EMPOWER THROUGH SOLAR: Small Solar Solutions for Big Problems

Cat Island United equipped the community with relatively low cost solutions for critical energy needs on an island with a limited grid.

  • Direct current (DC) solar systems for residents off the grid

  • Solar powered pumps and drip irrigation systems for water management

  • Solar powered thermal hot water systems to reduce carbon emissions

  • One room solar for disaster recovery


SUNSHINE FARMS: Smart Farms Built by Students and Powered by Nature

With the help of Global Environment Fund (GEF), CIU worked with Old Bight High School and Arthurs Town Comprehensive School to build two school farms. The farms support the science, technology and agriculture academic programs.

  • Sustainable because they capture and store water in tanks for periods of drought.

  • Energy efficient because they use the sun to power the pumps.

  • Water efficient because they collect and store rainwater during the rainy season and deliver the water efficiently through drip irrigation directly to the roots.

COMPOST COOKERS: Giving Back to the Soil

CIU worked with the schools and the community to set up compost cooking sites throughout the island. We equipped the schools with tools and building materials. Local volunteers led building workshops and local restaurants and farms agreed to feed and tend the composters to dig back into the Sunshine Farms and for their own use. Unlike traditional methods of slash and burn, composting has no carbon emissions and is more efficient.

ALUMINUM CAN RECYCLING: The Virtuous Circle of the Life of a Soda Can

CIU has run eight collection depots since 2015 in partnership with the Cape Mail and Cans 4 Kids, Nassau. Cat Islanders take cans to drop off points; Cans are picked up in sugar bags and taken to Smith Bay; the Cape Mail generously carries them on their return trip from Smith By to Potter Cay; Cans 4 Kids collects them from Potter Cay and consolidates with aluminum cans from Nassau and the family islands to be sent to Miami for reprocessing. Cans 4 Kids pays a nominal fee, which covers the local cost of pick up and maintenance.

Cat Island drop off points (north to south): Orange Creek Grocery, Arthur’s Town Comprehensive School; Bennetts Harbor, Yardies’ Food and Gas; New Bight: New Bight Food Market; Old Bight: Favor’s Service Station; Port Howe: AJ’s One Stop Shop

MARINE PROTECTED AREAS: Protecting our Juvenile Marine Life, Corals and Mangrove Creeks

Cat Island is fortunate to have five unspoiled creek systems, home to healthy mangroves, juvenile turtles and fish nurseries, rays, bonefish and off shore coral and turtle grass. In 2020, the Government registered these areas as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and in November 2024 reached a historic debt restructuring to channel resources into protecting these areas. CIU has been working to raise awareness of these areas and look forward to working with the Government to help protect these areas, alongside the local fishermens’ interests.

CAT ISLAND MPAs

  • Orange Creek: (159,724 acres); Orange Creek to Half Moon Bay

  • Alligator Creek (3,627 acres): Cat Island North

  • Fernandez Bay & Joe Sound/Armbrister Creek(24,133 acres),

  • Hawks Nest Creek (18,543 acres),

  • Cutlass Bay Creek (4,257 acres)

  • Columbus Point (28,015 acres).

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