The environmental group, Re-Earth, staged a demonstration, from Noon until 4:00pm, in Rawson Square on Wednesday, continuing its protest against proposed Liquefied Natural Gas projects in The Bahamas.
“Honk for no” was the phrase on a huge banner that was strung across Rawson Square as placard-carrying Re-Earth supporters voiced their objections to LNG, and urged passersby to sign a national petition against LNG.
Group leaders claimed that by mid-day, 100 persons had signed the national petition.
According to Re-Earth spokesperson, Sam Duncombe, it was the type of turnout that she expected early on, just as parliamentarians were gathered across the street in the House of Assembly for the annual budget communication.
As the day went on, more people added their names to the list and Mrs. Duncombe claimed that the number of signatures had soared to 2,000. That number also included signatures that had already been on the petition.
“These names will be given to the prime minister,” Mrs. Duncombe said. “[We will tell him] that these are the names of the people who stand firmly against this project and we really hope that they will listen to what we are saying.”
Re-Earth is claiming that even though The Bahamas Environment Science and Technology Commission has approved the LNG project proposed by the AES Corporation it would not be feasible in The Bahamas.
She reminded that the Cabinet of The Bahamas ultimately decides on whether such projects will be approved.
“The BEST Commission in my opinion, giving the go-ahead knowing that there are so many concerns with this project, is completely out of line,” Mrs. Duncombe said.
“It makes me even more want to see what the final outcome of the studies of the BEST commission [reveal].”
The government is presently considering the AES proposal for the establishment of a LNG terminal at Ocean Cay, off Bimini. It is also in discussions with El Paso, Tractebel, and Florida Power and Light, which are pushing a separate development for Grand Bahama.
Both groups plan to lay LNG pipelines to Florida to meet that state’s growing demand for energy.
As members of parliament were exiting the House of Assembly following the budget communication, Mrs. Duncombe approached Trade and Industry Minister Leslie Miller and presented him with an anti-LNG T-shirt.
He accepted the T-shirt and thanked her.
Mrs. Duncombe then proceeded to voice the concerns and objections of her group to the Minister.
This lead to a heated exchange of words between the Minister and Mrs. Duncombe, who accused the government of misinforming the public on LNG.
She said that she was disappointed that the government “refused to hear the cries of the public on the issue.”
“As a concerned citizen I would like you listen to our point of view which is not being heard,” Mrs. Duncombe said.
But Minister Miller continued to stress that the Government of The Bahamas would not approve any project if it were not in the best interest of the Bahamian people.
“The Honorable Prime Minister and the Government of The Bahamas will give approval to no industry or no entity, be it industrial, commercial or touristic, that would adversely affect the people of The Bahamas,” Minister Miller said.
He indicated that officials of BEST have thoroughly reviewed the AES plan and have determined through scientific probes that the project would not threaten the environment.
The government had scheduled a town meeting on LNG a few weeks ago, but it was postponed immediately after Prime Minister Perry Christie was hospitalized after suffering a slight stroke.
Minister Miller indicated that the government is not attempting to dodge concerns on the LNG issue.
He said that the BEST Commission and his Ministry are now in the process of contacting the experts who conducted the feasibility studies on LNG and endorsed the AES project.
By: Stephen Gay, The Bahama Journal
