EDITOR, The Tribune.

Last week, The Bahamas learned the sad news of Environment Minister Romauld Ferreira’s 14-year-old son’s tragic and sudden passing.

Leaders of both the Free National Movement and the Progressive Liberal Party extended heartfelt condolences to Mr Ferriera and his family, who are no doubt deeply devastated. Seeing newspaper photos of a mourning Ferreira in the front of his house as mortuary personnel carried the remains of his son to the hearse were heart-rending.

In light of this tragic incident occurring just days ago, I was taken by complete surprise to read that the environmental groups Coalition to Protect Clifton Bay and Waterkeeper Bahamas Ltd have named Mr Ferriera a respondent in a Supreme Court file to block Bahamas Petroleum Company’s (BPC) attempts to drill for oil in The Bahamas.

Interestingly, in both The Tribune and Nassau Guardian articles on the BPC legal matter, not one of the environmental groups or their representatives is reported to have expressed condolences to Ferreira.

This shocking display of nonchalance underscores the narrative that these moneyed environment lobbyists care more about Mother Nature than human beings. Without siding with any of the litigants in this matter, I would say to Coalition to Protect Clifton Bay, Waterkeeper Bahamas Ltd, reEarth, Save the Bays and Bahamas Reef Environmental Educational Foundation to at least wait until the Ferriera family has buried their dead son and is done grieving. Involving them in a legal matter while their dead son lies in a morgue is both ill-timed and unconscionable.

KEVIN EVANS

Freeport, Grand Bahama,

December 9, 2020.