Island Hopping STEP, Save The Exuma Park

ISLAND HPPING

S.T.E.P.

Save The Exuma Park

I rarely, if ever, align myself with causes, however I have found one whose goals, whose focus, appeals to me. A cause whose time is right, whose time is now...this is STEP, Save The Exuma Park. Most visitors here are aware of my involvement with The Exuma Cays Land And Sea Park (ECLSP). From 1993-1997, I volunteered my time and effort as a volunteer Asst. Warden helping out then Park Warden Ray Darville, who was seriously overworked and underpaid.

The Exuma Cays Land And Sea Park, established in 1958, was the first land/sea park in the world and was a trend setter and model for years. But something happened along the way...developers discovered the Park. Some will say that 60% of the Park is owned by the Park, in truth, it may be more like 40%. Several of the islands and their owners have been grandfathered in, but new developers are finding more and more ways to sell off the islands not owned by the Bahamas National Trust, the body charged with preserving the natural resources of the Bahamas.. Unfortunately, the Bahamas National Trust has not been successful in halting the rape of the Park by greedy developers and land agents. Why is that? Ladies and Gentlemen, there is supposed to be a reason they are called a "Trust". The destruction of these islands has been going on for years with little more than rhetoric and foot shuffling coming from the Trust. Who is responsible for this serious lack of foresight? Who can we point a finger at and accuse of loosing these demons on an innocent landscape? Or is this knowledge only for the privileged few that have access to the behind-closed-doors meetings and "planning committees"? What about those of us not privy to the inner circle, the Trust hierarchy? What about those of us that just love the natural, pristine beauty of the Park? One need look no further than the destruction caused by the developers of Bell Island and Hall's Pond Cay. Is this a death knell tolling for the entire Park? And what of other island chains in the Bahamas? The government of the Bahamas allowed the sale of Little San Salvador to a cruise ship company instead of opting for a wiser solution, a short term lease. Is the government of the Bahamas selling off its people's birthright? Only time will tell in that regard, but one is for certain, some of the best areas of Exuma Park are gone and where lies the future of the Park now? What can be done about it? Does apathy control the future of the Bahamas? Will somebody in the Trust please stand up and take a stand? Will somebody in the government please have the fortitude to say "This is wrong and IT MUST STOP!"

STEP is a group of Bahamians and non-Bahamians who, for over six years now, have been actively concerned about the welfare of the Exuma Cays Land And Sea Park. The goals of STEP are as follows:

1. Call together a national commission from across the board to establish legislation for all national parks in the Bahamas.

2. Set in place legislation to fully protect the Exuma Cays Land And Sea Park and all other national parks.

3. Total administration and ownership of all national parks by the Bahamas National Trust.

4. Empower local government authority in all national parks.

5. Provide to the general public on a timely basis all national park activities.

Working for an equitable solution with the current property holders in Exuma Park is a priority. The grandfather clause could be amended by the legislature to include living on the land with MINIMAL or NO development and even eventual land purchases by a "rehabilitated" Bahamas National Trust over a period of time. The government could also consider offering other lands outside the national parks in trade to those owners who refuse to sell their land to the Trust (Where is their national pride?). Legislation setting up special "no-build" zones in all national parks should also be a priority.

STEP maintains that there is no alternative to TOTAL PROTECTION, and pleads for zero-development in all national parks in the Bahamas. We, Bahamians and non-Bahamians alike, cannot allow the national parks of the Bahamas to deteriorate because of land development that devastates park ecosystems. STEP needs your help in the fight to bring these issues to the general public and the government of the Bahamas. To find out what you can do to help, or to join STEP, contact Terry Bain, Ocean Cabin Club, Little Farmer's Cay, Exuma, Bahamas, 242-355-4006. You can email Terry at oceancbn@batelnet.bs.

Thanks for your effort to save Exuma Park and the Bahamas. You never know what you've got till it's gone.

Stephen J. Pavlidis
S/V IV Play

UPDATE!

Good News friends and supporters! I have received an email from Terry Bain and Terry has informed me that the new PLP government in the Bahamas has mentioned in their Exuma platform that support will be given to STEP in their effort to preserve, enhance, and protect the Exuma Cays Land And Sea Park. What form this support will take has not been established, but it is a STEP in the right direction and thanks should be given to all supporters of STEP for their assistance, and to Terry Bain himself for his tireless efforts!

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