Comprehensive marine environment laws necessary

A government senator has described the Maritime and Underwater Heritage Bill 2024 as a significant piece of proposed legislation that will allow Barbados to leverage its marine assets and provide legal coverage of their value.

Senator Dr Shantal Munro-Knight, minister in the Prime Minister’s Office with responsibility for culture, made the point on Wednesday as she led debate in the Upper Chamber on the bill which was approved in the Lower House earlier this month.

She cited Section 91 of the proposed legislation where all persons engaged in many of the tourism-related activities will be required to ensure that they take into account the existing and future economic, social, and environmental impacts of what they are engaged in.

Stressing that the protections within the legislation were “not about tourists” but for Barbados’ integrity, Senator Munro-Knight stated: “The mantra for this government has always been that the first tourist is a local, so that this bill also recognises . . . that this is not only just about tourists who will be able to come and enjoy but also as well recognising that locals also need to be able to enjoy [the marine environment] and therefore, we need to be able to preserve and to protect it.”

According to the government senator: “Those in tourism activities shall make sure that they take into account the marine heritage sector . . . and make sure that they’re promoting responsible marine heritage practices that will minimise marine environmental damage and reduce the carbon footprint.”

The minister underscored the importance of safeguarding the local marine environment given the risks that arise with the passage of various shipping vessels through Barbadian waters.

She noted that with the “potential for damage to occur” she stressed how important it was for Barbados to create the legal framework to address such challenges and the need for there to be “some level of responsibility placed to ensure that we can have the level of sustainability required”. 

(IMC1)