The Bahamas Environment, Science and Technology (BEST) Commission, Ministry of the Environment and Housing, facilitated a Biodiversity - Law Enforcement Workshop in relation to the implementation of the project entitled: "Strengthening Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) in The Bahamas," January 23-24, 2020, at SuperClubs Breezes.

According to BEST Commission, the participants of this workshop included agencies whose respective mandates have bearing on environmental law enforcement, namely, Department of Customs, Department of Immigration, Royal Bahamas Defence Force, Royal Bahamas Police Force, Office of the Attorney General, and the Department of Marine Resources.

Moreover, the Commission pointed out, focal persons from those agencies comprise a team that will carry on their respective mandates with respect to the implementation of the ABS project and harmonize with the ongoing initiatives of other enforcement authorities.

The BEST Commission, through implementation of the ABS Project, will introduce a new concept of collaboration, especially in areas of conservation and protection," it stated in a release. "A collective effort and collaborative actions are needed in order to foster functional and effective law enforcement undertakings."

The goal of the Law Enforcement workshop was to influence law enforcement authorities in enforcing environmental laws and regulations as an important element in protecting and reducing environmental hazards, more importantly in the conservation of Bahamian Genetic Resources. "The above-cited goal will contribute not only to the development and passage of an ABS national policy framework but an establishment of an ABS Biodiversity Intelligence checkpoint," the Commission stated. "It will be guided by a single aspiration, with harmonized and collaborative action, of protecting and conserving the genetic resources of The Bahamas."

 

(BIS Photos / Eric Rose)