The Tribune

EDUCATOR JOSEPH Darville, co-chairman of the Bahamas National Drug Council and environmental and human rights advocate, has been named chairman of Save The Bays, the environmental movement.

Mr Darville, a native of Long Island and resident of Freeport, Grand Bahama, takes the helm from Fred Smith, QC. “This is a critical time for safeguarding our environment which is coming under increasing pressure and I can think of no one better positioned to lead the charge of protection and preservation than Joe Darville,” said Mr Smith yesterday. “I have worked with Joe for more than 30 years on sensitive human rights and environmental issues and I never cease to marvel at the progress he makes in his own politically neutral, dedicated way, packed with purpose and passion.”

Mr Darville will head a board of directors that includes leaders in the environmental movement internationally as well as locally, including Robert F Kennedy Jr, president of Waterkeeper Alliance.

Mr Darville called the appointment “one of the greatest honours and one of the most important tasks of my life”. He recently completed training under Al Gore to become a Climate Change Reality Leader.

A former teacher at St Augustine’s College and Queen’s College in Nassau, he spent eight years as director of workforce development at the Grand Bahama Shipyard. He has held many senior offices, including with the Bahamas Union of Teachers, Bahamas Counsellors Association, Grand Bahama Mental Health Association, Caribbean Federation of Mental Health, Operation Hope, the Bahamas National Drug Council, Caribbean Human Rights Network and the Freeport YMCA.

He was awarded the Commonwealth of the Bahamas Silver Jubilee Award for Outstanding Contribution to National (Community) Development. He is married with two children.