The Tribune

A Cabinet minister yesterday said the Government needs to “close the legislative gap” and establish the Ministry of Environment in law, enabling its Minister to introduce Bills when necessary.

Romauld Ferreira, minister of the environment, addressing a Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation’s (BCCEC) breakfast, said: “This legislative gap is just untenable for me. We have to at least get some kind of basic framework in place so that we can move forward from there.”

“One of the clear objectives for us is primary legislation that establishes our Ministry of Environment, and gives us a whole ambit of regulations that could unfold. Right now we don’t even have that.”

Mr Ferreira said addressing the oil spills at Clifton, as well as the New Providence landfill, were two other objectives for his Ministry.

“It is so important for us to close that legislative gap so that firstly there is a Ministry of Environment set up in law. There is no legal Ministry of Environment set up in law with a minister who has legal power to do things in a primary legislative way, and can roll-out legislation as they become necessary,” said Mr Ferreira.

He continued: “You need a Ministry of Environment capable of responding in a timely manner with the legislative framework. Right now we have a legislate gap and it causes huge problems.” Mr Ferreira cited the ‘legislative gap’, the oil spills at Clifton and the New Providence landfill as the three major areas of concern.