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BY KEVA
LIGHTBOURNE,GUARDIAN STAFF REPORTER
Nine years after
having received permission for the development of the
Bimini Bay project, the venture is now being hailed as
a possible blueprint for other developments in the
country.
The project has
been laden with a number of financial setbacks and
faced allegations of environmental degradation.
After touring the
site on Thursday, Ambassador for the Environment, Keod
Smith, gave the project the green light to continue
after meeting several environmental requirements
outlined by the Bahamas Environment Science and
Technology (BEST) Commission.
"I feel
comfortable in saying that I am satisfied that the
company has come more in line with compliance than it
was before with the standards that we have set, and we
will be making recommendations that the project
certainly be allowed to continue along that
line," he said.
"And, I am
just hopeful that the environmental management plan
that is to be put in place along with all of the many
other things where they were either undertaken or soft
negotiations with the project proposal that we are
able to certainly see those things come to fruition
and bring a standard of environment protection and
conservation to development, so that we can get closer
to that whole esoteric concept of sustainable
development that we have been focus and trying to
reach for so long," Mr. Smith said.
Project approval
came under FNM government
Geraldo Capo's $100
million, 700-acre Bimini Bay Development project was
approved by the Free National Movement administration
in July 1997.
The terms of a five
years Heads of Agreement specified the construction of
a hotel of not less than 200 rooms, residential
subdivisions, a marina capable of handling more than
150 boats, an 18-hole golf course; a commercial centre,
gourmet restaurants, a boutique, a health spa, a
marine shop, tennis courts, children's play area, and
a 10,000 square-foot casino.
However, as
residents and environmentalists expressed sustained
reservations of over possible degradation to Bimini's
ecology, it was announced that the project had been
significantly reduced.
Phase one
The first phase of
the project will include 350 rental units of which 71
units have been completed, a golf course and casino
and hotel with approximately 600 rooms.
According to Mr.
Capo within the next five to seven years, when the
development is fully completed his dream would have
been realised, as it moves once step closer each day.
"Today I can
tell you that this project is a reality. We went
through hell and high waters. Many times we slowed
down because we were short of money, because we had no
financing. Today this project owes no money, and we
have over $20 million invested in here and I am proud
to say that because I believe in The Bahamas, I
believe in the Government and I believe in
Bahamians," he said.
Working with BEST
Although Mr. Capo
admitted that he was at first reluctant to work with
the BEST Commission, he now realises the good sense in
doing so as the organisation only want what is best
for the country.
"Through
working with the BEST Commission, which in the
beginning I was against, I came to the conclusion at a
very early stage that this is going to be helpful for
us in guidance and it is going to establish certain
systems of parameters for all developers to be able to
follow in other islands as they develop," he
said.
Once fiercely
opposed by residents, The Guardian was told that the
project has become "more acceptable" since
the intervention of the BEST Commission.
In July 2002,
American Professor of Marine Science, Dr. Samuel H.
Gruber alleged that Bimini was under attack by foreign
developers.
He listed the
Bimini Bay project, as being one of three projects, as
being ecologically damaging to the island. There were
reports that dredging for the project had serious
effects on fishing in the area.
At the conclusion
of this development, Mr. Capo's total investment will
exceed $100 million.
He will also be
requiring that residents and tenants of the resort
will contribute to a fund to benefit the environment.
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