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Last Updated: Feb 6, 2017 - 2:32:04 PM |
Recently the Member of Parliament for San Salvador, The Deputy Prime Minister the Hon. Philip “Brave” Davis held a public meeting in San Salvador to address the proposed national park system for San Salvador which includes five proposed areas for protection. Hon. Brave Davis noted that the time has come for us to implement San Salvador’s National Park and as such has appointed former MP of San Salvador and Mr. Philip Smith to follow up with the work needed to make this happen. Pictured is Hon. Philip "Brave" Davis addressing the crowd at the meeting.
(Photo: BNT)
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San Salvador, Bahamas – Recently, the Member of Parliament for San Salvador, The Deputy Prime Minister the Hon. Philip “Brave” Davis, held a public meeting in San Salvador to address the proposed national park system for the island, which includes five areas proposed for protection.
“The Bahamas National Trust commends the DPM and Member of Parliament for San Salvador for holding this public forum, particularly to obtain feedback from his constituents for a National Parks System for San Salvador” noted Lakeshia Anderson, BNT Parks Planner.
Nearly 100 residents and business owners attended the public meeting, where panelists included the Deputy Prime Minister, former MP of San Salvador Mr. Philip Smith and Island Administrator Mr. Harvey Roberts.
“The Trust is fully committed to collaborating with the San Salvador Living Jewels Foundation to work along with the San Salvador community to develop management prescriptions to guide the day to day use of the parks once established.” noted Lakeshia Anderson, Grand Bahama National Parks Manager. To aid in this effort, local resident, Jermaine Johnson has recently been hired as a BNT Education Officer in San Salvador to facilitate on-the-ground work for re-engaging stakeholders in the park planning process. Moreover, the BNT has secured funding from the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) to implement a 2-year project to re-engage the San Salvador communities in education and outreach initiatives for National Park designation in San Salvador, in addition to developing management plans for the 5 areas proposed. Pictured is the San Salvador Community at the meeting.
(Photo: BNT)
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Michael Goffe, President of the San Salvador Living Jewels Foundation, gave remarks expressing the enormous response from local supporters, and return visitors who are willing to financial contribute to the management of these parks. Ms. Anderson spoke on behalf of the BNT at the meeting, noting that they have worked closely with the San Salvador Living Jewels Foundation since 2005, to educate and implement outreach programs to help raise awareness of the importance of protecting San Salvador’s natural resources. “The Trust is fully committed to collaborating with the San Salvador Living Jewels Foundation,” said Anderson “and to work along with the San Salvador community to develop management prescriptions to guide the day to day use of the parks once established.”
Local resident, Jermaine Johnson, has recently been hired as a BNT Liaison Officer in San Salvador to facilitate on-the-ground work for re-engaging stakeholders in the park planning process. In addition, the BNT has secured funding from the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) to implement a 2-year project to re-engage the San Salvador communities in education and outreach initiatives for National Park designation in San Salvador, and funding to develop management plans for the 5 areas proposed.
The areas for protection in San Salvador include Pigeon Creek and Snow Bay, Graham’s Harbour/Rice Bay (including offshore cays), dive sites, Green Bay (including offshore cays) and Great Lake.
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DPM and MP Davis spoke extensively to his constituents, noting that now that discussions have concluded, the time has come for the plans to be implemented to advance San Salvador’s National Parks. Dr. Roberto Savio, world renowned communication expert, attended the meeting announcing that areas within San Salvador will be illegible for UNESCO World Heritage Site designations, which will provide additional economic benefits for the island of San Salvador.
The Bahamas National Trust is currently working with the Gerace Research Centre (College of The Bahamas – field station) to revisit the 2007 park proposal for submission to Government along the timelines for the lodging of the UNESCO treaty.
The areas for protection in San Salvador include Pigeon Creek and Snow Bay, Graham’s Harbour/Rice Bay (including offshore cays), dive sites, Green Bay (including offshore cays) and Great Lake.
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