Residents have been voicing concern over styrofoam floating in the ocean in Bimini. Photo: Terrel W Carey
By RICARDO WELLS
Tribune Staff Reporter
rwells@tribunemedia.net
LONGSTANDING tensions between Resorts World Bimini and the residents on that island were brought to the fore this week after mounds of Styrofoam were seen floating in the ocean, suspected to be part of damage Hurricane Irma brought to the luxury hotel’s floating docks.
Irate residents are now demanding the government step in.
Videos and photos of the huge mounds of Styrofoam floating atop open waters have been circulated across social media sites this week, most with users urging the immediate restoration of the often-debated, critical marine habitat.
Denver Stuart, a life-long resident of Bimini, interviewed by The Tribune Wednesday, insisted things on the island were set to go from bad to worse following Hurricane Irma.
He told The Tribune: “This has been a problem for days now. I’ve seen it since Sunday. As soon as you get out on the water you see the pieces of foam just floating around. This is not good because the birds are eating it, the fish are eating it and even the turtles are eating the Styrofoam.”
Mr Stuart said the people of Bimini have long been an environmentally conscious society that treat their surroundings as an extension of their homes.
“They’re supposed to layout a silk curtain to catch it from day one, but they didn’t,” Mr Stuart claimed. “Now, it’s floating everywhere and it’s causing a big issue. This is an important marine area.”
In July, residents protested RAV Bahamas/OPAC and its partner the Genting Group, which have invested heavily in the island, mainly through Resorts World Bimini, for their alleged inaction in protecting the island’s marine ecosystem.
In a letter from Bimini residents to Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, residents complained that nothing has been done to protect Bimini’s marine habitats.
“The resort has created an influx of visitors to the island, but at the expense of the people,” the letter noted. “The number of visitors to Bimini is greater than the island can handle sustainably, creating negative impact on the local natural resource.
“The vacuous promises laid out in the mitigation measures dating back to phase one of this development are still unfulfilled.”
The residents said they want clarification on how much Crown land Gerardo Capo has received and what would be the legal implications for his development of land on the North Bimini Marine Reserve and the East Wells area if a marine protected area (MPA) is approved.
Mr Stuart yesterday indicated that if the ordeal isn’t addressed soon, things could again take a turn for the worse as residents will not “sit back and allow all this foolishness to take place.”
Resorts World Bimini (RWB) released a statement in response to questions from The Tribune on the concerns yesterday.
The hotel did not specifically address the floating Styrofoam, but noted that it was aware of the issue.
“The island of Bimini was hit by Hurricane Irma with widespread damage across the island, including the marina located at Resorts World Bimini. After evacuating our employees early to allow locals the ability to evacuate during the latter part of the week, Resorts World offered space in the Hilton hotel for refuge during the storm for all those that chose to stay,” the hotel said.
“Damage assessments and cleanup efforts were mobilised as soon as the island became accessible and are ongoing as additional team members are being asked to return and assist. An announcement will be made when resort operations are able to resume.”
Attempts to contact Environment Minister Romauld Ferreira were also unsuccessful Wednesday.
Comments
The_Oracle 7 years, 2 months ago
Open non encapsulated polystyrene was used under the floating docks? Who allowed that? That was an environmental disaster waiting to happen, as polystyrene beaks down fast/crumbles in the environment.
proudloudandfnm 7 years, 2 months ago
Resort World is the worst company that could have come to our country. Idiots built a jetty they could never use. Smothered our estuaries with their ignorant jetties. And from what I hear they never pay duty. Time for the government to go thru all of their activities with a fine tooth comb. Between the Maylasians and Capo Bimini is doomed....
proudloudandfnm 7 years, 2 months ago
Smothered our estuaries with their ignorant dredging not jetties. Sorry typo...
Islandboy242242 7 years, 2 months ago
Why is it taking the Minister of Environment so long to make a decision on the protection of existing mangroves in Bimini? Everyone is on this wait and see agenda. Resorts World has occupied enough of the Natural Environment of Bimini, let the hotel sustain itself as is and make the existing mangroves an MPA protecting it from EVERYONE. As for the foam, seems like the core of the floating dock was foam but had a hard casing around it, the casing cracked in the storm, probably rubbed against the supports etc and broke apart. That part might not have been expected but for God's sake don't sit back and just let the tide/wind take the foam out to sea.
ThisIsOurs 7 years, 2 months ago
"Attempts to contact Environment Minister Romauld Ferreira were also unsuccessful Wednesday."
Please fix this, we should have never been in this position
Sickened 7 years, 1 month ago
Who is this Environment Minister Romauld Ferreira you talk about? Is he the invisible man who is deaf and unable to speak? As far as I am concerned WE DO NOT HAVE AN ENVIRONMENT MINISTER.
Dr. Minnis please appoint someone to this important position as we cannot have it left vacant for so long.
sheeprunner12 7 years, 2 months ago
Is that styrofoam ............ or is that cocaine blocks that were flushed out of Bimini homes?????
The_Oracle 7 years, 2 months ago
I have never seen a poly float cracked or even if cracked disgorge the foam within. I seriously believe they used plain old white polystyrene blanks under there. Which fragged cause it was already breaking down.
sealice 7 years, 1 month ago
Well Perry you wanted a Frucking Legacy here it is - you let these fools in and they are trying to their best to Kill Bimini for everyone - i Hope you and Obie's kickbacks were worth selling out your country....
TalRussell 7 years, 1 month ago
Comrades! Is this government's idea foreigner leadership's 'green concept' to trigger redevelopment on Ragged Island?
Also, has anyone's spotted or heard a peek from the missing in action crown minister... or is PM the new crown minister but refuses transparency to so inform the PEOPLE?
http://tribune242.com/users/photos/2017…
Islandboy242242 7 years, 1 month ago
My thing is, the country is in dire need of an active, motivated, and outspoken Environment Minister right now. With already existing issues with Bimini and the Mangroves Destruction, Oil continuously seeping out from Clifton and now apparently also in many points between dealing with fuel/oil supply lines; the ticking time bomb at the dump - with Bahamar also stepping on our necks to remediate; Environmentally related issues in Hurricane ravaged areas, Environmental Issues dealing with new cruise ports on Ocean Cay and East Grand Bahama, and finally...maybe...possibly...hopefully...some sort of sensible, sustainable recycling plan for all the trash we dump in Nassau.
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