Dredging work in Bimini.
By AVA TURNQUEST
Tribune Staff Reporter
aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – The ongoing legal dispute relating to the validity of dredging permits obtained by a private developer in North Bimini will affect potential investors, Trinidad and Tobago Trade Minister Vasant Bharath said yesterday.
Mr Bharath, whose portfolio also includes Industry, Investment and Communications, said independent environmental management was critical to maintaining investor confidence as the legal battle between the Bimini Blue Coalition (BBC) and Resorts World Bimini over dredging in the Bahamas continues.
He spoke to The Tribune on the sidelines of CIBC First Caribbean’s regional infrastructure conference under the theme “Driving Caribbean Infrastructure Forward”.
During his keynote address, Mr Bharath said governments must lead the charge to lessen bureaucracy and maintain consistent
policy to encourage private sector trust.
When asked whether or not he felt the Bimini dispute will affect potential investors, he said: “Correct.”
And added: “If you have an Environmental Management Agency, then you’re not going to have those challenges and stumbling blocks where you’re challenged once the project has been given the go ahead, because it has gotten the sign off and approval of an agency that is not just independent, but seen to be independent and that is very important.”
“(Trinidad and Tobago) has an independent body that reviews all projects that will affect the environment or could potentially affect the environment. Every project must get sign off from the EMA if there is any issue with regard to the environment, there is still a management plan, but that is submitted to the EMA in addition to other agencies.
“So at the end of the day you can get sign off from the bank, you can get sign off from the government, but if the EMA says this is going to be harmful, it’s not going through.”
He added: “It’s very important because we understand that we have a natural habitat to protect and we must continue to do that as we become a more mature and sophisticated people.”
A Court of Appeal hearing on whether an injunction on dredging activities in North Bimini should have been discharged is set for today.
Fred Smith, attorney for the BBC, filed for an appeal last Friday after Grand Bahama Supreme Court Senior Justice Hartman Longley discharged the Privy Council’s injunction on dredging activities.
The Privy Council granted the BBC’s injunction request nearly two weeks ago, but gave the developer the freedom to prove before either the Supreme Court or the Court of a Appeal that a permit it recently obtained under the Conservation of the Physical Landscape of the Bahamas Act was valid.
Comments
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 5 months ago
Vasant Bharath for Minister of environment for the Bahamas. Actually, why do we have a Minister of the Environment? They're obviously not doing anything...
killemwitdakno 10 years, 5 months ago
Dorset is obviously doing all the deals, that's why.
killemwitdakno 10 years, 5 months ago
"Maintain consistent policy to encourage private sector trust. " Exactly , because right now other investors can view this as a foot in door action or abuse of public office for private gain as defined by http://bit.ly/1oWIVFs.
"Environmental Management Agency, then you’re not going to have those challenges and stumbling blocks where you’re challenged once the project has been given the go ahead, because it has gotten the sign off and approval of an agency that is not just independent, but seen to be independent and that is very important."
Time for a checks and balances type system. Maybe a bureau/union for foreign investors overall ( so they could quit retaliating out of jealousy of each other's theft). And a Foreign investment management agency with local boards (banks could be on this side). there's a million issues.
Are there any dual country lawyers here? We need more environmentalist lawyers. There's always opportunity for consultation even without applicants.
This is the party that mucked together their own stem cell committee. The head doc is now in Panama supposedly jailed for pumping billions through a medical company sham, though he's probably just running around free with Noriega.
SP 10 years, 5 months ago
Let's be real and stop the horse shyt here.
There cannot be development without some negative environmental impact....PERIOD!
Seabreeze, Imperial park, Arawak Cay, Nassau Harbour, Pine wood Gardens, Lyford Cay, Sandy Port, Old Fort Bay, Albany, Paradise Island, Seabeach Estates, Treasure Cove and countless other successful developments could and would never have happened without some negative environmental impact.
The real question here is, does the developments negative environmental impact outweigh the positive social and economic impact?
The situation in Bimini undoubtedly has to have a negative environmental impact to some extent. However, the positive economic and social impact far outweighs the negative environmental impact.....Hands down.
