BY CLEMIA NEELY
Journal Staff Writer

Bahamians are still concerned about the amount of debris that is being washed up
on our beaches, especially in the Family Islands, from the explosion of the SpaceX
Rocket, and how this will affect our environment. Michael Pintard, leader of the
Free National Movement aired his concerns on the matter.
“We are very concerned. We’ve asked where’s the Environmental Impact
Assessment? The Prime Minister is spending a massive amount of money traveling
around the world under the guise of representing this region on climate change
matters. He cannot allow himself to be cast as a hypocrite, saying one thing
globally, but locally, he’s not taking care of the proper stewardship of our
environment.” “The Prime Minister has some questions to answer. We share the
Bahamian people’s concern. We need an Environmental Impact Assessment in
advance, and then we need to know completely what they are doing to ensure that
there’s no damage to the marine environment that affects fishers, that affects the
tourism industry, etc.” Pintard said.
However, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Zane Lightbourne, said
that the government is still in communication with SpaceX and will continue to
collaborate with SpaceX in their SpaceX Booster Landing project.
“As far as I’m aware there were no changes in this particular position, but again we
will wait while investigations are continued to be looked at by the experts and the
advisors, then we will go on the advice of the experts in this field.” Minister
Lightbourne stated.
The government revealed that there were approximately 400 pounds of lightweight
silica tiles that were recovered in the vicinity of Ragged Island, and it is being
transported to the U.S. to be discarded. They also reminded the Bahamian people
that the SpaceX explosion has nothing to do with the initial project that the
government as signed with SpaceX.