Environment Minister: “Whoever’s Responsible Will Be Punished”

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The story of an illegal charcoal-burning farm operating in bushes off All Saints Way in southwestern New Providence has prompted the Ministry of Environment to take action.

On Monday, they dismantled the entire operation.

Hundreds of feet away from the main road, deep in bushes, piles of dried wood lay stacked and ready to be buried and burned for future processing into charcoal.

The evidence is unmistakable: blackened ground, abandoned charcoal pits, and the stench of ash still linger in the air.

Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Vaughn Miller says, “ We were taking a zero tolerance approach to this and we will be eradicating the site. Oftentimes, people think politicians say things or make promises that they never keep, and I want the residents to know for sure that when I made that promise, I meant that and this is the execution of that.”

The illegal burning has been a pain for residents in the area, who constantly complain of the smoke, especially late in the night and early in the mornings.

To help clear the site, a waste management was called in.

The team will cover and dispose of the remaining charcoal and tree trunks, ensuring that nothing is left behind.

To prevent future illegal operations, the minister says the area will be monitored using drone surveillance and regular site visits.

But many are asking why coal burning is illegal, in response Minister Miller said, “ There are one or two Bahamians who approached me about doing it holistically, and so we will certainly entertain that. Because there’s a demand for this, but it has to be regulated.”