The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

GOVERNMENT officials are confident that tourism development has and will continue to upgrade Bimini but island residents have expressed their disillusionment about this to The Tribune.  

Noting that they don’t think their views are valued by central government officials, residents questioned whether economic benefits from tourism developments on their island are trickling throughout their community and whether Biminites are given first preference for jobs within the tourism sector.

Their statements come as the government touts Bimini’s development as one of its greatest successes since taking office in 2012.  

Among the reasons for Bimini’s recent “prosperity,” Resorts World Bimini (RWB), the mega-resort operated by the Genting Group, is chief.

Resort president Dana Lebovitz, interviewed by The Tribune on Saturday, gave his perspective on how development has impacted the small island and its residents.

Biminties, he said, are given first preference for jobs. “Several job fairs have been held on the island so far. But they haven’t been well attended,” he said, adding that most of the Resort’s initial hirings took place last year when its casino opened.  

At that time, Bahamians from New Providence and Grand Bahama with experience working in casinos were hired because Bimini residents didn’t have enough experience, he said.  

He added that in keeping with the Resort’s desire to give first preference for jobs to Biminites, a Casino Training School was opened earlier this month. Graduates - 16 Biminites - will automatically get a job with once they have completed the programme and by November, the Resort will have around 30 Biminite dealers - 50 per cent of its total dealing staff.

Nonetheless, most residents interviewed by The Tribune at the weekend expressed concern that Biminites aren’t being hired for jobs as they should. One RWB employee, who declined to give her name for fear it could jeopardise her job, said: “The economic benefits ain’ flowing within Bimini. Resorts World Bimini have their own things set up and Bimini residents aren’t being hired like they should be. They barely hire people from the island. They does say Bimini people don’t want work. They had a job fair in Nassau and Freeport, then they had a job fair in Bimini after bringing workers in from other islands. I does know because I have to greet all the people they bring in to work for them when they come off the plane.”

Nonetheless, Fabian Stuart, owner of Stuart’s Conch Salad Shack, suggested that disgruntled Biminites are those not qualified to get jobs at the Resort. “(The Resort) does hire more from out of Bimini than in Bimini but if Bimini people ain’ qualified for the job then they can’t get it,” he said. “Some people were against (the development) until they got a job there. I had a friend who was against it. Then he got a job and he became for it. What that tell you? People without a job bitter.”

Mr Stuart was among the residents who praised the economic benefits the Resort has brought to Bimini. “They hired hundreds of people in the last several months and my business has improved because of their development,” he said.

In fact, 475 are currently employed at the resort, according to Mr Lebovitz, who added that “close to 800” will be employed when the hotel and jetty are completed later this year.

“Locals recognise the opportunities,” added Michelle Malcolm, public relations director at the resort. “Resorts World Bimini is very involved in events that take place.”

Mr Lebovitz said economic benefits are trickling throughout the wider community. He said increases in golf cart rentals, watersports and kayaking are examples of how the local business community has benefited from the increase in tourist arrivals to the island. He pointed to a video shown on board RWB’s ship educating tourists about the island as a sign of how the Resort promotes Bimini as a whole.

Importantly, he said the Resort is concerned about the overall quality of services on Bimini.

His statement came after a resident told The Tribune: “We ain got no water. It’s a serious problem. When you come back here, you will see how stink everyone around here is. The problem been going on for weeks, with drips coming out the faucet.”

“We are spending a lot of money to fix the water plant,” said Mr Lebovitz, adding: “We’re not going to be here and have the water plant not functioning properly. We don’t have to fix it, but we want to.”

Mr Lebovitz said with interest in Bimini increasing, government officials recently came to the island looking for ways to create more affordable housing opportunities on the island.

Residents don’t have to wait until the development is completed to enjoy its benefits, he said. “I don’t think they have to wait. Restaurants have expanded because of business. So many people are benefiting. The way I feel is you can wait until the end and be left out, or you can be a part of it now. And it’s not about the money; we’re trying to be very much a part of the island,” he said.

Some residents agreed. An employee of the Resorts, on his way to work, stopped to tell The Tribune: “It’s a positive thing what they’re doing. It’s pouring money into the community which is much needed.”

Yet, despite the views of some residents and the good publicised by RWB officials, most residents interviewed by The Tribune said they are not pleased with what is becoming of their island.

One woman, a taxi cab driver, said: “We ain’ making money. We ain’ making (expletive).”

Aaron Smith, 55, owner of a local bar called Hystar, said: “Our island is changing forever. They are not informing us about what’s going on. Everything is being done out of Nassau. And the government making it seem like Bimini booming cuz of what they doing. I 55 you know. We don’t have a problem with progress but the (RWB) project is too big for us and the land ain’ growing.”

Asked about Biminites returning home because of the improved economy on the island, he said: “What people returning? You know how many people would love to come back but ain’ have no where to come back to?”

Mr Smith said Biminites are not employed by RWB because they are considered lazy. “I have to be concerned about what’s going on this island,” he said. “They does say we lazy and ain’ want work. But that’s not true. We simply ain’ in no rush. They just don’t understand the character of our people.”

Asked about increased job opportunities on the island, he said: “There was never a problem with employment here. They came here, stole our wealth and gave away our land.”

As his two friends nodded in agreement but declined to share their names, Mr Smith said: “Put a little resort up there and that’ll be fine cuz this is a fishing village; this ain’ no casino town. The government just using us to build up political grounds.”

A local dock master, Humphrey Denttin, 60, said: “I want (the resort) closed down. If you were from Bimini you’ll see why. They gon’ have a revolution in Bimini yo know? The first time we had gang raping was when this project came here.”

Asked about a boom in jobs and an expanded airport, Alfred Sweeting said: “Jobs? For who? The airport ain’ for us. That’s for them.”

Violet Guideon, said: “The development is nice but they should hire Biminites to work there. Why bring people from outside the island when people here want jobs? We’re not treated right. They came here to take the money and go.”

Another woman, asked about her thoughts on economic improvement on the island, said: “Booming where? The foreigners making all the money. We don’t feel we getting a fair share as Biminites.”

Another woman said Bimini never suffered economically. “Bimini doesn’t have that big a labour force,” she said. “Most of the people working at the Resort were working somewhere else before that resort came. And I still don’t think half of the people understand what’s going to happen. Bimini going to be changed forever. But whatever we do or think ain’ gon’ matter so why talk about it?”

Expressing similar sentiments, one woman said: “Bimini has been standing on its own for a very long time.”

One man said: “We don’t know nothing. No one came and said what’s going on. Both governments riding dirty and it’s so sad since we right here. They don’t really care about Bahamians.”

Speaking about tourism developments, one man said: “They really transformed Bimini, taking it into a negative direction. And they doing so much damage to the marine environment up there. I don’t think we’ve been consulted enough. Politicians made the decisions for Bimini. I don’t think you should sell the country for jobs and money.”

Ms Malcolm admitted to The Tribune that the Resort’s relationship with Biminites is a work in progress. “The relationship is far improved from where it was at the start,” she said.

Nonetheless, a local man named Thomas, who has a PLP billboard erected in the front of his house, said: “To us, our view don’t matter, so we don’t care. If we had support, we’d say more. I don’t like (the development). It ain’ profiting us. None of that foolishness profiting us.”

Told that the government views development in Bimini as one of its greatest successes, he said: “Bimini is an example of how successful things has been for them, not for us.”

When told development would bring improved services to Bimini, he said: “How much investments have to come into Bimini before we get better services? Look at Resorts World Bimini. That’s 10 per cent Biminites, 90 per cent strangers working there.”