Christine Duffy, President CARNIVAL Cruise Line.
By EARYEL BOWLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
Christine Duffy, President of CARNIVAL Cruise Line, says that compliance and care for the planet are the top priorities of the corporation.
Her comment yesterday was a reply to The Tribune concerning reports from a local paper about the possibility of sanctions or other penalties against Carnival Cruise Line.
A US court ordered report released in 2019 showed that the company dumped over 8,000 gallons worth of food waste in Bahamian water in 2017.
The Ministry of Transport and Local Government stated previously that it found the allegations alarming and that the Port Department and Bahamas Maritime Authority would investigate. However, the outcome has not been made public.
Yesterday, a Carnival official was asked by this newspaper if Carnival accepts sanctions and what they would do to improve the company’s image. Ms Duffy replied that Carnival is taking steps to protect the environment.
Carnival Corporation is committed. Ms Duffy said that compliance and care for our environment are our top priorities. The work we are doing, the investment that we are making in order to ensure that our company can operate sustainably, such as the investment on our newest ships equipped with LNG technology, and any lessons learned have been incorporated into our commitments. This is a top priority for the entire corporation.
Recently, Jobeth Coleby Davis, Transport Minister, spoke to the media about the government’s investigation into Carnivals dumping of its cargo in Bahamian waters.
I was informed that the investigation had been handed over to the DEPP (Department of Environmental Planning and Protection). This report will contain the environmental section. They will then be able to determine the sanctions that would be placed on Carnival. Mrs Coleby-Davis stated that.
So, the DEPP and the Office of the Attorney General are now in discussion to determine the penalties for Carnival. So my office did the investigation alongside them because it falls under their jurisdiction when it comes to such incidents. But, as it relates the environmental portion of the penalty and the penalties, that would be to the DEPP.
