Disney's Lighthouse Point proposal approved by National Economic Council

Lighthouse Point, Eleuthera. Photo: Barefoot Marketing

As of Friday, October 19, 2018

By KHRISNA RUSSELL

Deputy Chief Reporter

krussell@tribunemedia.net

DISNEY Cruise Line Island Development Ltd’s proposal for Lighthouse Point, South Eleuthera was approved by the National Economic Council Friday.

The decision came despite calls from Disney’s competitor, Lighthouse Point Partners, to delay the decision for 60-days to give LPP an equal opportunity to present its proposal for the property to the public.

It is also a perceived blow to the efforts of environmentalists who argued the conglomerate would not be good for the environment.

In a statement, which followed Friday morning, deliberations by the NEC, Cabinet Office said negotiations will now begin on the heads of agreement. These negotiations will detail the scope of the project, Disney’s obligation and those of the government.

The government described this as “the best decision” for the Bahamian people, a sustainable future for residents of Central and South Eleuthera and the economic development of the Bahamas.

“The negotiation of the heads of agreement will commence immediately,” the statement read. “When concluded, it will be presented to Parliament in keeping with the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability.

“The Cabinet Office wishes to emphasise that the land which is the subject of the proposal is privately owned. It has been on the real estate market for a long period. The land is not Crown Land and is not owned by the Government of The Bahamas.

“The Disney Cruise Lines Development Ltd has a sales agreement with the land owner to purchase the land.”

Cabinet Office went on to note that both the Disney Cruise Lines Island Development Ltd and the One Eleuthera Foundation along with its partners had publicly noted their plans for the development of Lighthouse Point.

It is also noted that recent polling revealed that more than 60 percent of Bahamians “very much” or “somewhat” support Disney’s proposal for Lighthouse Point, Eleuthera.

This was a reference to the controversial Public Domain Poll, which was paid for by Disney and slammed by critics. Among these was reEarth President Sam Duncombe who said the results were “magically skewed”. She was adamant that the poll had been deliberately structured to get the answers Disney needed to make a better case for the acquisition of the property.

The Cabinet Office further seemed to suggest that the One Eleuthera Foundation did not need a 60-day delay to present its plan to the public because it has previously held several town meetings in Central and South Eleuthera.

“The Cabinet Office is also aware of meetings held in the communities of Central and South Eleuthera by respective groups, and live radio broadcasts, which have allowed individuals to express their views,” the statement continued.

“During one of his regular town hall meetings, this one held at the Green Castle Primary School on October 10, 2018, the prime minister informed the people of Central and South Eleuthera of the Government’s plans for the nation and listened to their concerns. During this meeting overwhelming support was expressed for the Disney Cruise Lines Development Ltd proposal.

“The Cabinet Office notes that prior to that town meeting, the One Eleuthera Foundation and its partners held several community meetings in Central and South Eleuthera to promote their proposal.

“This included meetings at Wemyss Bight on 27 July, Deep Creek on 10 August, Tarpum Bay on 17 August, Rock Sound on 31 August and Bannerman Town on 7 September 2018.”

Some of the core elements of the Disney Cruise Lines Island Development Ltd proposal, which are of fundamental importance and to which Disney is committed, include: low density development and sustainable design, public access, and the restoration of various historical and cultural sites, the statement said, adding the development will create approximately 150 new jobs and an array of entrepreneurial opportunities for residents of Eleuthera and Bahamians in general.

As for Disney’s plans Cabinet Office said the developer would convey approximately 190 acres of the land purchased from the private seller to the government of the Bahamas for conservation and a national park.

Other parts of the plan include: “the integration of Bahamian cultural and artistic expression into the design of the site and experiences offered, and partnership with the community to develop training and professional development programmes.

There was also mention of Disney’s impact on the Bahamian economy with Cabinet office noting that the cruise company began cruises to the country in 1998 and since then “significant” impact was made.

TalRussell 6 years, 1 month ago

This Imperial Red Shirts government's cabinet comrades has lost their flippin' minds..... God Save da Queen. Sure as hell does hope "The Peoples" Her Excellency Marguerite be taking royal note to rethink why she hasn't appointed Royal 'Mental' Commission to examine upstairs state these 35 man's and woman's.

