To all the environmental set out there. Is there a project/development you approve of or are we balls to the wall, screwed? Should we stop everything and start fishing/sponging again?

To all the environmental set out there. Is there a project/development you approve of or are we balls to the wall, screwed? Should we stop everything and start fishing/sponging again?

I am against Bakers Bay on Guana Cay,but the vast majority of Abaconians are in favour of it. If the majority approves,I guess it's a good thing.:)

In my view, some enviromentlism is good. I mean if we could just recycle that would be great. Energy conservation, cleaner energy, those things are doable and can benifit any economy. But all the hesitation to develop this country because some people cannot bear the thought of a construction on a once dormant island is silly to me. It's as if we are expected to live in and off of the bush, while industrialized countries do not even entertain listening to the same people.

I would be againt something for the reason of "giving away" land at large chuncks when Bahamians need to be encouraged to develop.

I mean a population center like Miami did not become that way by levitating over the mangroves they met there.

In my view, some enviromentlism is good. I mean if we could just recycle that would be great. Energy conservation, cleaner energy, those things are doable and can benifit any economy. But all the hesitation to develop this country because some people cannot bear the thought of a construction on a once dormant island is silly to me. It's as if we are expected to live in and off of the bush, while industrialized countries do not even entertain listening to the same people.
I would be againt something for the reason of "giving away" land at large chuncks when Bahamians need to be encouraged to develop.
I mean a population center like Miami did not become that way by levitating over the mangroves they met there.

Chancellor, you have hit the nail on the head! Why is it that these environmentalist are not spearheading something as simple as recycling/littering. These are attainable goals and in my opinion they are putting the cart before the horse. If your populace as a whole has no respect for the environment, what makes you feel they will be worried about something they CANNOT grasp? Look at the way many Bahamians trash their own backyard, you think they will worry about a big developer yukking out a couple mangroves? Think about it!

Chancellor, you have hit the nail on the head! Why is it that these environmentalist are not spearheading something as simple as recycling/littering. These are attainable goals and in my opinion they are putting the cart before the horse. If your populace as a whole has no respect for the environment, what makes you feel they will be worried about something they CANNOT grasp? Look at the way many Bahamians trash their own backyard, you think they will worry about a big developer yukking out a couple mangroves? Think about it!

I am deifinitely not against the development. However, I want the development respect the social, economical and envrionmental aspect. Bimini Bay is a good example of unsustainable development which is being built without the consideration. I hope you guys had a chance to see the Bimini video and hear Biminites speaking about this project. Any development should be in a balance with the exisitng environment.

Anyway I wanted to ask you: is there anything in the Bahamas like a recycling program? Separation of plastic, glass, paper and so on? I am just curious how you deal with this. To be honest I try to recycle everything I can.

I am deifinitely not against the development. However, I want the development respect the social, economical and envrionmental aspect. Bimini Bay is a good example of unsustainable development which is being built without the consideration. I hope you guys had a chance to see the Bimini video and hear Biminites speaking about this project. Any development should be in a balance with the exisitng environment.
Anyway I wanted to ask you: is there anything in the Bahamas like a recycling program? Separation of plastic, glass, paper and so on? I am just curious how you deal with this. To be honest I try to recycle everything I can.

A large part of my business involves recycling,bio-degradeables to be specific.What really goes on in this business would anger the public.

Do you realise that recycling of paper,plastic,cans and glass is much of the time, just a mandated feel good political gesture? When the price of the fore mentioned items is down,there are no buyers for the recycleables and they are redirected into the waste stream to be buried or burned.

So a mandated industry has been created,the public is led to believe it works and seperates it's trash and the above is what really happens.

A large part of my business involves recycling,bio-degradeables to be specific.What really goes on in this business would anger the public.
Do you realise that recycling of paper,plastic,cans and glass is much of the time, just a mandated feel good political gesture? When the price of the fore mentioned items is down,there are no buyers for the recycleables and they are redirected into the waste stream to be buried or burned.
So a mandated industry has been created,the public is led to believe it works and seperates it's trash and the above is what really happens.

I would be grateful if you could tell more about the recycling in the Bahamas. So do you want to say that recycled items are not preferable among the buyers? And what about the waste dump? I just don't want to believe that everything is being burned. Yeah, on samll islands it is probably the only way how to remove the garbage (and that's really terrible) I think that bigger islands with industrial cities should have some waste dump or no? Can you bring a light into it? Thanks

I would be grateful if you could tell more about the recycling in the Bahamas. So do you want to say that recycled items are not preferable among the buyers? And what about the waste dump? I just don't want to believe that everything is being burned. Yeah, on samll islands it is probably the only way how to remove the garbage (and that's really terrible) I think that bigger islands with industrial cities should have some waste dump or no? Can you bring a light into it? Thanks

we have limited recycling in abaco - friends of the environment does a great job with this - can's, scrap metal, copper (watch out for the teifin crackheads) and batteries are the main items

we are trying to get Keep Abaco beautiful going but so many people are pissed off at the gov't for crapping all over us on a regular basis that they don't want to pay out of their pockets more for something the gov't should be doing - if we make 60 million a year on customs revenue why can't we use more of it on our island instead of sending it to nassau?

