New Providence, The Bahamas - A hub of activity during the day,
downtown Nassau is usually quiet and with less people after the sun goes down.
Last
Friday though, historic Charlotte Street North burst into life, light and sound
as Bahamians once again gathered to call for a Freedom of Information Act
(FOIA) in the name of greater transparency and accountability in public life.
The
FOIA Street Party was organized by fast-growing social and environmental
advocacy group Save The Bays (STB) in conjunction with a number of its
community partners. It was the second successful event of its kind, following a
rally in Rawson Square in July in which drew more than 20 groups representing
60,000 members.
Bahamian
superstar and FOIA warrior Kirkland ‘KB’ Bodie
and his Rhythm Band headlined the entertainment, while speakers included
newly-elected chairman of the opposition Free National Movement (FNM) Michael
Pintard, outspoken activist and church leader Rev. CB Moss and STB education
director Joseph Darville.
“We
would like to thank our sponsors and partners for their generous help and
support,” said Save The Bays CEO Lindsey McCoy. “
Van Breugel
’s
Restaurant & Bistro did
a wonderful job in hosting the event. Sands, Bristol Wines and Spirits and John
Watling
’s
Distillery donated their products for sale to raise money for the FOIA effort,
while the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce, the Employers
’
Confederation and Citizens for a Better Bahamas
were indispensable partners when it came to organizing the event.
“We
would also like thank all those who came out to help us show, once again, that
we mean business when it comes to getting a FOIA for The Bahamas.”
McCoy
said STB and its ever-expanding coalition of partners are already planning the
next event, to be held in the early next year.
Founded just over a year ago, Save The
Bays has taken The Bahamas by storm. What began as a grassroots environmental
awareness campaign quickly mushroomed to cover a variety of civic and social
justice concerns and grievances as other advocacy groups flocked to STB
’
s banner.
The movement now has more
than 500 registered members, the largest Facebook audience of any Bahamian NGO
with 17,000 followers and more than 6,000 signatures on its petition calling
for an FOIA, an Environmental Protection Act and an end to unregulated
development in The Bahamas.
If you'd like to
see an Freedom of Information act passed in The Bahamas, please sign the
petition at http://www.chn.ge/15O68LY