Clamshell 6 years, 1 month ago

Uh ... Tal ... the most influential PLP business interests at South Eleuthera are also backing the Disney plan. Ain’t just the Red Shirts.

TalRussell 6 years, 1 month ago

Just saying Ma Comrade Clamshell, media pictures say no hiding coincidence you just don't get 100 warm bodies showing up at town hall meeting - just happening be wearing identical Disney t shirts, all looking looking likes care time was taken make sure they got their proper sises..... doubtful they did ID check see how close or far away they hence from? Just asking who may have had footed bill
t shirts and any plane, lodging, meals or other methods transportation costs?

Clamshell 6 years, 1 month ago

Oh yeah, true dat ... I’m just sayin’, lotsa crabs in dis here pot.

TalRussell 6 years, 1 month ago

Yeah comrade but last time was in Andros as crab tourist, not one crab was wearing Disney t shirt. I swear. Would've at least thought those in Disney's camp would have a minimum ask paid a visit Disney's other island operation for firsthand inspection how locals are welcomed enjoy facilities and have or have not been financially benefiting and how many minimum wage locals and higher pay jobs are their and the benefits package,,, maybe talk some workers get their take on what goes on there. Like poll local MP Eleuthera ask proof of them paying visit other island on fact finding mission? Has any member Imperial red shirts cabinet been on fact finding tour other island? "Brave" sure been sleepy quiet. Always be suspect when politicians too eager finalise something?

DDK 6 years, 1 month ago

You have to have minds to begin with to lose them, Comrade!

John 6 years, 1 month ago

Well the decision could have been anticipated. You cannot go to Grand Bahama and purchase hotel property in attempts to revive that island's economy and then shut out a project in South Eleuthera that has significant economic benefits, including employment that can reach as far North as the island extends. One Eleuthera must now show that they were not opposing Disney just to oppose and they must now demonstrate they are capable of carrying out some of the plans they put forward, at least on other parts of the island. And government must now hold Disney strictly to the terms of the agreement, in terms of investment, protection, and preservation of the environment, employment of Bahamians and the free access of Bahamians to the historic and sacred parts of the island. And signs should be posted informing Bahamians and the general public that they have unrestricted access to those parts of the island./cay.

kristelsea 6 years, 1 month ago

The Bahamas will not be able to make a "good" deal with Disney. This is a company who has mastered loop holes and taking what they want, apologizing afterwards, and paying a fine, if necessary. Do you research. See their history. Sure, Disney will allow access to LHP... but you do realize that the ISPS (international Ship and Port Security) will NOT allow access to the site... so Disney can say "Well, we allow it, but ISPS does not"... LOOP HOLE number 1. NOTHING the Bahamas can do about that. Oh, there will be plenty more "gotchas" by Disney... mark my words. In Hong Kong they took all the rocks out of the Tung Chung river to use for their theme park... who'd ever have thought to say, oh Disney, you can't take these rocks? Well, that was illegal (no permit), ruined the natural habitat, caused millions of fish to die, and necessitated 3 fishing villages to have to move.... yep Eleuthera... just you wait... bend over and get screwed by the mouse... it's coming!

licks2 6 years, 1 month ago

OEF has already bought a hotel in that area. . .fixed it up. . .then use it to train hotel workers. . .to leave Eleuthera to go in some other island? That opposing group ran a seriously deceptive campaign. . .juvenile I thought!! They basically wanted to "band wagon" what silly groups like ReEarth etc. opposed!!! Brent them, Wilson, them greedy eleuthera persons and them white people living up in the bush there all wanted their "juice bowl" to themselves!!!

Clamshell 6 years, 1 month ago

There is no hotel in that area. OEF proposed building a 100-unit hotel there.

