Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer

#TheBahamas#RoyalCaribbean, April 23, 2024- After being delayed following its announcement in 2020, Royal Caribbean’s new 17 acre Royal Beach Club on Paradise Island in Nassau, Bahamas, is now in the works and is scheduled to be ready for 2025, according to reports. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Monday April 22, signifying the start of construction in the next few months. This project is huge for The Bahamas as it’s a first of kind for the nation, with a unique public private partnership allowing Bahamians to hold up to 49 percent in equity.

Bahamas Information Services
April 24, 2024

NASSAU, The Bahamas – In his remarks at the 9th Our Ocean Conference in Athens, Greece, the Hon. Zane Lightbourne, State-Minister in the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, pledged The Bahamas’ unwavering commitment to the practice of sustainability and emphasized that the nation remains dedicated to the development of innovative measures to adapt to, and mitigate harm to the oceanic environment.

He shared challenges and successes of The Bahamas as a leader in sustainable tourism as a Small Island Developing State (SIDS). The conference was held April 15-17, 2024 on the theme “Our Ocean – An Ocean of Potential” . It marked the official launch of Sustainable Tourism in the Mediterranean.

The conference focused on these topics:
*Sustainable tourism in coastal areas and Islands
*Reduction of marine plastic and micro-plastic pollution
*Green transition in the Mediterranean Sea and
*Green Shipping

Minister Lightbourne told participants that the health of The Bahamas’ seas, oceans and marine ecosystems is threatened by:
*Unsustainable practices, such as illegal discharges into the marine environment
*Marine litter, such as discarded fishing gear and micro-plastics
*Illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing
*Unsustainable shipping and tourism activities

He said, “We must have a common response to these challenges that propel us into action both separately and collectively – and to determine the most effective sustainable initiatives that will serve as the antidote to our common, global, environmental threat.”

He noted the effects of rising ocean temperatures, the exposure of residents to threats, hurricanes and extreme coral bleaching.  “The crippling impact to our coastal communities have put our country at the forefront of the climate crisis, with immediate responses needed to alleviate calamity.

“We have built resilience in these areas by implementing ecosystem-based solutions. The government has adopted a No Net Loss approach to mangroves, corals and pine forests.  We have enacted a ban on selected single-use plastics that prohibits these items from import. We are training and retooling professionals across sectors to address our local, regional and international challenges.

“The Bahamas is investing millions of US dollars to the effective management of our Marine Protected Areas, which includes equipping Protected Area Managers to patrol, protect and conserve our natural environment,” he said.

State-Minister Lightbourne also outlined some of the initiatives that have been launched in The Bahamas in alignment with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) #14 — Sustainable Oceans/Life Below Water.

They are:

1. Mission for Mangroves
   In 2022, The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation launched Mission for the Mangroves which promotes mangrove stock replenishment and regeneration. Mangroves are also a protected species in country since 2021, under the Forestry Act.

2. The Coral Reef Restoration Project
   Launched in 2023, the project facilitates the establishment of Coral Nurseries through a network of dive operators who offer out-planting packages to visiting divers. The project aims to establish and maintain 50 Coral Nurseries across the Bahamian archipelago.

3. Economic Growth/Decent Work – SDGs 8,11, 13
   The Andros Community-based Tourism Cluster Project seeks to position Andros as the premier ecotourism destination within the country, fostering economic diversification within tourism.

4. Nature-based services at BAMSI (Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute)

BAMSI is a tertiary institution for Marine Science that offers nationally accredited certification courses in flats-fishing and nature tourism, particularly for youth.  To underscore the Government’s commitment to Sustainable Tourism, legislation has been enacted that requires flats-fishing guides in The Bahamas, to be certified and licensed.  In January of this year, 40 trained and newly certified Guides graduated from BAMSI.
These projects are transformative and focus on creating a tourism sector that is environmentally sustainable, intent on preserving nature, communities, and culture.

PHOTO CAPTION

The Hon. Zane Lightbourne, State-Minister in the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources, recently led a delegation to Athens, Greece, where he addressed the 9th Our Ocean Conference.

(Photos/Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources)

Nassau, Bahamas: The Nassau Cruise Port has donated $1.95 million towards
projects that will assist the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources in its aim
to increase food security for The Bahamas.

The donation officially occurred at the Ministry’s offices recently, where Minister
of Agriculture and Marine Resources Hon. Jomo Campbell, Minister of Labour
Hon. Pia Glover-Rolle, Permanent Secretary Neil Campbell and Nassau Cruise
Port CEO Mike Maura listened to a number of presentations including one for a
poultry programme for schools, a chicken broiler production programme, the
redevelopment of the Blue Hill Road Farmers Market and an Authentic
Bahamian Cultural Concept Store,

Mr. Maura said he was impressed by the presentations.

“I had the privilege to listen the presentations and review presentations that
touched on food security and the need for us to be self-sufficient, which as a
Bahamian I support completely. At the Nassau Cruise Port, we get excited
about the prospects of offering more authentic food to the millions of visitors
that we have each year,” he said.

“And then, in addition to that, we had presentations around the further
development of our artisans, which is so important to us as well. The guests
visiting our shores are looking for something that really touches The Bahamas
and can’t be found somewhere else. The Nassau Cruise Port has made a pledge to BAIC and its affiliates. We will be supporting the projects that were presented and we can’t wait to get started.”

Minister Glover-Rolle, who is also the Member of Parliament for Golden Gates,
hailed Nassau Cruise Port as a “great community partner.”

“Thank you for the opportunity to not only present but agreeing to participate.
Our Minister of Agriculture has a goal of reducing food imports by 25 percent by
the year 2025 and our project in the Golden Gates Community speaks to that,”
she said.

“We have a number of backyard farmers, farmers and fishers in our community
in Golden Gates. Being able to use the Blue Hill Road Farmers Market, which is
going to be dubbed the ‘Fish Fry of the South,’ as a hub for food security but
also a hub where artisans and handicraft persons can come and sell their wares
is wonderful. So, we are happy that you have agreed to partner with us and we
look forward to a partnership and we hope to welcome some of your visitors
when this amazing renovation is done.”

Minister Campbell also lauded the Nassau Cruise Port for its efforts.

“I would like to say thank you to the presenters for the presentations that are
several steps in the right direction for our country, to Mr. Maura and his board at
the Nassau Cruise Port and I would like to say thanks to God for this partnership
and bringing us all together as we move forward, upward, together in building a
better, brighter, future for The Bahamas,” he said.