Dredging work in Bimini.
By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
In a stunning new development, the Privy Council in London today granted Bimini Blue Coalition's injunction application stopping dredging activities from continuing in Bimini, reversing a decision by the Bahamas Court of Appeal on Monday.
The injunction is effective immediately. As consequence, Resorts World Bimini developers cannot dredge unless and until they can persuade the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court that the permit they have was properly granted with proper consideration by the Director of Physical Planning in accordance with the Conservation of the Physical Landscape of the Bahamas Act.
Dredging activities in Bimini began over a week ago.
Comments
environmentalist 10 years, 6 months ago
This is indeed stunning news...stop the dredging in Bimini permanently.
Sickened 10 years, 6 months ago
This governing party has got to go. They don't seem to give a $#!+ about the Bahamian people or our beautiful country. Both political parties are absolutely useless. Their track records are pathetic! There's only a handful of decent human being's in the lot of them and those few aren't doing/saying anything to help our country! Throw Christie and Brave Davis out IMMEDIATELY and let sensible people run the PLP until the next elections.
realfreethinker 10 years, 6 months ago
I agree with you on this one just a bunch of imbeciles
Purcell 10 years, 6 months ago
Is it not sad that the English has more care for the Bahamas than the corrupt asshole politicians do? Now although I am happy to hear this imagine how much damage that monster caused in a week of none stop mayhem.
sheeprunner12 10 years, 6 months ago
ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh?????????? AND WHAT'S NEXT???????????
Guy 10 years, 6 months ago
This is excellent news!!!
Stapedius 10 years, 6 months ago
Excellent news. Hope they never get to finish the destruction they've started.
proudloudandfnm 10 years, 6 months ago
Do not play with Fred Smith!!!
BigDuffus 10 years, 6 months ago
That all he does is play. Play us. He has good intent but u think he does this for us. He flying round with his groupys eating prime rib on our hard working peoples money. Just like anyone in government here. He dont want it to stop now he wants it to go back and forth and back and forth. The long it does the more he pockets. just like the PLP and FNM.
sheeprunner12 10 years, 6 months ago
So if we can credit Fred Smith with this great intervention........... I trust that the PC will be sought by Smith or other QCs for many other pressing social issues............... gender equality, gambling, labour laws, etc.
PastorTroy 10 years, 6 months ago
I am somewhat oppose to this drilling in beautiful Bimini. But The Privy Council have some serious power in The Bahamas! Do we have a Freedom of information act? I am suddenly becoming more and more interested to do some reading of old Bahamian documents from the 1960's & 70's.
bahamianadvocate 10 years, 6 months ago
This goes to show how uncoupled the Government is on addressing environmental issues whereby allowing further dredging to occur without going through the correct process. The government may be under economic pressure to stabilize the economy BUT it does not give them the right to ignore environmental concerns.
B_I_D___ 10 years, 6 months ago
YES!!!!!!!
sansoucireader 10 years, 6 months ago
So now people are happy for the Privy Council's decision, yet when they say 'No Hanging' the response is "We independent! We don't need no Privy Council!" Hmmmm.
B_I_D___ 10 years, 6 months ago
Definitely a double edged sword!!
GrassRoot 10 years, 6 months ago
Well if you are against dredging, it is a good day. nothing else matters. it seems anyway that alleged murderers and rapists get lynched by their own in the Bahamas anyway. The hang man is already very busy.
Purcell 10 years, 6 months ago
I would love to see life hard labor sentences instead of hanging. Chain gangs for non violent criminals to clean the beaches, the streets and work at the city dump.
TalRussell 10 years, 6 months ago
Never talked about in media but this is nothing new for the island of Bimini. My Dear Biminites, you are Bahamaland's leading example of how a tiny island's innocence time and time again was lost to the greed of a quick foreigner's buck. Chasing the quick no questions asked foreigners almighty buck, has long been cemented among Biminites. They have such an tolerance for it, like no other of the 700 Bahamaland islands.