Baha10 6 years, 1 month ago

This is certainly a beautiful part of The Bahamas worthy of saving, but we must strike a balance between the Enviroment and Development, which includes not allowing Disney to go to another Country, as the economic benefits are simply too great, not to mention international exposure, bearing in mind first and foremost we have an ever increasing population that require jobs in order to put food on the table for their Families, otherwise they will have little choice but to resort to financial crime out of desperation, a basic fact that very few of the EPEs (Environmentally Privilged Elite) have ever had to consider, but a very “real” unfortunate consideration for most Bahamians every day.

TalRussell 6 years, 1 month ago

Here we go again with the limp justification by another comrade repeating Imperial red shirts "Too big allow fail". much fear exaggerated talking point.
Why the rush? Lighthouse Point Island has been on market unsold for like 20 years and Disney still hasn't written their cheque buy island - with first right option exercise "First Right Refusal" buy or not buy island? Are you aware that Disney does not own the other private island they operate on?

Porcupine 6 years, 1 month ago

Anyone with an ounce of brains and who has done their research would love for Disney to find another country to exploit. "Little choice but to resort to financial crime out of desperation...."? How old are you? Did you graduate from Grade school?

jusscool 6 years, 1 month ago

https://vimeo.com/260989975 https://vimeo.com/256742165

DDK 6 years, 1 month ago

Thank you. How breathtakingly beautiful! Damn The Mouse and damn The Rats.

ThisIsOurs 6 years, 1 month ago

"What is National Economic Council (“NEC”)? The National Economic Council, headed by The Prime Minister, is responsible for ...."

Who are the other members of this council? Because this story is worded like Pontius Pilate himself wrote it. Our hands are clean, the council made the decision.

This right here is the deathknell of the Bahamas.

Some have asked "why everyone so upset over this one thing"? Well, a big multinational just came into our community, and probably spent less than 20,000 dollars to launch a campaign that allowed them to walk away with billions of dollars in the most pristine land in the country. This was not a situation where there wasn't an alternative. They say we'll you know it's private land and they can sell to whoever they want. Does anyone remember a time when we valued our land so much that it was illegal to sell it to a foreigner?

Why not give Acklins Mayaguana and Inagua to the Chinese so they could farm it? Oh and give them Andros for forestry. That could probably net us 500, $600 dollar a week jobs. While you at it, give them Fox Hill, Bain town and Down Town. They have Cable Beach so at least we don't have that to haggle over. We could probably train 200 shoe shine boys and girls as an attraction for all the foreigners who'll come in to hire cabs, maids and gardeners. Maybe they'll buy a tshirt from the straw market, you know, the spinoff stuff.

Minnis now has the playbook for how he will sell off every piece of available out island property. Private or crown land. Buy a few tshirts give the starving locals enough money for a Kentucky snack, two beers and a tank of gas. thats basically what each Bahamian is worth. A tshirt and 20 dollars.

We are slaves once again. This land is not ours and the one industry recognized as the future of economic growth globally, that MAY have saved us, has been given away to foreigners on a silver platter. The CEB bill is not geared in anyway for Bahamian empowerment. I note that the tech summit that lists "training workshops" as one of its attractions has not one single course for software developers. Aren't the software developers the heart of the tech industry? What are they telling us? AGAIN.

It's the UBP and Pindling model. Bring in the foreigner with lots of money, give him everything he wants, direct him to your law and accounting firm of choice, the money, sometimes overpriced, under the table, for the privilege of free reign flows to you and no one else, and you eat off the fat while the rest of the nation gets jobs cleaning toilets.

Watch and see what convicted fraudster Kreiger do with Oban.

Clamshell 6 years, 1 month ago

Well written ... but ... that property was on the market for about 20 years. At any point, the government could have stepped in, bought it, and preserved it as a national park. They didn’t. And now you’re blaming “rich foreigners” for ruining the land? “ThisIsOurs” is a terrific screen name — and Lighthouse Point easily could have been “ours” once again if the government gave even half a damn.

Porcupine 6 years, 1 month ago

Bullshit Clamshell. I think you're a plant with an agenda. ThisisOurs is spot on in blaming those who are to blame, among them you, short sighted and obviously paid off.

