Caribbean & Central America - May 2024

*** SUPPORT FOR OIL DRILLING BAN IN THE BAHAMAS. A survey that was organised by Bahamian environmental lobby group Our Islands, Our Future (OIOF) has shown strong support in The Bahamas for a permanent ban on drilling for oil. The survey was completed in December 2023 and included 400 respondents. It showed 86% of participants supporting legislation for a permanent ban on all fossil fuel exploration. Only 4% of respondents said that they oppose a ban on oil drilling. Also, 74% said that they support moving away entirely from the use of fossil fuels and replacing these with renewable energy.

Rashema Ingraham, the executive director of NGO Waterkeepers Bahamas, one of the founding organisations of the OIOF coalition, said: “This survey is the strongest evidence to date that the Bahamian public opposes any further attempts to gamble with our future through the reckless, dangerous practice of fossil fuel exploration. Clearly, Bahamians at large recognise that there is no such thing as ‘safe’ oil drilling and that we simply have too much to lose in terms of our tourism and fisheries industries, the lifeblood of so many communities and households. We encourage [Prime Minister Philip Davis’ government] to take legislative action in accordance with public opinion and its own stated agenda of creating a sustainable future for The Bahamas.”