The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

A FOUNDATION formed by "everyday Bahamians" plans to lobby for legislative changes to ensure Bahamians receive direct economic benefits from the country's natural resources.

The Bahamas Natural Resources Foundation (BNRF), launched in February 2018, has a three-fold agenda according to its president and local attorney, Dana Munnings.

She told Tribune Business it is aiming to educate Bahamians on the country's natural resources, push for Sovereign Wealth Fund legislation that will ensure Bahamians receive direct benefits, and the creation of a Ministry to properly document the country's natural resources.

Ms Munnings described the BNRF as a non-partisan organisation, concerned about the country's natural assets and resources, including its airspace, fishing flats, aragonite, pine forests and salt. "This is not a politically-motivated endeavour," she said.

"It is just every day Bahamians who have decided that this country is too rich in natural resources for people to be losing their homes, not being able to keep their lights on and having to work a full 40-hour work week with nothing to show for it.

"We want to be able to educate people on this country's resources. We know that is needed when we have people asking what is aragonite and calcium carbonate, for instance. We want to be the voice where we educate people on what resources this country has, and be a lobbying body to ensure we have some legislation that will ensure Bahamians ultimately benefit from these resources."

Calling for the creation of a Ministry of Natural Resources, Ms Munnings said this would ensure the proper documentation of the Bahamas' riches. "We need an in-depth analysis of what resources we have, an account for what contracts have been in place or are in place as it relates to the mining of our natural resources," said Munnings, adding: "We have to hold our government accountable".

She said the BNRF has been gaining traction, and has received a strong response from the public.

"So far we have gotten an overwhelming response," Ms Munnings said.

"People are really interested in our message."

The BNRF, according to its website, has a $1 monthly membership fee and wants to register a minimum of 20,000 Bahamians and international activists.