The Tribune

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

Resorts World (Bimini) is not anticipating any delays to the dredging schedule for its cruise terminal and pier project, despite the undertakings given at last week’s Judicial Review hearing.

The developer promised not to do any dredging for its proposed ferry terminal before December 16, and a spokesperson told Tribune Business it “welcomed” the proceedings brought by the Bimini Blue Coalition, as it had complied with all the Government’s requirements to-date.

“Dredging has not yet begun and we do not expect any delays,” Michelle Malcolm told this newspaper via e-mail.

“Resorts World Bimini welcomes the Judicial Review, as we have complied with all regulations related to our development project. We have worked closely with the Government of the Bahamas since the project’s inception, following all guidelines and receiving all necessary approvals in the process.

“We are following best practices to minimise impact on the surrounding environment, and we pledge to continue to do so throughout this process of development. “

But Romauld Ferreira, the Coalition’s attorney, on Friday had queried whether the developers had obtained all the necessary permits, telling Tribune Business that an initial glance through the documents provided by their attorneys showed applications and conditional approvals.

“We pressed them for evidence of actual permits granted to them. They admitted that they didn’t have the permits to dredge,” said Mr Ferreira.

The Coalition’s attorney said these revelations were significant, given that the developers had told a Town Meeting on Bimini earlier this month that construction on the proposed 4.5 acre artificial island, which will house the cruise terminal, was supposed to begin on Monday, November 11. And dredging is intended to start this month.

Supreme Court Justice Hartman Longley declined to give the Bimini Blue Coalition, and Mr Ferreira, the injunction they were seeking on the grounds that the developers’ undertaking effectively produced the same result.

He had earlier given the Coalition permission to bring Judicial Review proceedings against both the Government and the developers, as it bids to prevent the proposed Bimini cruise terminal and jetty from ever being constructed.

“They [the developers] provided an undertaking not to do any dredging until this matter is heard, and if the permit to dredge is approved in the meantime they will inform both us and the court,” Mr Ferreira told Tribune Business.

“Because they gave an undertaking the judge decided not to grant the injunction at this time, but to hear their full submissions on December 16.”

While the Coalition has yet to achieve its objective of obtaining an injunction that will stop all work by Resorts World until the Judicial Review challenge is heard, the undertaking appears to be the ‘next best thing’.

“We’ve got the developer to acknowledge they don’t have a permit to dredge, and we got them to give an undertaking in open court not to dredge until this matter is heard,” Mr Ferreira added.

“They’ve also given an undertaking to notify us and the court if that permit is issued. This is a great victory. They had an accelerated timeline and were supposed to be dredging by November 25.

“We’ve also got them to disclose what they have; up to this point, they’d released no information. This was after we highlighted what’s going on. It’s in response to the concerns expressed by our client.”

Mr Ferreira added that the Coalition would also seek an injunction should Resorts World obtain its dredging permit, and subject that specific approval Judicial Review scrutiny.