The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

AMID controversy over the government’s handling of a 2012 Rubis oil spill that affected Marathon residents, Minister of Environment and Housing Kenred Dorsett yesterday released draft legislation for the establishment of the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection.

The move, according to a ministry press release, is part of a government effort to “increase environmental protection and oversight throughout” The Bahamas.

Calling on people to discuss the draft and make recommendations concerning it, Mr Dorsett said the proposed department would supervise issues that include environmental protection standards, regulations for the discharge of waste at sea, environmental emergency programme and environmental information, research, education and training.

Environmental activists have been clamouring for the government to take concrete steps to protect the environment by enacting legislation like an Environmental Protection Act.

Nonetheless, yesterday’s draft release comes as the government continues to grapple with the Rubis oil spill controversy. The government has been criticised for taking over a year to release to the public an independent report by consultants Black and Veatch International on the matter.

After initially defending its handling of the oil spill, the government changed its tune over the weekend, expressing “sincere regret” in a statement on Sunday for its failure to release the report in a more timely manner.

In that statement the government also pledged to put in place petroleum sector regulations on the handling, maintenance and cleanup of containments.

It also said that the new bill which would create the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection will be tabled by October 19.

Yesterday’s statement said the new department will “consolidate all environmental protection and planning measures in one place to ensure timely response to environment and natural resource issues and emergencies”.