NASSAU, Bahamas -- Six leading international environmentalists are in The Bahamas today to witness firsthand the state of marine life in a country known for the beauty of its turquoise seas. United by their desire to preserve and protect the Bahamian environment, the group includes, among others, the recipient of a U.S. presidential award for environmental conservation and prominent scientists committed to the survival of sea turtles.
Hosting the group is Save The Bays, a growing environmental movement comprised of Bahamian and international members dedicated to protecting the Bahamian environment through proactive policy change, education, legal action and advocacy. Save The Bays aims to unite stakeholders and combat the environmental threats currently jeopardizing the nation's unique marine environment.
"Having such experienced and committed conservationists survey the various threats to our marine environments points to the increased international attention that is being focused on The Bahamas," said Save The Bays CEO Lindsey McCoy. "These international conservationists recognize the critical importance of safeguarding the Bahamian environment, and we are honored they are taking the time out of their busy schedules to share their perspectives and expertise on how to protect our magnificent resources."
Many of the attendees are members of the Waterkeeper Alliance, a global movement of 220 local "Keepers" that fight to stop polluters, protect their chosen waterways and champion clean water as a fundamental human right. The delegation includes Rachel Silverstein, Biscayne Bay Waterkeeper, Gabrielle Parent-Doliner, swim guides affiliate at Lake Ontario Waterkeeper, Archie Carr, who works for the Sea Turtle Conservancy, and Marydele Donnelly, also of the Sea Turtle Conservancy, Sharon Khan, Waterkeeper Alliance International Director, and Alex Matthiessen, former CEO and President of Hudson Riverkeeper, the original "Waterkeeper" and New York's leading clean water advocate.
As a special assistant at the U.S. Department of the Interior, Matthiessen received a Presidential Award for his work using America's national parks to showcase, for millions of visitors each year, the home-scale application of renewable energy and energy efficiency. In addition to McCoy, local Save The Bays participants include directors Joseph Darville and Fred Smith, QC.

OFFICIALS expect to raise less money to host next year's first Bahamian carnival than they had hoped, with Bahamas National Festival Commission chairman Paul Major saying yesterday that without sufficient private sector sponsorship, the government will have to put up the lion's share of the investment in the festival.

ENVIRONMENT Minister Kenred Dorsett says the government is investigating whether a shanty town off of the Sir Milo Butler Highway in New Providence is built on privately-owned land or land belonging to the government.

Explosive caps were planted on the Mayaguana airport runway and discovered by officials on Sunday before any major damage could be done, MICAL Member of Parliament V. Alfred Gray revealed yesterday. The matter has now been turned over to the Royal Bahamas Police Force, Transport and Aviation Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin said.
Hanna-Martin and Gray addressed the matter in the House of Assembly yesterday morning.
Gray said there could have been a very serious accident had the explosives not been discovered in time.
"I don't want to make light of this because the people of Mayaguana have been through a lot over that last two days," he said.
"Somebody put explosive caps on the runway and thanks to the good fortune of the people, who do these things, they found out in time and an accident was averted."
In an interview with The Nassau Guardian following the suspension of the House of Assembly, Hanna-Martin also underscored the seriousness of the matter.
"Any interference with civil aviation that impacts travel from point to point, whether it's [national] or international, is a very serious matter," she said.
Asked for additional details on the discovery, she said she received a report from the island administrator.
"Our information is that there was some interference on the runway," she said.
"The police were immediately called in and we are waiting on a report from them."
Assistant Commissioner of Police Anthony Ferguson said the investigation is still open.
He said a team of officers from New Providence and an official from the Department of Civil Aviation flew to Mayaguana on Monday.
"There they discovered minor damage on the runway," Ferguson said.
"There was a small hole on the runway and officers also discovered some wires near that hole. Some of the portable runway lights were also moved to the middle of the runway."
Ferguson said police have questioned several people but have not identified a suspect.
He said the damage would not impact travel on the island.
Gray admonished the people of Mayaguana to learn to settle their differences without violence.
"But I want the people of Mayaguana to hear me," he said, noting that he was speaking in general and not to the specific incident.
"Do not ever take the law into your own hands no matter how angry you are and no matter what the circumstances are.
"...I want Mayaguana people to know that there is a better way. We cannot afford for them to get angry for whatever reason and try to endanger the lives of other people.
"It's very serious and we don't want people to take the law into their own hands."
The discovery of the explosives came three months after the government reopened the airport on Mayaguana to commercial carriers.
Work began on the airport's runway shortly after the mother, sister and brother-in-law of former Cabinet Minister Sidney Collie were killed when a LeAir plane crashed into their truck on the runway at the airport in April 2013.
Prime Minister Perry Christie unveiled a new 6,700-foot (2,042-meter) runway in April 2014 and promised to renovate the terminal building by August.