While there were less than 20 attendees at West Bay’s public meeting on the proposed National Conservation Law, those present represented the past 60 years of working in the areas such as scuba diving, transport, commerce and land-based tourism attractions.

Defenders of the proposed legislation outnumbered objectors by at least 12-to-one during this first in a series of district meetings. In West Bay, proponents included Bob and Suzy Soto, Ivan Farrington, and Mr. Billy Adam.

Minister for Environment, Hon. Wayne Panton, and Department of Environment Director Gina Ebanks-Petrie hosted the presentation. Other DOE staff members were present, as was Education Minister, Hon. Tara Rivers, who is a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for West Bay.

During the discussions Minister Panton noted that the Conservation Law will be mostly advisory, with very little absolutes: “It aims to conserve and protect the existing state of nature around us, but it does not change the existing Marine Parks…

There are many reasons to introduce this legislation, but none more important than what we will leave as a legacy for the children of the future.”

Some audience members expressed the following sentiments on the draft law:

Mr. Clarence Bothwell: “Something has to be done!  We’ve already lost too much, in the name of development. For instance, everyone wants development, but without the mangrove swamps (which affect everything from the rainfall, the clarity of the waters and the marine breeding grounds) our sea life will naturally disappear.”

Mr. Ivan Farrington: “I know it’s time to introduce conservation guidelines for development, even if they are amended down the line.”

Mr. Creswell Powery: “They used to call us ‘cockeyed-conservationists’ when we advocated for conservation laws 40 years ago. We’re not too late, but once the law is passed it also needs to be enforced.”

Photos:  Photo credits – Lennon Christian / GIS