NASSAU, The Bahamas -- Continuing their efforts for massive cleanup of The Bahamas, Environment and Natural Resources Minister, Hon. Vaughn P. Miller and State Minister for the Environment, Hon. Zane Lightbourne, visited the islands of Bimini and Great Harbour Cay, Berry Islands, Friday, April 5, 2024.

The delegation included David Davis, Permanent Secretary; Rhianna Neely-Murphy, PhD, Director, Department of Environmental Planning and Protection; Dwight Allen, Assistant Director, Department of Environmental Health Services; and Keno Cambridge, MENR Consultant.

During the visit the Ministers met with island administrators who informed them about the processes and actions necessary to manage waste from its inception to disposal, including solids, liquids and gases.

They advised the officials and residents that the islands would benefit greatly through monitoring and regulation of the waste.

Minister Miller noted that poor waste management poses a threat not only to the environment, but also to human health, and this is why the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources is committed to cleaning up the country and sustaining it.

6257: (L-R) The Hon. Vaughn P. Miller, Environment and Natural Resources Minister; Rhianna Neely-Murphy, PhD, Director, Department of Environmental Planning and Protection-DEPP; Keno Cambridge, MENR Consultant; Mr. Gray, MENR; Dwight Allen, Assistant Director, DEHS; David Davis, Permanent Secretary; the Hon. Zane Lightbourne, State Minister for the Environment and Bimini Island Administrator.

6441 (L-R) Superintendent Alfred Dean; Great Harbour Cay, the Berry Islands; Administrator Deidre Bethel-Fox; the Hon. Vaughn P. Miller, Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources; the Hon. Zane Lightbourne, Minister of State for the Environment; David Davis, Permanent Secretary, MENR and Rhianna Neely-Murphy, PhD, Director, DEPP.

Deidre Bethel-Fox, Administrator for Great Harbour Cay, the Berry Islands, welcomes the Hon. Vaughn P. Miller, Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources, the Hon. Zane Lightbourne, State Minister for the Environment and Natural Resources and government officials.

(L-R) DEHS Office Manager; Bimini Island Administrator; Dwight Allen, Assistant Director; Department of Environmental Health Services; Keno Cambridge, MENR Consultant; Rhianna Neely-Murphy, PhD, Director, Department of Environmental Planning and Protection -DEPP; David Davis, Permanent Secretary; the Hon. Vaughn P. Miller, Environment and Natural Resources Minister and the Hon. Zane Lightbourne, State Minister for the Environment.

The Hon. Vaughn Miller, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources and the Hon. Zane Lightbourne, State Minister for the Environment and Natural Resources are pictured in discussions with Bimini Island Administrator about how business owners manage their waste areas.

The Hon. Vaughn P. Miller, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources; State Minister the Hon. Zane Lightbourne, Island Administrator Deidre Bethel-Fox and other government officials assess the waste site in Great Harbour Cay, the Berry Islands.

The Hon. Zane Lightbourne, State Minister for the Environment and Natural Resources, the Hon. Vaughn Miller, the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources and staff of the Department of Environmental Health Services, participate in a briefing on arrival at the Department of Environmental Health Services, Bimini.

(Photos/Samantha Black, Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources)