PM and 10 others depart for Egypt today
NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Press Secretary within the Office of the Prime Minister, Clint Watson yesterday advised the general public to remain tuned to the prime minister’s remarks on the UN’s climate change conference COP 27 as there will probably be a significant announcement on the longer term of climate change and construction within the country.
Watson responded to concerns over the dimensions of the COP 27 delegation to El Sheikh, Egypt, and confirmed there will probably be a bunch of ten traveling with Prime Minister Philip Davis today.
“I would like to make sure that we understand and make clear that for you, that 70 people representing the Bahamas are going to COP 27, not 70 people from the federal government going to COP 27,” he said.
Watson said Prime Minister Davis is scheduled to talk to the Conference of Parties on Tuesday, November 8, adding that various groups will probably be attending workshops and seminars related to their specified areas of experience over the three-week period of the conference.
“Prime Minister Davis will give attention to the continued push within the Bahamas to fight climate change and update the general public on strides made since traveling to COP last yr,” said Watson.
“We’ve also stressed how, as an alternative of talk, we’ve been taking motion on quite a few fronts. Mr. Davis may even make a significant announcement as well on the longer term of climate change and construction within the Bahamas; something we would like you to remain tuned for.
“We’ll provide dates and times that after all treatment live so all the country can give you the chance to look at and tune in because the Prime Minister addresses the world from COP 27,” Watson said.
The press secretary stressed the importance of putting the problem into context, he said many individuals from the private sector are going because they understand the vision and importance of the trip.
Watson continued: “The rationale why you’re probably going to see every yr an increasing number of Bahamians go to COP 27 is because persons are understanding the relevance of it and the importance of it and the way vulnerable we’re as a nation to it and as a non-public sector, understand and see the way it impacts what they do.
“Increasingly of them are going. Increasingly corporations are sending representatives to make sure that that they’re on the table. They’re on the place where negotiations are happening to be sure that their future safeguarded are protected and their voices are heard.
“So we encourage people from the private sector to get on board on this fight against climate change,” Watson said.
Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources, and Family Island Affairs, Clay Sweeting will probably be the one minister traveling with the delegation in keeping with Watson who confirmed that Sweeting could be playing a heavy role in agriculture and food security.
The following senior government official who was said to be traveling with the group is Attorney General, Ryan Pinder who will lead negotiations on behalf of the country.
“I do know there have been some concerns or talks or misunderstandings surrounding the delegation when it was announced that it was 70 people.
“[…] The matter of undeniable fact that the private sector makes up a bigger portion of the delegation going to COP with some 37 individuals from the private sector who will probably be going from various youth organizations, various NGOs, environmental groups, and individual individuals as well.”
Environmentalist and Waterkeepers Bahamas President, Joseph Darville said he found it ironic that the federal government remains to be neglecting local issues at home which might be impacting the environment like major developments that destroy mangroves and coral reefs, and natural buffers against storms and hurricanes.
He added that while he’s not against development, he thinks the federal government needs to be more responsible in ensuring that there are still checks and balances in place to guard the environment.
“They’re taking a delegation to Egypt, some 70 people, they’re going to go over there and plead for money to take care of the outcomes of climate change while you’re not coping with the matters at hand, just like the destruction that’s still happening, on among the islands, of a whole lot of acres of mangroves and now we are attempting to plant 30 thousand mangroves.
“[…] they don’t contact and take care of individuals who have it at their soul and at their guts and their belly how one can protect our surroundings but yet they spend all this money to galavant over there and you understand they’re gonna get some money and what the heck they’re gonna do with it?”
