hiphopanonymous
06-10-08, - 09:34 AM
Biminites show support for Bimini Bay:
http://www.thenassauguardian.com/national_local/346648843030930.php
..."By ROGAN M. SMITH, Guardian Senior Reporter, rogan@nasguard.com
More than 300 Bimini residents signed and submitted a petition to Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham yesterday, to demonstrate their full support for the continuance of the controversial Bimini Bay Development, which they claim has been the lifeblood of the Family Island's struggling economy.
Several representatives flew to New Providence yesterday to deliver to petition to the nation's chief by hand.
Several weeks ago, international environmentalist Jean Cousteau called on the government to put a stop to the project's second phase, because in his view, it is damaging the tiny island's environment.
But, spokesman for the group and award-winning historian, Ashley Saunders, said Cousteau and his family "are in no position to pressure the government to discontinue the development" and called on Cousteau to stay out of Biminites' affairs.
Saunders, who has authored two books about Bimini, said he doesn't know the last time Cousteau visited Bimini or conducted scientific work.
He added that he doesn't believe the development is detrimental to Bimini's environment.
"Perhaps it was decades ago. Yet, he wants to stop phase II of the Bimini Bay project, which demonstrates once again the injustices being done to us by the environmentalists who have no real vested interest in the island," he said.
However, Cindy Slater, who produced a film alongside Fabien Cousteau (Jean Cousteau's son), told The Guardian she and her team have been to Bimini three times in the past several months and once to Nassau.
She said her team met with several Bahamas National Trust (BNT) representatives and officials from the BEST Commission.
However, Saunders called Cousteau misinformed about the project. He said the Bimini Bay development is vital to the future of that island and its residents want to see the next phase of the project proceed.
The group also wants negative websites posted by foreign environmental groups taken down because they fear the sites are creating further damage to a struggling economy.
"I respect Jean Cousteau as a marine scientist of world renown and all his many contributions to the scientific world," he said.
"However, because Mr. Cousteau has not done the scientific studies and has not been working in close collaboration with the BEST Commission, or seen the two environmental impact assessment (EIA) reports, this tells me that he is misinformed and does not have all the scientific facts and data to come to any valid conclusion, and consequently is not in a position to pass judgement and pressure the government to stop the second phase of the Bimini Bay project."
Saunders said stringent BEST Commission management practices have been implemented to protect the island and the surrounding environment.
According to him, the natural charm of the island is one of Bimini's greatest assets, and the Bimini Bay developers have designed the project to have a minimal environmental impact during construction and operation phases.
"The full master plan was approved by the Bahamian governments to commence development in 1998. In addition, Bimini Bay Resort took an additional step, spending in excess of $1 million on outside consultation from a variety of experts to ensure an environmentally sensitive development," he said.
"In fact, the Bahamian government and the BEST Commission have made very strong efforts to ensure the island of Bimini and the environment are protected."
Saunders says he wants the foreign environmentalists to take down two negative websites, www.restrictbiminibayresort.org and www.savebimini.org, which he claims are critically damaging Bimini's tourism efforts.
"Stop the negative (press), which is creating a black mark on Bimini's future. Finally, respect protocol, if the international environmentalists have any local concerns, (I ask them to) address those concerns in writing to the chief councilor and administrator," he said.
"The Bimini Bay Project is not about you; it's not about me . . .it is about protecting the future of the children of Bimini."
Saunders says the development project has been widely criticized, but has benefited hundreds of Biminites and helped "tremendously" in boosting the island's local economy.
"The resort has given us 45 computers, musical instruments, two college scholarships, reading and math computer software and prizes for the annual awards ceremony at Bimini All Age School," he said.
"Job creation is another major economic benefit of the resort. In the past, a vast majority of Biminites had to move to Nassau or Freeport to find jobs. To date, the resort has 180 Bahamians employed and 75 more jobs are currently available."
The availability of potable water has always been an issue for the island. Over the years, the island has relied on barge shipments and rainwater cistern and water collections.
Saunders said the Bimini Bay Resort has invested in a reverse osmosis plant that not only supplies water to the development, but also provides potable water to local residents and businesses, making the resort the water supplier for the entire island.
"Also, based on what I have seen with my own eyes and during interviews with local fishermen, it is public knowledge that fish populations are more plentiful and thriving in the bay and surrounding areas of the island," he said.
