Captain Tellis Bethel Sr., author of ‘The Lucayan Sea: Birthplace of The Modern Americas’, says telling the important story of The Bahamas is one of 21 reasons to name the waters surrounding the country The Lucayan Sea.

“What better way to tell our story than to start with naming the waters that make this country the majestic archipelagic nation it is?” asked Capt. Bethel, acting commander of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force.

Capt. Bethel was addressing the men and women whose livelihood and passion depend on the waters of The Bahamas, operators of the many marinas that welcome local and visiting vessels,at the recent meeting of the Association of Bahamas Marinas. The Caribbean Sea, noted Capt. Bethel, is named after the Carib Indians.

“So why not give the waters immediately surrounding our islands a name that embodies our history, reclaims our heritage, and honours the people who first inhabited our islands? The Lucayan Sea is a perfect fit.”

The idea of giving the unnamed waters an identity is gaining momentum, according to a press release issued on behalf of Capt. Bethel, and it has already been endorsed by legendary sailor Sir Durward ‘Sea Wolf’ Knowles, who with the late Cecil Cooke brought home the country’s first Olympic gold medal in 1964.

The Rotary Clubs of The Bahamas have also endorsed the concept and hundreds have signed a Change.org petition calling for naming the waters The Lucayan Sea.

Capt. Bethel told the marina operators and associate members gathered in front of Bay Street Marina in Nassau that having patrolled the waters for years, he has always been troubled by the country not having an identity of its own but simply being part of the vast Atlantic Ocean.

“The name ‘Lucayan Sea’ provides a distinct identity for our waters that are within the Atlantic Ocean,” said Capt. Bethel. “It represents the historic significance of the Bahamas as the birthplace of the modern Americas. It was on our shores that the historic arrival of Christopher Columbus occurred on October 12, 1492; welcomed by the Lucayans, this meeting of the Old and New Worlds led to the unfolding of the nations of the modern Americas.”

Giving the waters an identity of their own, he said, will not affect already named bodies of water.

“We are not proposing to change the names of smaller bodies that currently exist,” said Capt. Bethel. “Exuma Sound, Great Bahama Bank, Nassau Harbour, Moriah Harbour, all those familiar names will remain exactly as they are. We are talking about the territorial sea that deserves an identity of its own.

“The name ‘Lucayan Sea’ provides us with a historic mouthpiece through which we can tell our story. Perhaps this is why there is an underwater canyon in the midst of The Bahamas called the ‘Tongue of the Ocean.’ The purpose of this tongue is to tell our story. Let’s tell our story.”

With more than 40 attending the meeting showing enthusiasm for the proposed name, Capt. Bethel presented copies of the book to Deputy Director of Tourism Ellison ‘Tommy’ Thompson and to Association of Bahamas Marinas President Stephen Kappeler, Treasure Cay Resort & Marina, Abaco. The association’s Executive Director Bob Bower, who invited the acting commander, said a formal vote would come later.

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