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With all of the
recent and proposed developments being planned
throughout The Bahamas, a major concern has been what
will be the effects of these projects on the
environment and the ecosystem.
For example, in New
Providence where there have been many large-scale
developments, certain members of the public have been
complaining of an increase in flooding, and the
negative effects progress has had on the surrounding
flora and fauna.
So it is positive
news to discover that while the Bimini
Bay Project will move ahead, there has been
some scaling down in the number of housing units,
condominiums, and hotel rooms to make the venture more
environmentally friendly to the fragile marine and
ecological habitats of North Bimini.
Also of equal
importance are the wetlands, which provide invaluable
habitat for fish and wildlife, improve water quality,
protect urban and agricultural areas from flooding,
and serve many other vital functions. The destruction
of the wetlands due to urban encroachment or resort
developing will do more harm than good.
Just think of the
millions that would be lost in the lucrative fishing
industry or the amount of money that would be spent to
fix the damage caused by an increase in flooding.
While no one can
dispute the importance of such developments to the
economy as well as to the pockets of Bahamians,
environmental assessments still have to be taken to
avoid the effects of large developments becoming
negative rather than being positive.
No one should
forget that tourists and Bahamians alike enjoy the
horticultural beauty of the islands as well as the
magnificence of the gorgeous beaches. If these are
destroyed to attain more money, then all the
investments made, will be in vain.
As a result, the
government and the Bahamas Environment Science and
Technology (BEST) Commission on behalf of the Bahamian
public will have to continue to question, analyse and
study the potential benefits and concerns posed by
each new venture. Those in particular that have the
real potential to be disastrous on the ecology of the
nation if something goes wrong (like LNG) must be
studied more in-depth than others, and no one should
try and force such scrutiny to be done on a rushed
basis.
It is still better
to be safe rather than sorry.
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