NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Crew members aboard global environmental organization Greenpeace’s iconic Rainbow Warrior recently lent their support to anti-oil drilling efforts in The Bahamas.
The crew members held up a large sign in front of the Stena IceMAX drillship before it left port from the Canary Islands on Tuesday.
Bahamas Petroleum Company (BPC) is using Stena Drilling’s drillship Stena IceMAX to spud its first well Preservation #1 some 90 miles west of Andros.
As of yesterday, the vessel was near West Africa and expected to reach Grand Bahama by December 13.
Last week, the Bahamas National Trust (BNT) doubled down on its stance against oil drilling in the country, pointing to the growing number of Bahamians opposed to the proposed oil exploration and the creation of an oil industry.
Rashema Ingraham, executive director of Waterkeeper Bahamas and member of the steering committee for Our Islands, Our Future, said: “We would like to thank both Greenpeace and the Bahamas National Trust for joining the effort to prevent oil drilling in The Bahamas.
“Greenpeace is a renowned global advocate for the environment and we are extremely appreciative of the crew of their flagship vessel, the Rainbow Warrior, going out to protest the Bahamas-bound IceMAX drillship in the Canary Islands last week, just before it set sail for The Bahamas.
“We’re also extremely thankful to the Bahamas National Trust, a bedrock national institution that has safeguarded our natural heritage for decades, for stating unequivocally that it opposes oil drilling in The Bahamas.”
Ingraham continued: “These two key strategic organizations join more than 130 others who have come together in the name of protecting the unique ecological character of these islands. Hundreds of businesses, organizations and individuals are supporting this movement and more than 45,000 people have signed our petition.
“We once again urge the government to protect and preserve our incomparable natural heritage for the benefit of future generations and the many thousands of Bahamians who have found employment on or around our waters.”
