Freeport, Bahamas – Waterkeepers Bahamas proudly represented the Our Islands, Our Future (OIOF) Campaign and The Bahamas at the second Fossil-Free Wider Caribbean meeting, held in the Dominican Republic from August 28-30, 2024. This gathering, a continuation of the initiative that began in September 2022 in Cartagena, Colombia, brought together key environmental organizations from across the Caribbean and Latin America in a unified effort to combat the expansion of fossil fuel industries.
Participants included representatives from Belize, Colombia, Guyana, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Suriname, and St. Lucia. During the three-day meeting, discussions focused on strategies and actions to protect our shared environment and promote sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels.
Waterkeepers Bahamas, representing OIOF, highlighted the urgent need to safeguard Bahamian waters from the threat of oil drilling. Executive Director Andurah Daxon emphasized, “The Bahamas is at a pivotal moment. We have a unique opportunity to set a global example by permanently banning oil drilling in our waters. Our participation in this initiative reflects our deep commitment to protecting our natural resources and advocating for a sustainable, fossil-free future. We are honoured to stand alongside our regional partners in this crucial fight.”
At the meeting, OIOF representative Taylor Ferguson presented the campaign’s achievements to date, including the pathway document for a fossil-free future that was also given to Bahamas Prime Minister Philip Davis. The pathway document outlines steps to ban oil drilling in Bahamian waters permanently and has been a cornerstone of OIOF’s efforts. “Our work at the Fossil-Free Wider Caribbean meeting was important in uniting voices across the region to protect our waters and our future. The progress we’ve made in The Bahamas, particularly with the pathway document, is a testament to what we can achieve when we come together with a shared purpose. We’re proud to be part of this regional movement that prioritizes clean energy and environmental preservation for future generations.”
The meeting, organized by the Quantum Foundation, strengthened collaboration between member organizations and English-speaking Caribbean nations, including The Bahamas, participated for the first time. Carolina Sánchez Naranjo of Quantum Leap in Costa Rica, the initiative’s organizer, commented, “The addition of The Bahamas to the Fossil-Free Wider Caribbean initiative is of great importance since it enhances our collective voice. Together, we are working towards a Caribbean Sea free from fossil fuels, transitioning fairly to a clean and renewable future and mitigating the devastating impacts of climate change.”
Waterkeepers Bahamas, through OIOF, remains dedicated to securing a fossil-free future for The Bahamas, continuing to lobby the government for a permanent ban on oil drilling in Bahamian waters.