Oil Spill in Seas off Adelaide in the vicinity of Clifton Pier
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Nassau, Bahamas - The following is a statement by Attorney Keod Smith, Founder and CEO of the Clifton National Heritage
Foundation (CNHF) and Ambassador for the Environment and Chairman - BEST
Commission (2002-2006):
Since its
inception in April 2013, the Clifton National Heritage Foundation (CNHF) has
been keenly concerned about the 30-plus years of pollution caused by oil spills
and seepage in the seas off of Clifton Pier and the adjoining Bay of Clifton.
Last week’s reports in the
newspapers of the discovery of oil washing up on the beaches of Adelaide gives
us cause to take the immediate and public action which we now pronounce,
without which this vexing problem will continue to linger to our collective
detriment.
Not only does
this recent discovery illustrate the continuing threat to the immediate land
and sea environs, it potentially has significant negative impact to the entire
southern coast of Adelaide, the Bay of Clifton as well as the Clifton Heritage
National Park which, in 2004, had been vested upon statutory trust for the
benefit of the Bahamian people.
To-date, with
there not having been any confirmed solution, scientific study or determination
as to the nature and origin of these oil spills, we wish to commend Minister
Glenys Hanna-Martin and her Officials at the Ministry of Transport and Aviation
for the quick and decisive action in responding to the alarm of the oil spill
on Adelaide beach. We urge the Government to continue to meet with all of the
stakeholders to determine a balanced and workable Environmental Management Plan
for the southwestern region of the Island.
When
considering the seriousness of this problem, the CNHF undertakes to assist and
provide in the facilitation of more scientific studies of the area to determine
the impact of these oil spills to the Clifton Heritage National Park, its
potential as a touristic destination and becoming a world heritage site.
No matter where
this current oil spill originated, we feel that this event gives us an
opportunity to begin to quantify the impact of such spills on our energy usage
and cost, both in terms of the environment generally as well as in relation to
the ordinary consumer of electric power. These are factors that are important
to our collective responsibility to environment conservation and protection.
Going forward in the short
term, our examination and evaluation of the oil spill, necessarily requires us
to focus in the following areas:-
1.
Assisting
and working with all of the relevant stakeholders such as the National Oil
Spill Committee, The BEST Commission, The Ministry of the Environment and The
Ministry of Transport and Aviation in the funding of the preparation of an
Environmental Management Plan of the land and sea at and adjourning Clifton
Pier which includes the industrial areas, Clifton Heritage National Park, the
Bay of Clifton and the southern seas off of the coast of Adelaide.
2.
Sensitizing
the Bahamian Public, including individual and corporate citizens as well as
civic bodies to become more involved and concerned about the pollution from oil
spills and what we can do to mitigate damage to our environment.
3.
Formulating
a more realistic schedule of penalties and mandatory insurance coverage for
those who are found negligible and culpable for these oil spills.
The CNHF also
stress its concern over the harm and damage that is being done and has been
done to the marine life in this general area.
We are
therefore committed to taking the lead in uniting the nation in the protection
and preservation of the Clifton National Heritage Park and the surrounding land
and sea regions of that part of the Island of New Providence.
We invite all persons and
organizations who believe in the original cause for the saving of Clifton which
forms a part of Bahamian patrimony, to declare such interests by working with
us to keep Clifton Pier, the Bay of Clifton and Adelaide seas clean, green and
pristine.
OUR
COUNTRY now needs all hands on deck!!
