By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

DESPITE its stated peaceful, non-political aims, the Raising Awareness of the Bahamas Landfill (RABL) demonstration scheduled for Sunday afternoon has raised concerns as the United States Embassy in Nassau has told its citizens to avoid the protest.

In a brief security advisory to American citizens on Friday, the Embassy said “for security reasons all US Embassy employees, and their dependents have been instructed to avoid the immediate vicinity of this protest”.

The embassy also advised that demonstrations intended to be peaceful have, at times, turned confrontational and escalated into violence.

Sunday’s protest - planed for 4pm at the Melia Nassau Beach Resort straw market - will coincide with the 2016 Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Inter-American Investment Corporation (IIC) annual general meeting being hosted at the Baha Mar convention centre in Cable Beach, a hub for tourists visiting the Bahamas.

While there is no history of violent protests in the Bahamas, the recent demonstration over the closure of the easement access at Cabbage Beach did result in the arrest and arraignment of ten persons. With that as the backdrop, Embassy officials said US citizens should “always avoid demonstrations”.

The message came a day after RABL spokesperson Heather Carey told The Tribune that the group’s protest over reccurring fires at the New Providence landfill on the final day of the IDB-IIC conference would remain “peaceful” and “non-political”.

However, Ms Carey said there was some concern in the group that people not associated with the cause are attempting to undermine RABL by “planting” persons within the protest to “incite violence and chaos”.

The New Providence landfill has been plagued by frequent fires despite efforts by Renew Bahamas to limit them. In a statement on Friday, Environmental Minister Kenred Dorsett again spoke out in support of the company.

The Southern Shores MP said that as a result of the government’s partnership with Renew Bahamas, the number of fires at the site have been reduced.

“(Fires) are less intense and are being extinguished in far less time. It is also important to note that for an extended period of time there were no recurring fires at this property,” Mr Dorsett said, adding that the government’s decision to privatise the landfill has resulted in approximately $6m in savings.

He said that Renew Bahamas has the responsibility for managing a new recycling programme in the country as well as utilising technology to limit any potential environmental impact of the landfill.

“Environmental protection is a priority for the Ministry throughout the archipelago. In order to protect our environment, it is important that all citizens be aware of the measures one can take as an individual to help keep our Bahamas clean, green and pristine,” Mr Dorsett said. “We are conscious of the fact that advancing a recycling culture will not happen overnight, and we are committed to developing a long term public education strategy to encourage Bahamians to reduce, reuse and recycle.”

Ms Carey told The Tribune on Thursday that RABL members have long worked with the government on matters concerning the New Providence landfill. However, she said after the group staged its “Breathe Better Bahamas” demonstration in downtown Nassau last year, government support for RABL dwindled “dramatically” and Mr Dorsett “became hard to reach”.

Responding to those claims, Mr Dorsett contended: “I am as always, available for meetings and consultations with community groups and residents.”

RABL has secured the necessary permits needed to hold the demonstration on Sunday.

Appeals to solve the issue have also been made to international organisations, with the Waterkeeper Alliance, a New York-based grassroots movement focused on the preservation of clean water, receiving one Bahamian’s cry for help.

“Huge clouds of black smoke is billowing into the sky causing a huge environmental pollution. How can we stop my country from doing this … not the first time,” wrote the concerned citizen. “This has been going on forever in a residential area located on Harold Road. You’re the only one that can stop this government from doing this. Please, please help the people of the Bahama Islands, especially Nassau, from the burning dump.”

Waterkeeper member Neale Gulley contacted Nassau-based environmental group Save The Bays for further insight. “I was sent several reports about tyre burning taking place for the past week in Nassau, Bahamas,” Mr Gulley said. “Please let me know whether your organisations are in a position to weigh in on what is happening down there.”