Letters to The Editor
Bimini: A Bahamian Businessman's Perspective
By Lee McCoy
May 21, 2014 - 11:48:48 PM

Dear Editor,

I have been following the situation in Bimini from both perspectives, as a businessman in construction and as a Bahamian who enjoys our beautiful environment.

I believe your actions to be reckless in authorizing such mass devastation to an area the size of Bimini for the profit of a foreign company (and realistically we all know who else is profiting, it's not Bahamians in general but the select few).  

Even based on the EIA and what the public knows, very little has been followed on their recommendations.  What is the point in having an EIA done if you (the government) are going to ignore it and allow the developers to proceed as they want with overriding signatures by government officials?

http://www.best.bs/Webdocs/ North%20Bimini%20Ferry% 20Terminal%20EIA%20041013% 2002.pdf

Now we learn, based off of the last court documents, that the area to be dredged is being expanded with no further impact assessment or concern with the environment in Bimini and the Bahamas?

Similar to how our poor family and education services in the Bahamas (Nassau in particular) have lead to the downfall in society, so too will destroying the spawning and nursery grounds for important fish, sharks, and other species in the ecosystem of the Bahamas.  

One of my largest concerns as a businessman is the impact this project will have when (not if) it fails.  Similar to other developments of this size throughout the Bahamas, the developers have based their investments off of imaginary visitors (if you build it they will come).  This line of thinking has failed throught the Bahamas (Rum Cay, Ginn, South Ocean, the list goes on).  Back in 2002, Bimini-based marine biologist Samuel Gruber, wrote in the Bahamas Journal of Science in 2002: "Vast plans for attracting large numbers of wealthy visitors to Bimini through large and 'appealing' resort complexes have ended in failure time and again. Bimini, like much of the Caribbean region, is littered with failed and uncompleted resort projects."  I can only imagine the widespread devastation to the social, environments, and economical aspects of society when this fails.

Forums for fishing and diving are littering with objections and disappointment. Here are some comments from a thread on a popular boating and fishing forum, The Hull Truth:

"nothing short of tragic." - alacrity
"This is heartbreaking! I had hoped to take my daughter to Bimini this summer so she could see it before they ruined the water and reefs." - Bluerudy
"That's a shame." - Jason5543
"Ever watch the Bahamas Parliament on their TV? They make our idiots look smart...." - Sykes

A simple internet search will show you the world is against this, and everyone understands the devastation except for our government leaders, who do not see that this is NOT in the best interest of the Bahamas.  News articles across the US and the world are making us look like fools.  

I urge you to halt the dredging.  At minimum, you should halt the dredging and ensure all the recommendations of the EIA are followed and not allow the expansion without consideration for the Bahamian people, and not just the pockets of those involved.

Regards,

Lee McCoy
Nassau, Bahamas

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