The Antiquities, Monuments and Museum (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which will allow the government to receive a 50 percent share of artifacts recovered from Bahamian waters, was passed in the House yesterday.

It received bipartisan support.

Prime Minister Philip Davis who led debate on the bill, said it is necessary to protect "our patrimony".

The bill will regulate and update the law relating to the recovery of underwater cultural heritage in The Bahamas.

"We're making sure that any recovered artifacts are equally shared between the government and the licensee," Davis said.

"Plus, we're defining a maximum period for each type of license that can be granted. Fair's fair, right?

"Before I wrap up, there's a lot more that I want to bring to the forefront. Our underwater cultural heritage isn't a static entity. It's dynamic, ever-changing, much like our nation itself. The stories it tells aren't just of the past, they reflect on our present and guide us towards the future.

"We're living in a time of rapid change where the new often overshadows the old. But we cannot afford to forget our roots, our heritage, because that's what makes us who we are. Our culture, our history, they're not just elements of textbooks or museum exhibits. They're alive, they breathe through our traditions, our values, our way of life. And it's our collective responsibility to keep them alive and thriving."

The amendment comes after Allen Exploration - a company involved in the exploration of sunken treasure ships in Bahamian waters - discovered priceless treasure from the wreck of Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de las Maravillas (Our Lady of Wonders), which sank sometime in the 1600s off the Little Bahama Bank, just miles from Grand Bahama.

Carl Allen, the man behind Allen Exploration, plans to keep the treasures found from the wreck in The Bahamas where it will be displayed in a museum on Grand Bahama.

Davis said, "This bill is our way of saying, 'We value our roots. We honor our past. We will protect our patrimony.'

"You see, our underwater cultural heritage isn't just ours; it holds significance for the whole world. It's like a beautiful story that transcends boundaries and time. And it's our duty to protect and manage it, to make sure this story never gets lost. That's where this bill comes into play.

"It's our tool to establish firm government control over this invaluable heritage. We are the largest Atlantic world archipelago and our waters hold an amazing and vast treasure trove envied by the world.

"To do this effectively, we need to step up our game. We need to train our people better and more efficiently. We need to make sure that when someone dives into the depths to recover our heritage, they know exactly what they're doing. We need new regulations to ensure that our treasure is not pirated or removed without proper law enforcement mechanisms in place for recovery and preservation."

Davis said the government wants to ensure efficient business for those who meet industry standards for recovering treasure while also safeguarding and conserving heritage assets for Bahamians.

"Bahamians want a fair share in the industry, too, and this amendment will do just that," he said.

"We've revised the licensing fees to speed up the review process and ensure we're keeping a close eye on recovery and conservation efforts.

"Madam Speaker, we're not stopping there. We're strengthening our archaeology section by bringing in three new scientists who will be specially trained for this task. Our team will go through specialized training in underwater archaeology, scuba diving, and conservation. We're making sure that when it comes to preserving our heritage, we've got the best hands on deck.

"And we're excited to announce that we're setting up a conservation lab dedicated to preserving the government's share of recovered artifacts. This is our commitment to safeguarding our treasures."

Under the bill, any recovered artifacts will be shared between the government and the licensee, with each to receive 50 percent and the government to have first preference in selecting its share of the recovered artifacts.

In its current form, the Antiquities, Monuments and Museum Act allows for a 75/25 sharing of proceeds from treasures found in Bahamian territory.

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