thebahamasweekly.com - Mega-resort policy branded a threat to Family Island way of life

From:TheBahamasWeekly.com

Local
Mega-resort policy branded a threat to Family Island way of life
By Diane Phillips & Associates
Mar 21, 2014 - 6:14:26 AM



NOT JUST TREES AND FISH – Fred Smith, QC, Save The Bays Director of Legal Affairs, said the group is fighting not just to protect the environment, but also to prevent the culture and identity of island communities from being destroyed by unregulated development. Smith (left) discusses Save The Bays’ aims and objectives with Love 97 radio host Wendell Jones on Monday as the fast-growing environmental advocacy group celebrates its first anniversary.

Nassau, Bahamas - As Save The Bays celebrates its first anniversary, Smith told Love 97 Radio listeners on Monday that the group is fighting not just to preserve the country’s flora and fauna, but also the distinctive identity of each island.

A crucial part of that fight, he said, is the enactment of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which was passed by the former FNM government but never brought into force.

“Freedom of Information is fundamental. If you want to protect local rights, political rights, environmental rights, you must have access to information about what government and developers are secretly doing – without that, you can’t get off first base,” he said.

Others key objectives of Save The Bays include an Environmental Protection Act, the creation of a protected sea park at Clifton Bay to complement the existing land park, laws prohibiting oil pollution and holding polluters accountable, and an end to unregulated development.

“We have nothing against development,” Smith said. “We want development everywhere, but it must be organic, it must be in proportion to the capacity of the environment and the local community.”

In just one short year, Smith said, the group’s message is spreading like wildfire, with more than 500 members signed up and 13,000 followers on Facebook.

A Save The Bays petition calling for a Freedom of Information Act, an Environmental Protection Act and an end to unregulated development has garnered nearly 6,000 signatures. It is available at www.savethebays.bs.