So we lose a fish spawning ground or whatever.....We have 700 bloody islands spread over 100,000 square miles of mostly uninhabited islands and cays. What is the true loss here? Won't the fish go and spawn elsewhere? Are we decimating or endangering whole species of fish or sealife?
Get real people. Do you want development and sustainability or not? We cannot have it 100% both ways.
I am no advocate for the PLP or FNM, but for GODS sake, stop the bull-shyt and lets get on with what is responsibly necessary to building a sustainable product and country.
Please carry on with the dredging, and get rid of the sole use clause of the facility. The Bahamas as a whole need "managed" access to it.
This sort of stupidity is what keeps me out of front line politics because I cannot stomach bullshyt!
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 5 months ago
You do realize that the assessment they called for warned of long term irreversible damage. Obviously you don't know "fish will spawn elsewhere" if indeed this is a spawning site, and neither do they. They simply don't care. They saw MONEY in their pockets that they had to get NOW. that is the problem
killemwitdakno 10 years, 5 months ago
"The real question here is, does the developments negative environmental impact outweigh the positive social and economic impact?
Why even ask that question because you are already accepting that this must be fine since the foreigner who did his own EIA said so. So your ok with both the extent of the environment that could be f*cked up (because you obviously didn't look at their EIA, which is inadequate) and a court that says 'hey I'll give the pirates a chance to bribe some permits' even though THAT'S WHY THEY WEN'T TO COURT. Since planting a flower will turn the soil might as well run over your house. The island have not been explored, they know that that's why they come to take it before they say what the importance is. Shut up just shut and leave the things people should read. Show your hands down then because World Resort surely couldn't fucking do it still.
environmentalist 10 years, 5 months ago
Boy I tell ya...we got one hell of a Banana Republic monkeys running this country straight to the pits of hell. None of them could give a rat's ass that the environment will be destroyed and at what flipping price. They got paid and that is all that matters. A national and international boycott is in order. Gotta get someone from the Green Party elected run this country and straighten up this frigging mess. The next generation is totally screwed!
SP 10 years, 5 months ago
Here we have yet another genius making an unsubstantiated statement.
Will one of you environmentalist please articulate and enlighten the rest of us of what the next generation will be deprived of due to this development.
I mean really.....Please clearly explain your position, pros & cons, so the rest of us can sensibly evaluate, and come to some reasonable conclusion for or against dredging of the Bimini project.
DillyTree 10 years, 5 months ago
SP, since you're obviously the genius here, perhaps you can figure it out for yourself. Bloody brilliant. Do you honestly believe the claptrap you're using to justify your high and mighty position? If so, then it is you who is deluded. Besides, from the language you use, it would sugget you don't really have a stake in this game. Are you even Bahamian?
DillyTree 10 years, 5 months ago
I hope it will put off investors -- then perhaps we won't be faced with scores of bulldozed and half-completed abandonned construction sites throughout the islands of failed developments that haven't done our country one iota of good.
Do you believe these foreign investors come here out of the goodness of their hearts to help Bahamians, or do you think they come here because they can't get away with this nonsense in their own countries?
killemwitdakno 10 years, 5 months ago
I don't believe the card dealing "jobs" in a casino where they can't even gamble in are any justification when no one has talked about what the local business collective might lose. I'm 100% for Bahamians. World Resort is probably 1% they think we're a charity on.fb.me/1pb65FT . Is this company even on BSIX? They weren't promoting their job creation until the controversy, then suddenly there's a letter to bahamsweekly by a local and a pic on their facebook of a timely convention. "Jobs" is typical redneck bait. Casino goers are not the caliber any ad portrays, they are no different than those sitting webshops all day . All facade, perhaps the tourist are being taken advantage of as well.
SP 10 years, 5 months ago
@ DillyTree...Yes bey, I is 100% from da serl. Naw pleaase tell ma vhat yawl maken all dis noies bout, cause een maken no sense.
Don be fool doo. Dem people from foreign tis come here to make big change ya see. But een you know das vhy nuff inwesters dem tis go anywhere?
Vhat you did tink offshore inwestments people dem tis do foreign inwestments for aye? To help yenna? No bey, dem people from foreign tis come chere to get fat ya see. Yawl dem who tis get job from dem is jest collateral expence, yaa ya see. Da man only bring on as few of yenna as he could get by wit.
