ministerofenvironment

The sudden death of Cabinet Minister Vaughn Miller sent shock waves around the Bahamas and through the political landscape, after his discovery early Sunday morning–the second death in the Progressive Liberal Party’s administration since acquiring office in 2021.

Miller, 64, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, was reportedly found unconscious in his vehicle and transported to the hospital, and later pronounced dead.

Around this time two years ago, September 25, 2023, Obie Wilchcombe, Minister of Social Services, Information and Broadcasting, was found unconscious too, shortly before 7.30 am. Efforts to revive him failed, and he was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Wilchcombe was the Member of Parliament for West End Grand Bahama and his death triggered a by-election in his constituency.

Miller’s death will trigger a by-election for the Golden Isles constituency where he served for two terms. But, a by-election could be a referendum on the government’s performance which will be ultimately judged in the upcoming general election.

A date for the upcoming general election has not been called, and the government had previously ruled out an early election.

Once a seat becomes vacant, a by-election must be called within 60 days according to The Parliamentary Elections Act.

The speaker of the House of Assembly must inform the governor general and request a writ of election. After receiving the speaker’s message, the Governor General shall, “as soon as is practicable,” issue a writ of election for the vacant seat. And a by-election must be called no less than 21 days and no more than 30 days after the writ has been issued.

As it stands, Golden Isles remains without a representative, and the country awaits the new assignment of the Environmental and Natural Resources portfolio, temporarily or permanently.

What Opposition Leader Philip Davis said

“I join thousands of Bahamians in expressing shock and sadness at the tragic death of the son of a parliamentary colleague, Romauld Ferreira, Minister of Housing and the Environment at the family’s home today.

“As a parent, l imagine that the grief and sadness at the loss of a beloved child must be unspeakable.

“I pray for the Ferreira family that they may find strength, solace and comfort in the midst of this unsettling tragedy. I ask that the nation also pray for them and respect their privacy, allowing them to grieve in private.

What DNA Leader Arinthia Komolafe said

Kristal Ambrose is the young woman that convinced the government to ban single-use plastic items in the Bahamas.

Ambrose was recently awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize for her efforts, the award given to honor grassroots environmental heroes around the world.

Ambrose, the 30-year-old native of Eleuthera led a local campaign, creating an “upcycled” program to motivate students to repurpose plastic waste.

She soon drafted legislation to share with the government on the issue of plastic use in the country and travelled to Nassau in January 2018 to meet Minister of Environment Romauld Ferriera to discuss her solution for the problem of plastic pollution.

Ferreira promised he would address it and later that year, the government announced a plan to address the issue, while banning single-use plastic bags, food utensils, straws, and Styrofoam in January 2020.

Ambrose told UK media, “In the Bahamas, it’s a really big deal because we receive the world’s waste as well as producing our own. This is paradise, until you look closely. Then you see the plastic pollution that washes in with the Sargasso Sea.”

Ambrose is studying marine waste in Sweden and wants to use her research to build stronger organizations and awareness in the Bahamas.

“We need to bridge the gap between community and science. It is no good publishing research every year if the information is not going to the people,” she said. “Plastic is just a tool.

“It’s about way more than that. It’s about helping young people to find their voice and recognize we are in this together.”

Ambrose was one of many environmental winners. Chibeze Ezekiel of Ghana was awarded for his four-year grassroots efforts, prompting his government to halt the construction of a 700-megawatt coal power plant. Nemonte Nenquimo of Ecuador led an indigenous campaign to protect 500,000 acres of the Amazon rainforest. Leydy Pech of Mexico, stopped the planting of genetically modified soybeans in southern Mexico. Lucie Pinson of France pressured France’s largest banks to stop financing new coal projects and companies.