CommonSense 10 years, 6 months ago
HA! Look at this...all along everyone has been griping about how they believe we need to get rid of the Privy Council...now everyone is rejoicing for the Privy Council's intervention. You people speak with two mouths! You want the Privy Council to step in when it suits you! Privy Council says no to hanging "Why they making decisions for us?!" Privy Council says no to dredging "Thank God for the Privy Council!" This right here is exactly why the Privy Council can still override our courts...we as Bahamians are too wishy washy and blow with the wind.
GrassRoot 10 years, 6 months ago
well Commonsense that is the reality in the Bahamas. But lets be pragmatic, what ever helps the cause of the Bahamians today and the next 7 generations of Bahamians is good. Whatever damages our interests is bad. So lets choose friends as we please. I am a friend of foreign prosecutors and foreign policing, I am a friend even of foreign judges since they will reign in the rampant corruption, disregard of the law by both citizens and the government. I think it is a good day today.
CANDACESCOTT 10 years, 6 months ago
I believe the Privy Council is important for the appeal process...I question the integrity of the court rule based on political interference and influence.
Sickened 10 years, 6 months ago
I also question our courts integrity. Many judges just don't seem to care about doing what is right! Based on the PC's decision it is obvious that Perry Christie did not have the authority to sign the permit. Why couldn't our local judge come to the same and obvious conclusion. We really need to have an investigation into some of our judges and government leaders.
GrassRoot 10 years, 6 months ago
yes, judges are the only people that will never lose their job. so why care, right?
Kalypso 10 years, 6 months ago
Agree w u. Maybe... some of our judge, as well as MP's, can be bought.
bigbadbob 10 years, 6 months ago
As a engineer with 47 years experience in all facets of environmental areas, this is a disaster of huge future consequences, the silt and coral dust suspended in the water will kill a large amount of the existing reef. The damage to old and established reefs is not repairable: stop this madness now before its to late
sheeprunner12 10 years, 6 months ago
It will not stop............. as the USA and Canada become more difficult to operate in due to their stringent environmental laws, these types of development will find a home in Third World countries of the Caribbean/Central America ............ this is a good message to send them
BiminiHomeowner 10 years, 6 months ago
Fantastic news! Congratulations to everyone working so hard to bring reason and sustainability to Bimini.
Publius 10 years, 6 months ago
Great news
KM 10 years, 6 months ago
This right here is great news. Thank God it was stopped before any more damaged to our wonderful bahamaland.
Hogfish 10 years, 6 months ago
Great News on the Verdict!
BUT will it be enforced??!?
blackcat 10 years, 6 months ago
Excellent news- wow I am so happy! This has been on my mind for so long....Just thinking about the damage this would create/ has created. congrats to all those involved and I hope it never gets completed.
TalRussell 10 years, 6 months ago
Privy Council or Bahamaland's Courts might temporarily delay but not put an end to destroying our seabeds. Comrades there are Local Government Elections scheduled for Bimini - will be interesting to see how Biminites play their votes forward?
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 6 months ago
What damaged has already been done?
B_I_D___ 10 years, 6 months ago
Been a solid week of dredging, I am sure there is a LOT of irreversible damage.
birdiestrachan 10 years, 6 months ago
I am one of those persons who believe the Privy Council should remain. I have never been to Bimini. so I can not speak to the issue.. Some say it is good for Bimini, and many of them live in Bimini. Some say it is bad for Bimini, We do not know what the Council will decide.
realfreethinker 10 years, 6 months ago
The council cant ove rule central government so they wont do any thing
TalRussell 10 years, 6 months ago
Would this be allowed to take place in Florida? Resorts World Bimini
...//https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSRVP6XXMx0
birdiestrachan 10 years, 6 months ago
According to the other daily news paper editorial. Mr, Fred smith said the Injunction against Guana Cay Abaco in 2006 work was halted for a year and it caused the developers a lot of money. I believe that development was allowed to continue. I trust that what ever is best for Bimini will be done.
