The Nassau Guardian, May 28, 2005

No gate

Wilchcombe quells concerns at meeting

 

By Keva Lightbourne

Guardian Staff Reporter

 

North Bimini - There will be no gate.

That was the message Minister of Tourism, and Member of Parlament for the West End and Bimini constituency Obie Wilchcombe delivered to Biminites on Thursday night as he addressed concerns about the Bimini Bay project at a three-and-a-half hour heated town meeting, which at times erupted into a shouting and finger pointing match.

The meeting, held at the Bimini All Age School, came three days after residents staged a massive protest in front of the gate which they claim denies them access to five miles of the seven mile long island, including East Wells Beach.

Also attending the meeting were Minister of Public Works and Utilities, Bradley Roberts, Financial Services and Investment minister Allyson Maynard-Gibson; Transport and Aviation Minister Glynnis Hanna-Martin; Agriculture, Fisheries and Local Government minister Alfred Gray, along with Chariman of the Best Commission and Ambassador for the Environment Keod Smith.

"If Mr. (Gerardo) Capo (Bimini Bay developer) says the gate is not supposed to be closed, the matter is very simple to me, as of tomorrow, (Friday) the gate will be wide open, it won't be closed.  There will be no gate," Mr. Wilchcombe said.

His statement drew loud applause from the estimated 500 residents who attended the meeting.  The gate was referred to as the "Wall of Jericho."

In his attempt to clarify the situation, Mr. Capo denied that residents were turned away from the area.  "We never closed the gate to any Bahamian," he stressed.

Bimini Bay Development President Rafael Reyes explained that there is no gate, but an entry way is being created.  "It is an entrance feature, it's only a beauty feature.  All it is a big arch.  You (residents) have free access to that arch.  There is no gate and we are not putting any gates there," he emphasised.

Once the gate is fully created he said residents will realise that there will be no barrier or divider between the development and the people.

Further, Mr. Reyes said the development will in no way interfere with the Wells area.  He denied rumours that they had bought that property.

 

Note:

This is absolute horse crap.  I have noticed time and again that Keva Lightbourne plays directly into Capo's hands and says nothing about the previous "scaling back" imposed by the previous FNM government which left a much smaller project than this and NO GOLF COURSE AT ALL.  I sent all of this and photos to Guardian Editor Anthony Capron who promised me action and then did nothing.  Every EIS so far has been a farce and the next one will be also.  We have to bury this "scaling back" argument of theirs (PLP and Capo) once and for all and stop this damned golf course as well as anything after Phase I, else we lose the ecology of North Sound and the precious beaches the Bahamians are demanding access to.

 

Awhile back I received a snotty email from a Bimini Bay buyer who told me straight up that Capo promised them a gated community.  All this "it's just an arch" crap is just that....crap.

 

As soon as I can get a few minutes I'll do the letter to the editors.

 

Bill