EDITOR, The Tribune.
On Tuesday, Ms Ava Turnquest, Tribune Chief Reporter, called me, introduced herself and asked if I wished to comment or provide a perspective on the Oil Spill Report released in relation to the Marathon area. I chuckled and asked: “Why do you need my opinion for a coat hanger for your story?”
I went on to provide some examples of past issues and how they were handled, in the expectation that the reporter would review and form her own judgment, unclouded by my opinion. I confess I spoke openly, but not uncharitably. I did offer the view that the competent statutory body appeared not to be at the forefront of the discussion.
I was shocked to find words in this morning’s paper, words uttered by me and attributed to me, when I thought we were off the record, or certainly on background. For the record, I never said “not for attribution or release” and she never asked permission to quote me.
However, the paragraph beginning “I declined to give a perspective” supports my position. Notwithstanding the above and since the matter is now public, I would like to elaborate further.
The Oil Spill Report should have been released and the findings shared with the residents sooner. The residents should have been kept abreast of remediation work.
Relevant public officials should have informed the affected population of on-going monitoring. I believe a dispassionate review would demonstrate that this is the minimum that Bahamians had come to expect from Public Officials.
I wanted the reporter to come to that conclusion, rather than be led there by me. I encouraged the reporter to review the public record and compare and contrast how several of these matters were handled in the recent past by referencing a number of examples, which were and remain in the public domain.
For example, when Baha Mar was first being implemented, significant remediation work had to be undertaken in the vicinity of Westward Villas, as a result of a multi-year leak from the laundry facility. The Environmental Remediation and Response Laboratory (EMRAD) had to oversee this remediation and keep the interested parties, including the Government, Baha Mar and the residents apprised.
In 2007, we found an approved Albany Project, with a provision to cut into the beach and dredge an access channel to the marina, in addition to the closure and diversion of the Western Road. I spearheaded a Town Meeting to bring this to the public’s attention.
Similarly, when we conducted an environmental audit of the Bimini Bay project, I headed a team of ministers who travelled to Bimini to present the findings to the community.
When the government was considering the Harbour Dredging Project and the extension to Arawak Cay, we held Town Meetings to present the implications of that project. We held Town Meetings on the proposal to connect Moss Road to Baillou Hill Road. As well, we held Town Meetings on Saunders Beach and the Montagu Beach restoration.
Town Meetings were held in Hope Town, Abaco and Marsh Harbour, regarding a Lodge and Waste disposal, respectively; we held Public Meetings in Long Island to solicit views on a proposed development for North Long Island; similar meetings were held in Cat Island regarding the PGA Village. I use these examples to make the point that the public has a right to know and participate in important decisions or projects being considered, approved, or implemented on their behalf.
The Planning and Subdivision Act, which was passed into law, requires public consultation and input on any development likely to give rise to material change in communities.
My point to the reporter was that a review of this history would inform her question and subsequent conclusion, rather than the political face that subsequently emerged in the published story. That was never the intent.
The public has a legitimate right to know about matters, which will affect their livelihood and communities. While there is often a tendency to avoid the public, for any number of reasons, our country can only be better as a result of healthy, informed discourse and disagreement.
The Bahamas will not continue to progress along the road of transparency and accountability if the process is not perpetually nurtured by progressive and inclusive public policies that affirm the public’s right to be informed.
EARL D DEVEAUX
Environment Minister in FNM government,
Nassau,
April 22, 2015.
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID