NASSAU, The Bahamas – Minister of National Security the Hon. Wayne Munroe said The Bahamas may not be a nuclear power or retain chemical weapons, but it has still been affected by recent conflicts happening around the world.

“Who would have thought that a conflict halfway around the world could affect the cost of goods and living all over the world,” the National Security Minister said during the Opening Ceremony for the 'Beyond Weapons: The Peaceful Applications of Nuclear and Chemical Sciences for Safety, Security and Sustainable Development' workshop at Atlantis Resort on Wednesday, August 28, 2024.

The purpose of the three-day workshop is to raise awareness of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards, peaceful uses of nuclear science to advance human and environmental health, the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Organisation for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

In addition, the workshop highlights the importance of implementing the highest standard of IAEA safeguards and opportunities to participate in the nuclear and chemical nonproliferation regimes.

In attendance were: MInister of State for the Environment the Hon. Zane Lightbourne; Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jamahl Strachan; the Bahamas Ambassador-at-Large Foreign Affairs Liaison for Environmental & Educational Matters, Ron Pinder; Assistant Deputy Administrator for the Office of Nonproliferation and Arms Control, US Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration, Richard Goorevich; and Director, Division for Latin America and the Caribbean, Technical Cooperation Department, IAEA, Dr. Luis Longoria.

The workshop is designed for Bahamian government Ministers, Parliamentarians, policymakers, diplomats, as well as both public and private officials.

Minister of State Lightbourne said The Bahamas is committed to protecting its territory and people from the uses of unregulated chemicals.  “To show our commitment, The Bahamas is now in its final stages of drafting legislation on Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety 2024.  That Bill and the Chemical Weapons Prohibition Bill will be rolled out hopefully this year.”

He noted that in the absence of legislation however, The Bahamas has commenced its inventory of chemical and nuclear and radioactive sources.

The Minister of State said, additionally, the country has implemented a permitting system to control the import and export of radioactive material, and has established programs of regular checks, inspections and verifications of facilities that store or use radioactive sources.

Parliamentary Secretary Strachan said the workshop is an important element of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' policy agenda.

He noted the workshop will serve as an important forum for the strengthening of technical cooperation activities in relation to chemical and nuclear security as well as radiation safety and safeguards.

The Parliamentary Secretary explained that The Bahamas should have an interest in nuclear power because the country is a transshipment hub and is also a recipient of healthcare machinery that utilises nuclear energy.

Plus, he said the workshop attendees should also go beyond and find out how the technology can be useful to the country in producing crops and products that can withstand climate change.