Clamshell 6 years, 1 month ago

Well, Porcupine, if I’m being “paid off”, my check apparently got lost in the Postal Service. Gee, how do you suppose that happened? Because they don’t have a building and no longer deliver the mail?

It’s the same that happened with Lighthouse Point, it’s part of the national mindset: Never think ahead, never plan ahead, never worry about that “check engine” light on your dashboard until the engine blows up. Answer this: If we wanted Lighthouse Point to be a national park, why didn’t we buy it? We could have done so at any time over the past 20 years. Do you have any answers, or just more childish insults?

BahamaPundit 6 years, 1 month ago

ReThisisOurs The land was never ours. I think this is the misconception. The land is loaned to us until someone decides to build on it. You guys had years to raise funds and buy this property. If you really believe, start buying other properties in Eleuthera and make them public parks for the Bahamian people.

Porcupine 6 years, 1 month ago

We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children.” ― Crazy Horse

Clamshell 6 years, 1 month ago

... and how’d things work out for Crazy Horse?

geostorm 6 years, 1 month ago

thank you @ BahamaPundit! If this One Eleuthera group wanted to develop that property, why didn't they purchase it from the owner. It's been sitting there for all those years on the market for sale. The owner entered into a sales agreement with Disney. How can the government stop the owner from selling to Disney? The government had no choice but to approve this project because it did not own the land. If this one Eleuthera group was serious, they should have matched or beat Disney's sale price and then market the proposal for their project.

BahamaPundit 6 years, 1 month ago

I think you guys have a beautiful way of seeing the world, but your living in a dream.

BahamaPundit 6 years, 1 month ago

The only thing certain is death and taxes.

BahamaPundit 6 years, 1 month ago

You guys tried. You lost. Now, you have a choice: proceed with litigation and look like vengeful US Democrats or stand with Trump and Make The Bahamas Great Again!

BahamaPundit 6 years, 1 month ago

The way I see it. Any deal for the US is one less deal for China and that's a good thing. After the Baha Mar fiasco, The Pointe fiasco and Grand Lucayan fiasco, the Bahamas needed a win badly. With this Disney win, we may start to attracting high grade US investors again and for that reason LHP going to Mickey mouse is a GREAT thing!!!!

Clamshell 6 years, 1 month ago

Indeed. We could have bought Lighthouse Point three times over, just with the money that was dumped into the Grand Lucayan and will never be recovered. Then we would have had a lovely national park instead of a tumble-down “resort” that nobody wants to visit.

kristelsea 6 years, 1 month ago

There is absolutely no logical reason for this to have occurred except that someone(s) has been paid off. One Eleuthera has offered a better plan, providing more jobs, returning this to the country as a national park, and enabling the improved development and income for all of south Eleuthera, plus a trickle down thru the rest of Eleutehera, EVERY ecological organization is against it, 31k signatures against it, your own news papers against it, your own MOT has stated the cruise line industry is NOT good for the Bahamas. In addition, you cannot find a single article online that states a cruise port is good economically or environmentally, The ONLY explanation is foolishness behind our backs. The PM will regret this come election time. South Eleuthera will regret this several years down the road when the Disney half truths start getting exposed. The Bahamas will regret this forever... because, even if this land were to come up for sale after Disney has raped it raw, it will be of little value at that point. So sad and disappointing. These few paid for pro-Disney supporters were uneducated about the overall issue... just sold a bill of goods by Disney and our own government. I feel sorry for them. I hope you enjoy your retirement money, Mr Minnis, because your career will be short lived.

Porcupine 6 years, 1 month ago

kristelsea, I think it is a losing battle. We have, through various ways, lost our ability to think. Evidence the comments here. We have lost the ability to think either morally, logically or responsibly. This is what the politicians count on. Continuing distractions and deliberate dumbing down of the population whereby all they have to do is to look for a Trump or a Minnis to save them, and then we wonder why there is no truth, no trust, no real thought. Take a good look at Nassau, and then realize that these people are increasingly, "coming home" to the Family Islands with bad habits intact. That we cannot envision relative prosperity without destroying the golden goose, says it all.

jujutreeclub 6 years, 1 month ago

If the one Eleuthera and other organizations are interested in creating a national eco-friendly park, utilize the 190 acres given to government to do it. Simple as that.

