Water conservation and efficient use of energy.

The Bahamas is home to some of God’s greatest creations; from the beautiful and talented people to the indigenous green life, the kaleidoscopic marine life and the uniqueness of our geographical make up with 700 islands and cays made out of limestone. This island nation continues to grow, expanding opportunities for education, placing a greater emphasis on our natural resources by lowering energy costs, and promoting subsistence farming and fishing initiatives. Our government continues to encourage the general population to become self sufficient by taking on these practices. Despite us being such a small country we are recognized globally for having the clearest waters in the world, holding five percent of the world’s coral, being home to the world’s first land and sea park on Exuma island, and also for having the world’s third longest barrier reef. We are also known for being the place where God lives as we have the most churches in the world per capita. All of these facts in addition to my own experiences as a young woman growing up in this blessed country makes me extremely proud to be a Bahamian and represent all that my country stands for.

Growing up in the Bahamas as the eldest of the two girls of my parents has been a rewarding experience. I was raised on the island of Grand Bahama of the Bahamas but spent most of my holidays on Bimini island and New Providence where my father’s and mother’s families are from respectively. Some of my childhood highlights had been playing with my cousins, going on trips to my family’s farm of fruits, vegetables, goats, ducks, hogs, and especially the chickens, where there was never a dull moment. I always enjoyed singing and was one of the superstars in my family. I enjoyed school, my friends, extra-curricular activities such as: cheerleading, arts and crafts, choir; and sports which included track, basketball and tennis. During this time in my life I had one goal in mind, and that was to go to the Olympics and represent my country in track events.

During my growing years I learned the importance of responsibility. For me it was not merely ensuring that my chores were done, but it was making sure that my younger sister was happy, entertained and focused on her school work. This learned responsibility awakened the leader in me and showed itself from the onset as I have served in many leadership positions throughout the years and still do. I also learned the importance of time management. I believe in not only being on time, but maximizing my opportunities, that is making the most out of every moment that I have because once it has passed I can never regain it. In life every moment counts so from beginning to end, I will give my all.

My most memorable moment was at the beginning of this year, 2012, when I received my Bachelor of Science degree in Tourism Management from The College of the Bahamas. I made up my mind as far as I can recall that I would select a field of study that would allow me to learn more about my country, and would allow me to become a great nation builder. It was important for me to attain this goal from this particular institution as a sign of my loyalty to my country and its development. As a college student, I felt as though the moment of completion would never arrive. This moment of accomplishment will never be forgotten as it has been a dream of mine ever since I was a high school student to know how I could contribute to make my country a better place, socially, environmentally and economically. As tourism is my country’s leading economic sector, choosing to study in this field was the best way that I could demonstrate my patriotism and passion for my country’s growth and advancement. After studying and practicing tirelessly for four years, receiving this validation will remain a moment never to be forgotten.

My environmental advocacy is “Creating a culture of water preservation and conservation”. Coming from a country of many islands surrounded by water it’s easy to take for granted the abundance of this resource, and as a result many persons do not see the necessity in using proper water conservation practices. According to UNESCO, the world today is facing a resource management problem, whereby because of the practices of citizens throughout the world, water resources have been mismanaged. I feel as though one of the first steps in correcting this problem is making the citizens in my country aware of the fact that the survival of this industry is reliant on the value that we place on it, which is reflective in our lifestyles and practices. When water is wasted through leakages or inefficient practices, the effects are not just economic but environmental as well. Air pollution increases as a result of more energy being used to energize water plants through burning fossil fuels. Citizens can in turn be affected by this health- wise and economically as their water bills would reflect their practices. The current abundance of this resource should not be taken for granted, because the effects of inefficient preservation and conservation practices affect entire communities.

In an attempt to promote sustainable energy for all, one tip that I can share is; use energy efficient and energy saving appliances. One example is switching from using incandescent lighting to compact fluorescent lighting. If this is done, we can use less energy despite using our appliances for the same level of function. Many times we use appliances that use lots of electricity, resulting in more fossil fuels having to be burned, leading to increased rates of air and sea pollution. If we would pay closer attention to the types of appliances that we purchase and then limit their usage by turning them off when they are not needed, then we would begin to see a world that is being sustained by good practices, and energy being recycled with less damaging effects. What really matters is not the effects energy transfer, but how our environment and world changes for better or worse.

I believe that I would be the best candidate for this title because I have a strong passion to see excellence embodied in the lives of all young women across the earth. As God’s vessel from which life comes, we have an obligation to nurture and protect the earth and our fellow men. I believe that we should all be held accountable for the state of our earth today, socially as well as environmentally as we have the power to change it, but have not tapped into it as we should. As a contestant from one of the smallest countries in the world I know that the job ahead will not be a walk in the park, but it will take continued effort. With the help of God and the management team of this great organization, I know that I have all that it takes to make a great difference in the earth as I not only posses the physical beauty but the spiritual and intellectual splendor required of a true Miss Earth. I will remain more than ready and able to fulfill the applicable mandate in a spirit of excellence, with the same strength from the day I started.