"There has also been an increase in local fishing tournaments held at the Bimini Bay Resort and larger numbers of fish have been caught compared to previous years."........
http://www.thenassauguardian.com/national_local/346648843030930.php
..."By ROGAN M. SMITH, Guardian Senior Reporter, rogan@nasguard.com
More than 300 Bimini residents signed and submitted a petition to Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham yesterday, to demonstrate their full support for the continuance of the controversial Bimini Bay Development, which they claim has been the lifeblood of the Family Island's struggling economy.
Several representatives flew to New Providence yesterday to deliver to petition to the nation's chief by hand.
Several weeks ago, international environmentalist Jean Cousteau called on the government to put a stop to the project's second phase, because in his view, it is damaging the tiny island's environment.
But, spokesman for the group and award-winning historian, Ashley Saunders, said Cousteau and his family "are in no position to pressure the government to discontinue the development" and called on Cousteau to stay out of Biminites' affairs.
Saunders, who has authored two books about Bimini, said he doesn't know the last time Cousteau visited Bimini or conducted scientific work.
He added that he doesn't believe the development is detrimental to Bimini's environment.
"Perhaps it was decades ago. Yet, he wants to stop phase II of the Bimini Bay project, which demonstrates once again the injustices being done to us by the environmentalists who have no real vested interest in the island," he said.
However, Cindy Slater, who produced a film alongside Fabien Cousteau (Jean Cousteau's son), told The Guardian she and her team have been to Bimini three times in the past several months and once to Nassau.
She said her team met with several Bahamas National Trust (BNT) representatives and officials from the BEST Commission.
However, Saunders called Cousteau misinformed about the project. He said the Bimini Bay development is vital to the future of that island and its residents want to see the next phase of the project proceed.
The group also wants negative websites posted by foreign environmental groups taken down because they fear the sites are creating further damage to a struggling economy.
"I respect Jean Cousteau as a marine scientist of world renown and all his many contributions to the scientific world," he said.
"However, because Mr. Cousteau has not done the scientific studies and has not been working in close collaboration with the BEST Commission, or seen the two environmental impact assessment (EIA) reports, this tells me that he is misinformed and does not have all the scientific facts and data to come to any valid conclusion, and consequently is not in a position to pass judgement and pressure the government to stop the second phase of the Bimini Bay project."
Saunders said stringent BEST Commission management practices have been implemented to protect the island and the surrounding environment.
According to him, the natural charm of the island is one of Bimini's greatest assets, and the Bimini Bay developers have designed the project to have a minimal environmental impact during construction and operation phases.
"The full master plan was approved by the Bahamian governments to commence development in 1998. In addition, Bimini Bay Resort took an additional step, spending in excess of $1 million on outside consultation from a variety of experts to ensure an environmentally sensitive development," he said.
"In fact, the Bahamian government and the BEST Commission have made very strong efforts to ensure the island of Bimini and the environment are protected."
Saunders says he wants the foreign environmentalists to take down two negative websites, www.restrictbiminibayresort.org and www.savebimini.org, which he claims are critically damaging Bimini's tourism efforts.
"Stop the negative (press), which is creating a black mark on Bimini's future. Finally, respect protocol, if the international environmentalists have any local concerns, (I ask them to) address those concerns in writing to the chief councilor and administrator," he said.
"The Bimini Bay Project is not about you; it's not about me . . .it is about protecting the future of the children of Bimini."
Saunders says the development project has been widely criticized, but has benefited hundreds of Biminites and helped "tremendously" in boosting the island's local economy.
"The resort has given us 45 computers, musical instruments, two college scholarships, reading and math computer software and prizes for the annual awards ceremony at Bimini All Age School," he said.
"Job creation is another major economic benefit of the resort. In the past, a vast majority of Biminites had to move to Nassau or Freeport to find jobs. To date, the resort has 180 Bahamians employed and 75 more jobs are currently available."
The availability of potable water has always been an issue for the island. Over the years, the island has relied on barge shipments and rainwater cistern and water collections.
Saunders said the Bimini Bay Resort has invested in a reverse osmosis plant that not only supplies water to the development, but also provides potable water to local residents and businesses, making the resort the water supplier for the entire island.
"Also, based on what I have seen with my own eyes and during interviews with local fishermen, it is public knowledge that fish populations are more plentiful and thriving in the bay and surrounding areas of the island," he said.
"There has also been an increase in local fishing tournaments held at the Bimini Bay Resort and larger numbers of fish have been caught compared to previous years."........