DillyTree 6 years, 1 month ago

Who wants to come and visit an eco-resort with huge cruise ships off the beach and hordes of people on the beach?

And with our government's shortsighted inability to even look out for Bahamians, why would anyone want to become a partner on land the government owns?

You had your chance. That damn ship sailed.

BahamaPundit 6 years, 1 month ago

I have not been paid off. Disney was the logical decision. Even a no brainer. The problem with some liberals is they accuse people of ulterior motives for making logical decisions. Next thing, they will say Minnis colluded with Russia over LHP.

BahamaPundit 6 years, 1 month ago

MY last words on this: LIGHTHOUSE POINT WAS NOT OURS. IT WAS PRIVATELY OWNED.

Clamshell 6 years, 1 month ago

... the people who are now seething and weeping and gnashing their teeth and tearing out their hair could have organized at any time over the past 20 years to purchase Lighthouse Point and preserve it as a national park. There are numerous international conservation organizations who would happily have assisted them. But, nooooo ... nobody done nuthin’ ‘til The Mouse reared his ugly head. Where was all this concern over the past 2 decades?

Dawes 6 years, 1 month ago

One of those groups offered to buy the property numerous times over the last 10 years, only for the owners to say no.

Clamshell 6 years, 1 month ago

Respectfully, I know exactly what you’re talking about, they offered far below asking, never made more than an inquiry and and never put one thin dime on the table. You really think the owner would have refused to sell if somebody put up the money? Really? After +20 years on the market? Pass da pipe, I’d like a hit off what you’re smokin’ ...

TalRussell 6 years, 1 month ago

Really Ma Comrades. Does Eleuthera really want contribute another one Bahamaland's cays be transformed into what what is about looks like bizarre replica of Nygard Cay - about forever transform mother nature's natural majesty Lighthouse Point into cheapness tourist trap shacks isolated any from human life - excepting for exclusive spices McDonald's Big mac cruise passengers arriving and departing in regimental fashion and for but few hours during daylight restricted but 2 to 3 days week....... weather permitting......and passengers assured assured not be afraid chance encounter more than dozen or so of the main islands natives....,.friendliness a high priority corporate training model.

Tour of Disney's Private Castaway Cay, Abaco

...................////////https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-9zKz29zM4

BahamaPundit 6 years, 1 month ago

ReTal John Bull and Starbucks coming to Light House Point soon. LMAO

concernedcitizen 6 years, 1 month ago

I'm, a boat Capt ,I just ran a four hour tour out of Exuma to three places equally as pretty .Give me an 8 hour day w a 30 knt boat and I will take you to 50 spots as beautiful from where I sit right now .Our family Islands are underdeveloped ,should I say barren . We got more land that looks very similar than guest .We are a broke a## country w 1 in 4 people working for government we have been borrowing and taxing since independence to keep a float ,that's before you even figure in the corruption and theeffin . In reality and both parties know it VAT was recommended at 15% just to stop the bleeding ..We need every investment we can get ,,we need the jobs ,we need the departure tax a million more cruise ship passengers will bring , we need the jobs building it , we need the security jobs manning the gate etc ,,You people need to quit high hattin ,,we broke ,,and Cuba will open to the U S market sooner rather than later

sheeprunner12 6 years, 1 month ago

Indeed .............. and 80% of the land still belongs to the Government.

bcitizen 6 years, 1 month ago

So Freeport dies, and we have to buy a worthless hotel and at the same time giving cruise ships with tourists on them private exclusive destinations. Cant make this up.