BigDuffus 10 years, 6 months ago
Yes it was stoped for a while and sent home 100s of hard working Bahamains who had no work for a year. Thank Good for us here in Abaco that they did not pull out and kept it going. Now they have close to 1000 people working from Abaco and people from Free Port and Nassau who's stories or all the same. Had no work to put food on the table. They had to leave their familys and come to Abaco for work.
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 6 months ago
Blame the developers. If they can spend money for this monster boat, they can spend money for a lawyer to ensure that they are in compliance with local laws. This disaster is all their making
Hogfish 10 years, 6 months ago
OOH Gimme Hope!, Jo'anna,
Gimme HOPE! , Jo'anna,
Gimmie Hope!, Joanna, before the mornin' come!
Bahamiantruth 10 years, 6 months ago
So where was this concern when the former government allowed the dredging in the "Exuma Sea Park" for one yacht? I just wish we realize no government cares about the environment in which we live and those of our children and their children and so on... Money talks and BS walks...
Bahamiantruth 10 years, 6 months ago
Completely agree on the privy council as well as the slavery reference... It's that same mentality that still has us backwards as a country today.
Kalypso 10 years, 6 months ago
Sounds like you are the one enslaved. Educate yourself and shake off your shackles.
BiminiRick 10 years, 6 months ago
Our country has one industry and one industry only...tourism. 100% of tourism in Bimini is driven by the sea, sand and water. Whether the Privy Council is involved is NOT the question. Perhaps you'll want to run in the next election, because you too are uneducated regarding the issue at hand and ignorant as to the environmental disaster facing Bimini--just like O.W. and P.C. You'd be perfect to join the current government which turned a blind eye to the EIA which accurately predicts the impending doom! Why don't you stop worrying about the Privy Council and stand up for some transparency in Bahamian government. Mega-projects such as this one one an 8 square mile island is a travesty. Yet it has all been approved within ONE YEAR! Top to bottom. NO consultation with Biminites, no forethought, no consideration to the consequences. CARTE BLANCHE given to GENTING. When it comes to slavery...you're seeing an entire country being driven as slaves to Genting...all to benefit a VERY few.
BigDuffus 10 years, 6 months ago
Just wondering is anyone here from Bimini. Wondered what they think about the project seeing as it their island. I know we have to watch what is done in our country but people have to have jobs to pay bills. Its easy for a lot of people to say stop things and in this case may b the right thing to do. I dont live there, but i can say for a fact that here in Abaco we were faced with Bakers bay. We had all kind of people tring to stop it and did for a while but if they would have stopped it for good Abaco would have been in a mess. They have people working from Free Port and Nassau who had no work. They now have close to 1000 people that most had no work who were despret to make money. Its easy for people to say stop when their family is feed and bills payed. Like i said it may b the right thing to stop this but when u partying up your victory mayb u can think about some one who will not have power or food tomorrow becuse u just took away their job. And think of what they would have to say to u cus u are rejoicing cus they just lost it. Im not for or against it. Just some food for thought.
Kalypso 10 years, 6 months ago
The damage already done as a result of a week's dredging operation is grave and irreversible. Those responsible for this should appear in The Supreme Court to answer to criminal charges.
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 6 months ago
The environment is a big thing. God created the sea and the marine animals before he created man...that must say something...and if u don't believe in God...well...the universe did it in that order (but God directed:) )
BigDuffus 10 years, 6 months ago
I know a company that does this all the time around the world. If it is done properly with the flooting screens around it and depending on where they are pumping it. Some thing like this can be done with only a very small area on both sides of the cut they make being effected. That being said there needs to be someone watching that.
BigDuffus 10 years, 6 months ago
Also u have to look at who pays the study people to say if its good or bad. Money can make a for or against study. I remember years ago when a gredge just like this one came here to cut for the cruise ship. It cut over 30ft deep from out side the reef right in side the island pumping out conchs as she went. We heard the same things they are saying here BUT no long term damage was done. Infact they used no screens and pumped to spoils into the open bay and made an island with nothing to contain it. Now this same place has more conchs, fish and crawfish than ever before. Plus we have a island that our visitors love to find shell on. Like i say im not for it or against this. Just food for thought.
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