But een all companys dem does do dat? Cause da foreign inwester jus like the local inwester wan make da mostest change for hesef.
DillyTree 10 years, 5 months ago
SP, so you think by adopting bush talk you are making your case any more clearer? Flip flop is what you are all about -- suiting yourself to fit the situation. You've lost all credibility in my eyes. Pandering is an art! Bey?
Generalcrazy, your rhetoric, as usual, is absurd. No one said that NO damage is caused, just it would be foresighted to MINIMISE damage to our environment. People come to see our sun, sand and lovely clear waters. Get rid of that with constant overdevelpment, as well as decimating efforts to conserve and sustain our fisheries for the livelihoods of our fishermen, and what do we have left? No tourists, no economy and really 3rd world conditions. I don't want to see a Bahamas like that, do you?
killemwitdakno 10 years, 5 months ago
Time for collab mode. #PreserveBimini alternatives , no complaints
killemwitdakno 10 years, 5 months ago
Please share alternatives, from environmentally sustainable developers to advice they need to take because they have a design problem.
Should we expect them to LIMIT anything???
"Located at 25-42-6 N/ 7 9-18-6 W on the North end of North Bimini, the Resorts World Bimini Marina encompasses the largest yacht and marina complex in all of the Bahamas with two marinas – Fisherman’s Village Marina (136 slips) and the Mega Yacht Marina (94 slips). Did you know…
That at 750-acres, Resorts World Bimini has •480 accommodations, most with fully equipped kitchens. •Six restaurants and bars including Sabor, Hemingway’s, Aqua Grille, Amicci’s Pizzeria. •A world-class casino offering live action table games, slots and Sports Book. •Open-air shopping. •Two pools; one infinity pool overlooking the ocean and another lagoon-style pool with swim-up bar. •The Largest marina in The Bahamas."
http://bit.ly/SyYZ2l http://on.fb.me/1mgjDvy http://resortsworld.com/destinations/
killemwitdakno 10 years, 5 months ago
Resorts World Sentosa
"A Million moments in One world. the world’s largest aquarium at the S.E.A. Aquarium"
Resorts World Genting, Malaysia
"amidst a rare 130 million year old rainforest, Resorts World Genting is Malaysia’s premier integrated mountain resort....one of the world’s largest hotels"
Resorts World Manila, Philippines "The Philippines’ first integrated tourism hub is fast becoming one of Asia’s favourite playgrounds.Play in the country’s newest and largest gaming facility. Indulge"
Resorts World Casino New York City "Offering three levels of casinos in one location, players can enjoy over 5,000 games within the Times Square Casino and Fifth Avenue Casino, including the European Single-Zero Roulette zone and Tables Games Square. Our newly renovated Baccarat Club and soon-to-open Fifth Avenue Club are the symbols of gaming opulence. "
Yeh we're so being awarded by their award-winning dim sum. Be tempted.
Resorts World Miami "will sit on 5.62 ha of land in the heart of Miami city. A mixed-use development project, Resorts World Miami will be one of the largest in the history of Florida, USA. When completed, it will boast four new hotels with a total of 5,200 rooms, two residential towers with up to 1,000 units, more than 50 dining and entertainment outlets, a marketplace of 250,000 square feet which includes 60 luxury shops, event space totalling 700,000 square feet and entertainment facilities including a cinema and an interactive museum. The US$3.8 billion development will be completed earliest in fall 2014 "
-Resorts World Birmingham, UK "will be a seven-storey complex with a total floor space of about 54,000 square metres comprising of a world class four-star hotel, a spa, multi-screen cinema, bars, restaurants, conference and banqueting facilities, a Designer Factory Outlet, a casino and parking space for 300 vehicles"
Their average ratio of ventures to land space is.. Their average ratio of amount of work to timeframe is.. Their average ratio of investments to cost is .. Their average ratio of rooms to jobs created is.. Their average ratio of profits to winners is..
as they say, very "dim sum". All quickly slapped together on the cheapest spit of space they could find. This don't make no sense . It's called *OVERDEVELOPMENT* ( please become accustomed to the term so you might prevent being screwed every time) Go cart traffic will surely be jammed. Did they figure that out yet? Do shyt properly.
what other investors? ain't no room for others who could do much better.
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