A Clean Tech Forum for Bahamians

by Larry Smith

At the recent Freedom 2030 renewable energy conference hosted by the Cape Eleuthera Institute, there were calls for a public forum of some kind to exchange news and learn about clean tech opportunities in the Bahamas.

The feeling was that a lot was happening, but little was known about it. Combining efforts and sharing information on a variety of energy, recycling and sustainable development issues might help to move things along at a faster pace.

I proposed a web site to jump start this idea - www.bahamascoforum.com. Posts will be produced and/or edited by yours truly from information provided by the members of this list (which is not exhaustive) and others:

Ginny McKinney - Waste Not Ltd
William Bardelmeier - retired principal of Bardelmeier & Jones
Etoile Pinder - Jones Communications/Dialogue
Richard Coulson - R C Capital
Mary Minzt - Long Island resident
John Hedden - Abaco resident
Anita Knowles - executive director, Abaco Friends of the Environment
Eric Carey - executive director, Bahamas National Trust
Dave Ralph - editor/publisher, the Abaconian
Mike Alexiou - principal architect, Alexiou & Associates
Keith Bishop - principal consultant, Islands by Design
Jack Kenworthy - CEO, Cape Systems Ltd
Jason Hayman - principal, Sail Nassau
Michael Moss - chairman, Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas
Doug Cotton - vice president Haley & Aldrich
Peter Andrews - principal, Bahamas Waste Ltd
Fred Gottlieb - chairman, Bahamas Electrcity Corporation
Frank Comito - executive director, Bahamas Hotel Association
Sam Duncombe - director, ReEarth
Petagay Hartman - Tiamo Resort, Andros
Oscar Spencer - Bahamas office, Inter-American Development Bank
Stuart Ray - Lyford Cay Foundation
Earl McPhee - Bahamas Ministry of Tourism
John Moyell - Clipper Group
Casuarina Mckinney - executive director, BREEF
Neil Sealey - publishing director, Media Enterprises Ltd

Many of these individuals attended the Cape Eleuthera conference. The goal of this electronic forum is to promote sustainable development in the Bahamas by expanding public awareness of issues and opportunities.

At some point, it would be useful to stage public meetings focused on a particular issue or technology, with speakers drawn from the group and its associates. Publicity from this would help with lobbying of the government and civic organisations.

Your feedback is welcome.