National Level Coordination Structure of Agenda 21 Actions

1. Key National Sustainable Development Coordination Mechanism(s)/Council(s). The Bahamas Environment, Science and Technology Commission (BEST) Office of the Prime Minister Contact point (Name, Title, Office): Mrs. Catherine M. Benjamin, Deputy Permanent Secretary Telephone: (809) 327-4691/3 Fax: (809) 327-4626 e-mail: Mailing address: P.O. Box CB-10980, Nassau, The Bahamas Courier: Sir Cecil Wallace Whitfield Centre, Cable Beach, The Bahamas 2. Membership/Composition/Chairperson: Chairman: H.E. Mrs. Lynn P. Holowesko, Ambassador for the Environment. Members: Directors of: Agriculture; Fisheries; Environmental Health Services; Physical Planning; Director General of Tourism; Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance; President, The College of the Bahamas; Senior Hydrologist, Water and Sewerage Corporation; Executive Director, Bahamas National Trust. 2a. List of ministries and agencies involved: Standing Committees of BEST: National Conservation Strategy; National Land Use; Biodiversity Implementation; Biodiversity Data Management; Climate Change; Environmental Safety; Science and Technology; International Obligations. Other agencies involved: Departments of: Lands and Surveys; Meteorology; Public Works; Legal Affairs; Port Department; National Disaster Office; Bahamas Electricity Corporation; Bahamas Telecommunications Corporation; Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation; Geographical Information Systems Unit, Department of Public Works; Department of Archives. 2b. Names of para-statal bodies and institutions involved, as well as participation of academic and private sectors: Quasi-Government: Water and Sewerage Corp.; College of The Bahamas; Academic: College of The Bahamas; Ministry of Education; Private Sector: The Bahamas National Trust - individual citizens and residents. 2c. Names of non-governmental organizations: The BEST Commission is still in the process of formation; therefore, this represents a partial list only: national: The Bahamas National Trust; international: (a) Research Institutions: Bahamian Field Station, San Salvador, The Bahamas (Centre for Archaeological and Biological Studies); Forfar Field Station, Blanket Sound, Andros; Bimini Biological Field Station, Bimini, The Bahamas (University of Miami, Miami, Florida); CMRC Field Station, Lee Stocking Island, George Town, Exuma, The Bahamas (Caribbean Marine Research Centre, West Palm Beach, Florida); Bahamas Environmental Research Centre, Staniel Cay, Andros, The Bahamas (George Mason University, Virginia); (b) Individual Scientist/Researchers: Dr. Allen Bolten, Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research, Department of Wildlife, Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida; Dr. Hardy Eshbaugh, Professor and Curator, Department of Botany, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio; Dr. G. Carleton Ray, Professor, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia; Dr. Alexander Sprunt, Vice Presdient of Research, US Audubon Society; Dr. Katherine Sullivan; The Nature Conservancy, University of Miami, Miami, Florida. 3. Mandate role of above mechanism/council: to coordinate efforts to protect the environment using sustainable development and to advance the use of science and new technology in order to foster a more progressive society. 4. If available, attach a diagram (organization chart) showing national coordination structure and linkages between ministries: N/A. Submitted by (Name): Catherine Benjamin Signature: Signed Title: Deputy Permanent Secretary Date: 28 March 1996 Ministry/Office: Office of the Prime Minister Telephone: (809) 327-4691 Fax: (809) 327-4626 e-mail: