Bahamas National Trust Breaks Ground on Welcome Centre at Moriah Harbour Cay National Park

June 26th, 2026 – EXUMA, BAHAMAS

The Bahamas National Trust (BNT) recently celebrated two major milestones for Moriah Harbour Cay National Park: the groundbreaking of a new Welcome Centre and the successful completion of a Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme(GEF SGP) project that has strengthened stewardship of the marine protected area. 

The Welcome Centre marks an important investment in both the park and the people of Exuma. Once completed, the facility will serve as a hub for visitor services, environmental education, community engagement, and park operations, while showcasing locally inspired products and supporting sustainable tourism. Supported through the GEF-UNEP Full-Size Project, Meeting the Challenge of 2020 in The Bahamas (GEF 2020), implemented by the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP), the project has received its Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC) and will soon move into construction procurement. 

Designed with sustainability in mind, the Welcome Centre, being constructed under the GEF 2020 Project, will incorporate solar power and the rainwater catchment system funded by the GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP). Together, these complementary investments will reduce the facility’s environmental footprint while enhancing its long-term operational resilience and self-sufficiency. 

The ceremony also marked the close-out of the park’s GEF SGP project, implemented in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Through the initiative, the Bahamas National Trust strengthened management of the 22,833-acre park through habitat restoration, invasive species management, improved navigation measures, environmental awareness initiatives, and other conservation efforts. This work helps safeguard a diverse landscape of beaches, coral reefs, mangrove creeks, and seagrass meadows. By protecting these vital habitats, the initiative shields endangered marine life—from sea turtles to sharks—while sustaining the fisheries, tourism, and livelihoods that Exuma depends on. 

Speaking at the event, BNT Executive Director Lakeshia Anderson-Rolle emphasized the importance of collaboration in achieving lasting conservation outcomes. 

“Conservation is not the responsibility of one organization alone,” Anderson-Rolle said. “It succeeds because of communities who care, partners who invest, and individuals who are willing to roll up their sleeves in service of something greater than themselves.” 

The Bahamas National Trust expressed appreciation to the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection, the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme, the United Nations Development Programme, the Moriah Harbour Cay National Park Advisory Committee, and the many staff, volunteers, donors, and community members whose support helped make both projects possible. Special recognition was given to the many donors whose generous contributions during the BNT’s 2023 Pig Roast fundraiser helped advance the Welcome Centre project, including Bob and Jeanne Coughlin ($50,000), Marvin Arrington of Sagoma Construction ($25,000), and former BNT President Geoffrey Andrews and Lynn Andrews ($10,000). 

As construction gets underway, the Welcome Centre stands to become a lasting gathering place for the Exuma community and a launchpad for local guiding, entrepreneurship, and the next generation of conservation leaders, helping ensure that the park remains protected and cherished for years to come.