The House of Assembly Select Committee on Natural Resources made its first site visit this past week to North Andros.
Why it matters
Many Bahamians have been calling on the government to ensure Bahamians benefit from the country’s natural resources. Thus, a committee was appointed by Prime Minister Hubert Minnis, the latter part of 2020 to examine the country’s natural resources.
The committee promises to make various site visits and make a report to the country on its findings.
What happened on the first official visit
- The Committee spent Wednesday afternoon and Thursday until departure late afternoon making site visits.
- Wednesday was on-land natural resources for the most part including: Morgan’s Bluff, Well Fields, Red Bays (sponge and fish) and Charlie’s Blue Hole.
- Thursday was marine natural resources.
- North Andros resident and Bahamas Fly Fishing Industry Association President Prescott Smith took the Committee on a tour including the Barrier Reef, the Great Bahama Bank, the Tongue of the Ocean, Stafford Creek and Flats. A delightful highlight of the tour was when about 10 dolphins, including a baby dolphin, swam alongside the boat and jumped out of the water!
The Committee members making the trip:
Michael A. Foulkes, Chairman, Shonel Ferguson, Picewell Forbes, Vaughn Miller and Reece Chipman. Accompanying the Committee members were Carlton Bowleg, MP for the area, and Rashad Flowers, Assistant Clerk, House of Assembly.
Worth noting
The Committee will continue its work this week in New Providence while making plans for the next site visit in Grand Bahama in February.