back to Environment - Bimini, Bahamas

Dear All,

This is just in from Doc Gruber.  As Doc indicates, at the time he sent this note to Keod Smith, Keod agreed that Bimini Bay was a travesty.  Now Keod not only endorses the project but has been bad mouthing Doc and making false accusations against the Shark Lab.  Also on the contact list is Livingston Marshall who also promised Doc support and then turned around and stabbed him as well.  This 180 degree shift happened all at once and demonstrates clearly that "something" happened within the PLP government.  Only outside pressure through exposés in newspapers, travel and trade magazines will undo this.

Bill

----- Original Message -----

From: S. Gruber

To: Sam Duncombe

Cc: Bill Parks

Sent: Wednesday, March 02, 2005 12:11 PM

Subject: Fw: Bimini Bay: May we meet in June?

Here is what I have from Keod Smith.  It is hardly a smoking gun.  My private conversations with him were clear--Bimini Bay will go forward over his dead body!  I guess he is dead?!

----- Original Message -----

From: Samuel H. Gruber

To: keod smith

Cc: Teresa Butler ; Colin Lightbourn BNT ; Pericles A. Maillis ; Livingston Marshall ; Sir Nicholas Nuttall ; Otis Brown

Sent: Thursday, May 06, 2004 10:57 PM

Subject: Re: Bimini Bay: May we meet in June?

Hello Keod!  I am so pleased to hear from you!!  Again, I regret not having a chance to meet with you in Nassau before the recent Trust Council deliberations. 

I would like to make clear that from the start I was not against the Bimini Bay development per se but rather the way Capo had planned to develop the property.  I met with Gerardo in 1997 and pleaded with him to retain the amazing, pristine nature of his property and use it as a selling point.  He dismissed all my suggestions and said that he would do just what he wanted--which included significant dredging, removal of all the mangroves in the North Sound and construction of a major golf course.

Specifically my concerns are about Capo’s future plans for phases 2-5.  The implementation of a major golf course combined with removal of the mangroves and major dredging will render the North Sound nursery sterile and heavily impact the entire lagoon and fringing reefs. 

It appears that Capo and ATM believe that predictions based on scientific evidence and a long history of past environmental observations simply does not apply to Bimini.  The link between biological production and mangrove nurseries is well known.  Simply stated, without mangroves and accompanying sea grass beds there will be no replenishment of finfish and shellfish stocks.  Further, the relation between nutrient runoff and the ruination of reefs is also well known.  Thus with the implementation of a major golf course, the need to constantly fertilize and water will create runoff which will favor the production of marine algae and this will negatively impact the fringing reefs. 

Additionally the need to dredge for fill to raise the land on which the golf course is based will put the finishing touches on what could be considered the least possible sustainable development imaginable.

In conclusion, I do not think it is equitable to trade the life-sustaining North Sound nursery with its sustainable marine resources for an unsustainable golf course.  This is the basic choice and it seems clear to me that a golf course is not necessary while marine products are.

I discussed all these points at the October 2003 Council meeting and the council voted unanimously to prepare a letter for the PM.  This letter was written in draft by Ms. Teresa Butler but somehow fell through the cracks and never was delivered.  The council recently reiterated that this letter would be delivered shortly and I expect this to be done before the June meeting.  In this regard, I hope we can meet to discuss these realities prior to the Trust Council meeting in June. 

I remain most respectfully yours

Sonny

Dr. Samuel H. Gruber   

Division of Marine Biology and Fisheries

Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences

University of Miami 33149-1098

               And

Bimini Biological Field Station

9300 SW 99 St

Miami FL 33176-2050

305 274 0628 fax or phone

sgruber@rsmas.miami.edu

http://www.miami.edu/sharklab

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----- Original Message -----

From: keod smith

To: Samuel H. Gruber

Sent: Thursday, May 06, 2004 5:13 PM

Subject: Re: May we meet Thursday?

Sorry, had some problem with e-mail.

Please let me know what your concerns are beyond Capo's previous behaviour (that I assure you is now in check).

If the project can be continued with minimal or little damage, then it is my view that it be allowed in keeping with sustainable development practices. 

Wait to hear from you.

H.E. Keod M. Smith, MP