The Tribune

“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!’”

This was one of more than 50 comments posted to tribune242.com shortly after the Privy Council’s announcement came through on Friday stopping the controversial dredging at North Bimini until the developers satisfy the Court of Appeal or Supreme Court that all of their permits are in order. It was one occasion when many Bahamians appreciated the need for the Privy Council – yes, even though it is in far off London and the rallying cry of Bahamians when they disagree with its anti-capital punishment decisions: “We are independent!”

The stop dredging order came after months of controversy over the potential damage to Bimini’s delicate marine life and more than a week after dredging had started with the Court of Appeal giving Resorts World Bimini the green light to continue digging up the ocean floor. The Appeal Court rejected Bimini Blue Coalition’s request for an injunction to put an end to the developers’ North Bimini activities, with the one dissenting Appeal Court judge describing the action of the developers as “surreal” and “worthy of the description Machiavellian” — the name of the dredger brought in especially to do the deed of desecration.

It was later discovered that Resorts World Bimini had government permission to dredge more than half a million more cubic yards of sand than was previously disclosed to the public – this according to information in a Bahamas Environment Science and Technology Commission (BEST) document that has recently come to light.

Resorts World Bimini, a Genting Group development, plans to construct a cruise ship terminal to land its passengers. The casino licence is the most important part of the resort. Not being able to obtain a casino licence in Florida, the Bimini development — only an half hour plane ride away – will be the closest casino to south Florida. The plan is to build a 1,000 foot-long piled pier to connect a new 4.5 acre island to the Bimini shore. As for a cruise ship it will take no more than two and a half hours to cross from Florida with passengers intent on gambling.

The Miami Herald has quoted Prime Minister Christie as saying that “this is an important venture, not only for RAV Bahamas and Genting Malaysia, but also for the island of Bimini. It provides further stability for the local economy in a destination that already enjoys a 79 per cent repeat visitor return”.

In wrapping up his mid-term budget in March 2013, Mr Christie forecast what is now taking place:

“The company,” he told parliamentarians last year, “is making an investment of $100m in acquiring a high-speed luxury ship and a jet aircraft to provide daily sea and air transportation into Bimini. This will necessitate the earlier expansion and improvement of docking and airport facilities, as well as other infrastructure at Bimini.”

It is understood that Genting has invested $500m to purchase real estate in Florida, it has been suggested this is in preparation for the day when Florida might capitulate and open its doors to casino gambling. So far, Disney World has successfully blocked any move to allow Las Vegas-style gaming into South Florida.

And this is what has many Bahamians concerned. Should this Bimini venture be abandoned for the bright lights of South Florida, islanders will be left with a damaged island – an island no longer attractive to those who returned year after year to experience its natural beauty and its underwater life.

Bimini has always been a fabled island. Ponce de Leon was probably its first tourist in search of the Fountain of Youth. Author Ernest Hemingway lived at the Complet Angler in Bimini from 1935 to 1937, from where he fished and wrote. The first of his “sea trilogies” —“The Sea when Young” – was set in Bimini. It is claimed that the capture of a 500lb Blue Marlin off Bimini inspired his famous novel, “The Old Man and the Sea”.

The Duke of Windsor bonefished in Bimini, and US President Franklin Roosevelt, who was said to have visited in his yacht, met the Duke at Cat Cay, just south of Bimini. Col Joseph Mackey, founder of Mackey Airlines, which was later bought by Eastern Airlines, made his home there. There were actors and actresses, the famous and the infamous. Many came, many stayed, many had second homes – all drawn by the beauty of the waters and the undersea life.

Michael Lerner, a noted angler and naturalist, founded the Lerner Marine Laboratory at Bimini. The laboratory served as a centre for researchers and scientists for more than 25 years. It was closed in 1975. When we visited several years ago, scientists were experimenting with sharks in an attempt to find an effective shark repellent to protect survivors of shipwrecks.

But for us the most surprising statement to come out of the courts on this case was the observation by Appeal Court President, Justice Anita Allen:

“When one reads the entirety of the Act,” she said, “it is clear that its purpose was to cover the physical landscape of the Bahamas — land above water, and not the seabed. In these proceedings the applicant has not provided any evidence that remotely suggests that any part of the coastline would be negatively affected…”

If so, it is shocking indeed and must be immediately rectified. The Bahamas has no mineral wealth, its major assets, other than sun, sand and sea, lies beneath the sea. This is especially true of Bimini, which is known as the big game fishing capital of the world. The translucent waters and what lives in those waters is Bimini’s natural wealth — this was the wealth on which Bimini built its reputation. And it is with this wealth that it must protect its future.

“I plead with you,” wrote Steve Reinertsen of the Bimini Blue Coalition, “to ensure that the absurdly ill-conceived idea of creating a cruise ship terminal on Bimini’s western shore never becomes a reality. The damage that this would have on Bimini’s coral reefs would be catastrophic, and that would only be the beginning. The dredging and damage required for such a project could permanently deteriorate the very thing that everyone loves most about Bimini, the amazing blue waters.

“Bimini’s tourism industry has been growing in recent years, while other islands in the Bahamas have not had the same good fortune,” he wrote.

“Please keep in mind that everyone who has ever come to Bimini came for what the island already offers: Extraordinarily blue water, exotic wildlife, beautiful beaches, thriving fisheries, vibrant coral reefs, friendly locals, and an escape for the generic, over-developed landscape found elsewhere in the region.

Protecting and improving upon Bimini’s ecological health and beauty is truly in the best interests of the island’s economy, its people, and all those who cherish their time there.”