Environmental attorney Romi Ferreira said the time has come to send a clear message that Bahamians will no longer tolerate secret deals that give away land to foreign developers without proper consultation with the public. Also pictured, from left, are Rev CB Moss of the Coalition to Save Clifton, attorney and Save The Bays director Fred Smith, QC and veteran political activist Paul Moss.
OVER 250 Bahamians declared their opposition to the further development of Nygard Cay and the granting of any lease for lands claimed from the seabed without proper approvals at a meeting at BCPOU Hall last week.
Conservationists have concerns that the development is already harming the vital ecosystem of the surrounding Clifton Bay and negatively impacting nearby Jaws Beach, one of the few public beaches left in New Providence.
Environmental attorney Romi Ferreira told the crowd they must stand together like the heroes of the first battle to save Clifton Bay, an area of unique historical, cultural and ecological importance.
“Fourteen years ago, we stared down an unwise development. We won the victory only because we stood together against overwhelming odds and secret deals,” he said. “Today the threats to Clifton Bay and Jaws beach are very different and yet the same – unregulated development.”
Drawing cheers and applause, Mr Ferreira said the government’s failure to hold a proper consultation process over the Nygard Cay application – which also asks that land claimed from the seabed without permission be leased to the development’s owner, Canadian fashion designer Peter Nygard – is a prime example of what he called politicians’ disregard for the rights of Bahamians and willingness to sacrifice the public interest for the benefit of certain wealthy foreign “friends”.
Last week, in the face of mounting legal pressure and international attention, the government was forced to extend its public consultation process on Mr Nygard’s proposed expansion plans at Simms Point/Nygard Cay for a further 21 days. In an embarrassing climb down it also admitted to confusion and flaws in the process thus far.
“It’s time to send a message,” he said. “No longer are we prepared to sit back and watch you and your friends destroy our country. We want all the structures removed from Nygard Point and the original coastline restored. Give nature a chance to heal itself. We don’t want you to sacrifice Jaws Beach and your people for your friends. We want the beach restored with full public access.”
Mr Ferreira told the crowd Peter Nygard has been allowed to grow his property from 2.85 acres to 6.1 acres without authorisation, and when told by the former FNM government to cease and desist and reverse the work, he failed to do so.
Mr Ferreira is a director of Save The Bays (STB), a social and environmental advocacy group that is pushing for a Freedom of Information Act to bring an end to secret deals and negotiations, and an all-encompassing Environmental Act to preserve the country’s natural resources for future generations of Bahamians.
Other presenters included fellow STB directors Fred Smith, QC, and Joseph Darville; attorney and political activist Paul Moss; and Rev CB Moss, whose Coalition to Save Clifton organised the town meeting.
Comments
proudloudandfnm 10 years, 3 months ago
IS ANYONE IN THIS COUNTRY EVER GOING TO EVEN MENTION THE FACT THAT THIS MAN HAS BEEN RUNNING AN ILLEGAL RESORT FOR DECADES IN OUR COUNTRY? $42,000.00 PER DAY AND NOT ONE DIME IN RESORT TAX! EMPLYEES ARE TOLD TO DECLARE THEY'RE COMING FOR VACATION BECAUSE HE CANNOT SECURE WORK PERMITS FOR AN ILLEGAL RESORT!!
WHAT THE HELL MAN?
Well_mudda_take_sic 10 years, 3 months ago
Nygard is very much Christie's kind of man when it comes to "you scratch mine now and I'll be sure to scratch yours later"!
Reality_Check 10 years, 3 months ago
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
birdiestrachan 10 years, 3 months ago
Two hundred and fifty that is not much. At least the man allows Bahamian Children the opportunity to enjoy the beach. Unlike the Khan in The Exuma Sea Park who was allowed to dredge in that sacred place as far as I am concerned, for his benefit and his rich and famous friends. and this same crew with all their Out rage had nothing to say. A retainer fee and one million dollar donation and it was all right. Now they talk..
proudloudandfnm 10 years, 3 months ago
Um we have lots of beaches our Bahamian children can enjoy. No need to allow a foreigner to steal millions from us every year just so some Bahamians can go hang out at his house. WTF? Man Bahamians are easily bought. Holy sh-t!
TalRussell 10 years, 3 months ago
There is no such a thing as "Legal Private Beaches" anywhere in Bahamaland. Beaches have always been exclusively owned by all the peoples of Bahamaland, no exceptions - including Nygard Beach, Baha Ma Beach, Paradise Island, Estern and Western Roads Beaches, and yes, including all Lyford Cay Beaches. You name the Beaches and the peoples done owns all titles them. Really now Comrade are you just another Nygard suck-up or are you trying to be funny or what? Here Bahamaland is into Her 41st year of independence and you still of the mindset we does need some highly controversial foreigner man to be nice, by allowing Bahamland's children the opportunity to enjoy a Beach, they the children have always owned? Ask Comrade "QC" Fred Smith what in the hell happened to the padlocked gates they erected to keep native Freeporter's, off they "so-called" private beaches. Comrade you know what they did in Freeport, the natives cut the damn locks off all the damn locks.
Well_mudda_take_sic 10 years, 3 months ago
Small problemo. Ya gatta swim to dem dere beaches in dose gated communities of rich people an' most of us Bahamians (and Haitians) dunno how ta swim!
TalRussell 10 years, 3 months ago
Comrade not so cause you ain't gotta rush out to take swimming lessons before you and your family and guests are allowed to walk along them publicly owned beaches. By law the Crown MUST provide unrestricted public access to all Beaches anywhere in Bahamaland.That pubic access is not optional. First, the public should not cave into any such thing by residential or commercial property owners, that somehow the Queen granted them some rights to think they can just block-off what they want you to believe is their very own "legal" exclusive private beach. BS.
sheeprunner12 10 years, 3 months ago
Nygard has the covert support of the senior PLP Cabinet ministers and the overt support of many PLPs, sports enthusiasts, sloop sailers and junkanooers. He will be hard to dislodge by environmentalists as long as he has the ear of the PM
SP 10 years, 3 months ago
Blah blah blah blah....Nothing gained!
Google "stop the haitian invasion of the bahamas" and sign the petition to empower government to deal with the illegal haitian migration dilemma.
Tarzan 10 years, 3 months ago
I did not realize that Reverend C.B. Moss was a lawyer.
asiseeit 10 years, 3 months ago
This is about the rule of law in our country. This now also seems to be a case of a wealthy man buying a government. We know that there where no permits for the work done. We also know that there have been letters sent demanding the removal of structures. Has the law been broken, It most certainly seems so. Would you or I be hauled before the courts if we where to do what has been done out there? Most certainly! Why is this man above the law? If I donate does that give me the right to break the law? Ask yourself these questions and if you are honest you will see that this man is making a mockery of not only our Nation but also the rule of law that this Nation is founded on. This man is giving the entire Bahamas one giant finger, he is above the law as far as he is concerned. There was a man in the Bahamas in the late 70's and early 80's who also thought he was above the law and "owned" his island, look what that got us, we are still paying for it today.
P.S. Birdie there is legal permit in hand dredging going on in Exuma (Leaf Cay) today and lots of people donate to different groups but in the true spirit of giving they do not expect anything in return and want no publicity.
Well_mudda_take_sic 10 years, 3 months ago
Somewhat amusing that many Bahamians would rather focus on Nygard's ability to corrupt our black government rather than the corruption of our black government itself. Guess it's better to be a lighter skinned Bahamian of a German pa with a Haitian ma! The mangoes amongst us certainly do seem to be on a more even keel!
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