Garbage is burned everywhere in the bahamas - the gov't has turned down projects to recycle trash to make methane to run the power plants because of their greed for fuel tax dollars

Hoppy Easter

we have limited recycling in abaco - friends of the environment does a great job with this - can's, scrap metal, copper (watch out for the teifin crackheads) and batteries are the main items
we are trying to get Keep Abaco beautiful going but so many people are pissed off at the gov't for crapping all over us on a regular basis that they don't want to pay out of their pockets more for something the gov't should be doing - if we make 60 million a year on customs revenue why can't we use more of it on our island instead of sending it to nassau?
Garbage is burned everywhere in the bahamas - the gov't has turned down projects to recycle trash to make methane to run the power plants because of their greed for fuel tax dollars
Hoppy Easter


Thanks for letting me know. I am really glad that something like "friends of environment" is in Abaco. You're certainly doing a great job over there. The government seems to be a very annoying factor in care of envrionment. They should especially invest money into recycling and garbage issues. I would like to know it this trash which you separated is processed in Abaco or is transport into Nassau. I am wondering how that all work because I would like to start something similar in Bimini Islands. I just can't look at dump area in South Bimini anymore. It really needs to be organized. I would like to hear some ideas.

Expcept of Bimini Bay project and its destructive impacts on the envrionment I am also interested in the garbage issue. What I saw in Bimini inspired me a lot and I even wrote the article about the trashing ans so on. You know everywhere on island is the sign: Keep Bimini clean! but this is being break the whole time. Trashing from the side of Bimini Bay (would you believe that this project is one of the initiator of "stop trashing"), backyards of resident's houses are full of useless items and main channels + beaches are covered with trash as well.

Happy Easter to all of you! :)

To all the environmental set out there. Is there a project/development you approve of or are we balls to the wall, screwed? Should we stop everything and start fishing/sponging again?

I'm not against all developments, I'm just extremely sceptical about most of the developments that have been approved over the last 6 years and don't think the Bahamas has adequate laws and regulations in place to safeguard the environment.

I think it would be good for the country in the longrun if more emphasis was put on eco-tourism and sustainable developments.....not by plunking a huge resort, golf course, casino, and marina on every single tiny family island.

I'm not against all developments, I'm just extremely sceptical about most of the developments that have been approved over the last 6 years and don't think the Bahamas has adequate laws and regulations in place to safeguard the environment.
I think it would be good for the country in the longrun if more emphasis was put on eco-tourism and sustainable developments.....not by plunking a huge resort, golf course, casino, and marina on every single tiny family island.

Well said! I wish there was more people who think as you do! You have such a beautiful country! Tourists and visitors are attracted by the beauty and unique nature not by money, golf course, casinos!! Eco-tourism is the best way how to present the real Bahamas! Golf course or Casino can be found anywhere else on the Earth but such precious ecosystems, environment. I, as a citizen of Slovakia, am truly grateful for every minute spent in your country!

If a MPA in Bimini is implemented, the eco-tourism will be a really great way how to employ natives and at the same time protect the envrionment!

Anyway any answers on my questions above?

I am against Bakers Bay on Guana Cay,but the vast majority of Abaconians are in favour of it. If the majority approves,I guess it's a good thing.

Well, I live in Abaco as well (I assume you do) and I personally know someone who works on the development as a manager. From what I've seen they do everything to prevent Environmental damage, even more so than some locals, who bleach the reefs for crawfish. :confused:

I would like to see more like this:

http://www.tiamoresorts.com/tiamo/resort.cfm

I would like to see more like this:
http://www.tiamoresorts.com/tiamo/resort.cfm

Me too...This is a really nice resort which respects the surround environment and local people as well.

Well, I live in Abaco as well (I assume you do) and I personally know someone who works on the development as a manager. From what I've seen they do everything to prevent Environmental damage, even more so than some locals, who bleach the reefs for crawfish. :confused:

Ow, Do they really do everything to prevent environmental damage? And what about the damages on coral reefs. Siltation from dredging has really devastating effect on the surrounding environment. No doubt, there must be lots of damages on coral reefs and sea grass beds. I think that dredging without protective silt-trapping devices is illegal, isn't it? And I could continue...