By FAY SIMMONS
TRIBUNE Business Reporter
jsimmons@tribunemedia.net
A BAHAMIAN environmental activist blasted the Government for allowing a new SpaceX Falcon 9 booster rocket landing that went ahead yesterday, arguing it showed “total disregard and disrespect for the inhabitants of The Bahamas”.
Joseph Darville, head of Save the Bays and Waterkeepers Bahamas, said he was “extremely disturbed” that the operation proceeded after the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP) recently signalled that no further Falcon 9 booster landings would take place in Bahamian waters and the programme had come to an end.
“I am so disappointed that this is allowed to happen in our territory, because I haven't seen any compensation to the Bahamian people with respect for any potential damage done or destruction happening within our territory,” he said.
SpaceX launched its Bandwagon-5 rideshare mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Tuesday morning, carrying 32 payloads into orbit. The launch had originally been scheduled for Monday but was postponed because of poor weather in the booster recovery zone.
The Civil Aviation Authority Bahamas (CAAB) issued an advisory on Sunday warning that a Falcon 9 booster landing was planned within The Bahamas’ exclusive economic zone, with residents and visitors on the eastern side of Abaco and North Eleuthera potentially able to see the operation or hear sonic booms.
The announcement prompted questions about the status of the SpaceX partnership, following reports last month that the company had formally ended its Falcon 9 landing programme in The Bahamas after two touchdowns.
Mr Darville said the latest development left him questioning why Bahamians had been given the impression that the programme was over, only for another operation to be announced. “Where is the respect for the people? Where is the regard for our little bit of territory?” he asked.
He argued that The Bahamas could not afford to take risks with its marine environment, given the country’s limited land area and dependence on its surrounding waters.
“We, because of the significance of our ocean and a little bit of land that we have, we cannot run any risk of having any sort of drastic, tragic thing happening and blowing up in our waters,” said Mr Darville.
He also questioned whether Bahamians had been adequately informed about the latest operation and argued that the public should have a say in whether such activities are permitted.
“I completely do not support such a thing happening unless there was a referendum of the Bahamian people,” he said.
Mr Darville said he believes the Government should not allow further operations without the public being made aware of the arrangements and given an opportunity to express its position.
He said he hoped DEPP would explain what had been agreed with SpaceX, and why the latest operation had been announced after the earlier indication that the programme had ended.