concernedcitizen 6 years, 1 month ago

We should not have bought the hotel , we have been trying everything to get guest to Freeport ,even basically paying Sunwing etc ..One we cant do bargain mid level tourism our cost are too high ,electricity etc Two people don,t want to go to Freeport ,service sucks and people got bad additudes .I t would of been cheaper to close the hotel and give the workers 400 bucks a week for the next 10 years ..Two let a firm ,even foreign , come in and run the cruise port in Nassau , Our cruise port and Bay street is the dump of the region ,,even Haiti is nicer and better run ..I know longer talk nationalism and misplaced patriotism our cruise port and Bay street are a dirty ,loud scary mess

sheeprunner12 6 years, 1 month ago

The Government should have dissolved the GB Port Authority and its parasitic subsidiaries ............ We need to get rid of that HCA parasite

becks 6 years, 1 month ago

The Disney plan will do virtually nothing for Eleuthera or its economy. A few well placed locals will make some money during the construction phase and upon completion of the construction a few more will get low-paying toilet-cleaning and beach-raking jobs without benefits. Meanwhile a natural spot of extreme beauty will be destroyed and turned into a carnival ground that will never be able to be repaired or made whole again. Anybody who thinks otherwise has no clue how the cruise-lines operate,has not bothered to look at Princess Cay just down the road or the other private cruise islands in the country and just have their heads buried in the sand.

concernedcitizen 6 years, 1 month ago

I don,t blame the cruise lines for trying to control the guest experience ,, they are in business to make money and please guest ,,the port in Nassau is not a pleasing experience for their guest ,,in reality its dirty ,the vendors are loud and rude including many of the cab drivers ..There are 365 cays in The Exuma cays w only perhaps 10 oercent developed ,w maybe 100 spots or more as pretty as LHP ,in reality most of our Islands and cays look the same .I could blind fold you and take to The Jumento cays and tell u it LHP or Rose Island in different spots and you would not know the difference ..We got more Islands ,rocks ,cays than we have tourist for ,,

Exuma and Abaco have some development and still are underdeveloped .The rest of the family are barren ,,little settlement separated by miles and miles ,that mostly survive b/c of public service jobs ,,

bcitizen 6 years, 1 month ago

Leave Abaco and Exuma alone the rest of the Bahamas does not want to be like Nassau. The Bahamas low level of development is our greatest asset when it comes to tourism if managed properly and could create a vast amount of wealth for our people. Unspoiled natural beauty is something none of our other competition in Florida or further south have.

concernedcitizen 6 years, 1 month ago

Travel much ??Cuba has tons of unspoiled natural beauty , as does TCI , Many other Islands ,DR , Costa Rica ..You been to Abaco or Exuma lately they both can take more development and still be unspoiled ..Unless we are going to stop having babies we need development .What we have to sell is sun ,sand and sea and we have tons of it ..The majority of our family islands are "barren" islands w miles and miles btw settlements that only survive b/c of public services jobs , You think Aklins , Cat Island , San sal etc put money in the treasury ,,dam it cost us more than they put to subsidize Bahamasair to go there and keep the lights on ..We are broke and borrowing to pay the bills unless you want half of the civil service to go home tomorrow ,crime to sky rocket and our dollar to tank we need investment ,,take off your high hat and let reality sink in ..DR is doing 4 million stop over a year we are doing slightly more than we were doing in the 1990,s we are just charging a lot more

bcitizen 6 years, 1 month ago

Costa Rica is not an island ;P. So your idea to compete with DR's 4 million stop over visitors is to put a exclusive cruise port on land that if developed correctly could bring in lots of heads in beds? Wow brilliant. I am not against development but, we need the right kind that will benefit people with real jobs and not destroy our home in the meantime. And no I would not mind the civil service being cut by 50% it is a bloated hog that is not efficient with people falling over each other and no one responsible for anything. Put that money into proper infrastructure on these islands which is the governments job not employing people and the investors and the money will flow in. None of these places can develop without infrastructure.

concernedcitizen 6 years, 1 month ago

No Costa Rica is not an island , sorry if the way I worded it .Send hope half the civil service and crime will explode , you have to skrink the civil service by retiring and not hiring .Not everyone gets to be a lawyer ,Doc etc the majority of jobs are labour jobs .By the way the VP of marketing for sandals started as a busboy in the first Sandals ..Don,t forget Cuba has 4000 cays/islands ,We have more totally undeveloped Cays/Islands than we have guest for,,

BigD1 6 years, 1 month ago

Is this the only beautiful piece of property that can be developed for a National Park in the Bahamas. We have 700 beautiful Islands and cays in the Bahamas much which has been available for sale for decades but here you guys only interested in this piece because Disney wants to do something with it. What's worst you all are making it seem that this project is the end of all beaches and marine life in the Bahamas. Accept your loss and find another location to protect before Royal Caribbean does. #justsayin

Porcupine 6 years, 1 month ago

Who are "you guys"? Honestly! Are you really that ignorant of what we have and are at risk of losing so quickly? Are you really so shallow and uneducated? Does Bid D1 stand for big Disney $1? New here? Just in from Disneyland?

