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Renewed call for
intervention comes in face of further Bimini Bay
encroachment
By Raymond
Kongwa,Guardian Staff Reporter
Once ratified it is
expected that a proposed national policy on wetlands
will serve as an additional means for protecting the
most valuable of the these ecosystems from destruction
due to residential and resort development.
However, some
Bahamians feel the process may have come too late for
Bimini's North Sound.
For example,
concerns that wetlands in and around Bimini's North
Sound may be facing destruction has been resurrected
as the public becomes more involved in the
consultative process for the national wetland policy.
The controversial Bimini Bay development, which has
already encroached on much of this areas prime
wetlands and fishing waters now appears to headed
toward the mangroves at the eastern side of the North
Sound.
Although some
environmentalists have been criticised for seeking
protection of too many areas and by so doing slowing
potential development and resulting economic
opportunities, the mangroves of the North Sound have
special meaning. They are regarded as the place where
Dr Martin Luther King, the late American civil right
martyr, wrote some of his historic speeches.
Additionally, a
spring known as the "healing hole", which
reportedly attracts many international visitors
because of the healing properties believed to be
contained within, is also reportedly in the path of
this expansion. An electronic letter recently sent to
The Guardian by a "concerned citizen"
following a trip to Bimini, called for the government
to reevaluate the circumstances surrounding its Heads
of Agreement with the developers of Bimini Bay.
It was also stated
in the letter that dredging had led to the demise of
the area as a snorkeling ground, as poorly installed
siltation curtains had been made visibility poor.
Bonefishing has also reportedly been affected in the
North Sound.
"On pervious
trips to Bimini I have had the opportunity to have
bone fish guides take me in the North Sound. On this
trip, I was made to understand that due to the
development, the North Sound which was their primary
bonefishing area is now only used if there is bad
weather" the letter reads.
"I am afraid
Bimini will be "remembered" as the
sportsfishing and capital of The Bahamas" the
writer adds. "If caution isn't taken, and the
environment is altered severely then sportsfishing and
bonefishing industries of Bimini will be a memory not
only to the locals, but to The Bahamas and the many
persons who have been coming to Bimini over the
decades."
When asked if
important wetlands slated for destruction or
encroachment, like Bimini's North Sound, would be
protected by the wetland policy, Minister of Health
Marcus Bethel answered in the negative.
"Legislation
is generally not retroactive, so that if an individual
already has approvals and contracts and permits all in
place for his development, the government of the day
is obligated to respect that or face the necessary
consequences of revoking, when an investor says: 'I've
already spent XYZ to get it together'."
The Minister said
"as opposed to going back and telling the fellow
he's got to pull down his whole investment because it
happens to be on wetlands, when he got permission to
build on 10, 20 years ago" a legislative
framework will be forward moving.
The wetlands policy
consultative process which is being carried out under
a grant of the Ramsar Convention began in Abaco
Thursday and will continue in other islands over the
next five weeks.
After a series of
evaluation and re-evaluation exercises in September a
final draft of the legislation will be submitted to
cabinet for final approval. However, despite the
importance of Bimini's wetlands, that community has
not been slated for consultation meetings.
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