand Bahama. (BIS Photo/Vandyke Hepburn)
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FREEPORT, Grand
Bahama
– The Government of The
Bahamas and the Inter-American Development Bank
on Thursday morning signed a
$600,000 pact that will focus primarily on the ecosystem of the Island of
Andros.
Prime Minister
the Rt. Hon. Perry Gladstone Christie signed the Technical Cooperation
Agreement with the IDB to undertake diagnostic studies and identify the
ecosystem assets of Andros.
The Prime
Minister was in Grand Bahama for the official opening of the 4th IDB
Caribbean Governors Regional Meeting currently underway at the Grand Lucayan resort. He and IDB President Luis Alberto Moreno
signed the agreement shortly after the opening of the conference.
In signing the
agreement, Mr. Christie pronounced it a very significant day, also pointing out
that the IDB is currently funding a grant that is being carried out between
Inagua, where there are some 50,000 flamingos and 100 species of birds, and
Andros, where rare birds have been discovered.
“So, we are
truly thankful that we continue to bring focus on an area of possible economic
impact that we have not really taken advantage of. And as we look at the
economy and areas that would be sources for growth, the environment in The
Bahamas is particularly important to us, in that we can both protect it and
exploit its economic benefits,” the Prime Minister said.
Mr. Christie
added that Andros is a large land mass with not much development but with an abundance
of natural life.
He told the IDB
that his government and others are going through a discussion in The Bahamas as
to the assets that we have -- some of them unknown -- and the significance of
being able to cause there to be research leading to the value of those assets.
The Prime
Minister pointed out that the three segments of Andros -- the North, Central
and South -- are each unique ecosystems with varied landscapes and cultural
distinctions. He noted that the magnificence of Andros is something that has
always amazed him.
Mr. Christie
said that he has made a commitment to the people of Andros, that “during this
term I would spend at least $100 million on infrastructural development and we
have just given a contract out for one part of the roadways leading to the
technical institute (BAMSI) we have started: a seven-million-dollar contract to
do with the road works and water works, and so we are continuing to bring focus
to this island because we see it as being very, very significant in terms of
its potential impact on our country.”
He pointed out
that in Andros there are unexplored terrestrial and marine blue holes and vast
forestry with habitats for several species of bird. Also he drew attention to
the Tongue of The Ocean, which has the distinction of being the third largest
barrier reef in the world, with a lot of potential as well.
“I firmly
believe that the development of a master plan for Andros, which embraces the
views of the people of Andros, along with stakeholders from the various public
and private sector bodies, and one which considers the rich cultural heritage
of Andros will enhance the economic and social development of Andros in a
sustainable manner.
“I am seeking a
new type of economic development for Andros, one that has at its centre, people
and the environment as I have indicated,” he said.
The Prime
Minister further advised that the project is being executed by a staff from his
office headed by Dr. Nicola Virgil Rolle who will establish a steering
committee comprising stakeholders from the BEST Commission, Nature Conservancy,
Bahamas National Trust, international experts, relevant government agencies and
various persons from the island of Andros.
IDB
President Mr. Luis Alberto Moreno said that
Andros Island represents not only a very passionate love that the Prime
Minister correctly shows for this amazing island which is a treasure of The
Bahamas, but equally it is a treasure of the world.
Mr.
Moreno said over a time he would love to see that Andros with its huge natural
wealth can host the top research institution of the Caribbean. He said the
grant is a first step in moving in that direction, and that he and Prime
Minister Christie began talking about the project since May of last year.