ThisIsOurs 6 years, 1 month ago

I almost cried the other day. The bible talks about this, about a people who mourned for the city. I took an out of town friend with a child to visit the beach. The child was so excited. When they saw the water they said "this really is an island". Then they said they were going to look for treasure. A little while later they shouted, look what I found! It was a dirty beer bottle cap. They ran up and down the beach picking up beer bottle caps as their "treasure". I thought back to my childhood 40 years ago when my father would take us to the beach and we would collect beautiful seashells. They were everywhere. I looked at the sand today and I couldnt see one sea shell. Who would have dreamt 40 years ago that a beach full of seashells would be a one for textbooks? I feel like we are continuing the practice of abusing our environment in unsustainable ways and I dread to see what we wont have on our 80th birthday.

Now I know someone on another island will probably say, our beaches have lots of seashells! You next.

ThisIsOurs 6 years, 1 month ago

@clamshell I actually got the name "This is ours" from the story on the fight over Nygard Cay. If Im not mistaken it was the story where Keod Smith threw the rock through Fred Smith's car....or one story in that series. The fight was over what Nygard was doing to illegally extend the land. And I do believe it was Keod Smith who shouted to Fred Smith "this is ours!!!"...when I read that story I said yes this IS ours, ALL of ours, not "yours", stop abusing it.

Also im not trying to make the rich white foreigner the bad guy. But if i get a sense that a rich white foreigner is taking advantage of hungry people and feeding them pennies so they could get billions, I get upset about that. I get upset when "I" believe investors are attempting to utilize what they believe is the ignorance and non sophistication of island people. Somehow I think if Bill Gates were interested in investing in this country, he'd do it in a sustainable way and he would ensure "The People" saw the benefits of the investment, not some greedy MP and his wife.

Clamshell 6 years, 1 month ago

Fair enough. But there is an inescapable reality here: That property has been on the market for +20 years. At any point a concerned eco-group or the government could have purchased it and preserved it as a national park. But noooo, nobody did nuthin’ ‘til Da Mouse came outta his hole. By then ... too late. That ought to be our national slogan. Too late.

TalRussell 6 years, 1 month ago

http://tribune242.com/users/photos/2018…

TalRussell 6 years, 1 month ago

Following the mutual dropping charges an incident on Jaws Beach - you can see by the big grins and shaking of hands both comrade lawyers approval Chief Magistrate Joyann saying she was glad the two men's could “extend a hand of friendship and camaraderie, adding: “Go your way and sin no more.” { Be impossible stage this picture }.

bogart 6 years, 1 month ago

Through all the .....beauty ....and...claims of .environment concerns....just amazing....aint ....no talking bout the hill in Palmetto Point get ......physically graded down........half hill removed...just gone.....

ThisIsOurs 6 years, 1 month ago

Because we don't know. You have to tell us and bring national awareness to the rape of the land

proudloudandfnm 6 years, 1 month ago

Good for Eleuthera. Congrats..

concerned799 6 years, 1 month ago

For those who trumpet "sustainable development" - where has forty years of this got our world since the term first came out in the 70s? The brink of ecological ruination is the answer.

Ever growing numbers of cruise ship visitors that contribute very low spends per person in the Bahamas CAN NEVER be sustainable.

The failure of the Bahamas to make Lighthouse Beach a National Park is a travesty future generations will be regretting. Glad to have got to seen such a beauty before Disney ruined it, only wish others could have had the same.

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Disney's Lighthouse Point proposal approved by National Economic Council

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