SGCR Comments

SAVE GUANA CAY REEF

Friends of SGCR

Save Guana Cay Reef is supported by individuals that are concerned about the environment and the Bahamian legacy.

If you would like more information, or better yet you would like to help our cause, please contact us at:
info@saveguanacayreef.com

Comments

We thank you so much for your words of encouragement, we will continue to post them.

10/01/05: Sierra Club

A major international report titled, "The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment" was released this year in partnership with the UN agencies, international scientists and development agencies. It warned about the ongoing degradation of ecosystems around the world. It called for responses in communities worldwide to influence better stewardship of our ecological resources in order to protect essential services that provide people with a quality of life. The report pointed out incremental damage at the local levels fed by inadequate processes that can "ensure sustainability and productivity of ecosystems services for human health, food, production and other benefits."

I thought of this report while studying the present record of citizens’ efforts to bring attention to the potential impacts of the Baker's Bay Development on Guana Cay. It serves as an example of the difficulty the public has protecting ecological assets in their own communities when they have to fight for access, deal with inadequate transparency in decision making, struggle against inadequate integrated planning and act as the real watchdogs of the public interest where government has failed in that role in its eagerness to fulfill the needs of larger corporate interests.

While reviewing the complex record related to the above project, I am
left with questions that might be enlightening of instruction to others watching this one play out in the

Bahamas:

1) Why have development decisions in the Bahamas like the Guana Cay project been made “in a vacuum with no real understanding of the carrying capacity of either the infrastructure or of the environment"?

2) Why was the Baker's Bay Development given acres of Crown Land without adequate public input?

3) Why was the LOCAL government level bypassed during the process of giving approval to the project?

4) Why has the Bahamian government not responded to the excellent recommendations of a world renowned marine bioecologist's recommendation regarding the Environmental Impact Assessment? Dr. Michael Risk raised concerns on the lack of critical data needed before going ahead, related to impacts on coral and other resources that may occur from this golf course, marina, and housing development, regardless of laws and regulations in place, but no effort was made to address his cautions.

5) Why have the proponents of the project made references to the involvement of institutions that have since denied that reference?

These are a handful of the questions that arise upon reading the record to date. The ecosystems of the Bahamas will continue to be threatened by the incremental threats of irresponsible development that erode its precious resources for not only those making a livelihood in the area but those providing support for the community as visitors to the area.

The Sierra Club, an organization of over 800,000 members, cares about places like Guana Cay, where people live and recreate. We encourage citizen action that seeks to protect healthy communities and which challenges the decisions of a government which neglects the larger public interest, while aiding corporate interests at the public's expense.

Michele Perrault
International Vice President
The Sierra Club

03/16/05: I stand with the concerned citizens and residents of Guana Cay who reject the Passerine Development. Your emphasis on maintaining a healthy ecosystem is a farsighted outlook that will benefit future generations. Moreover, your commitment demonstrates profound respect for and good stewardship of Earth's resources.
JoAnne M. Terrell, PhD, Associate Professor of Ethics and Theology, Chicago Theological Seminary

03/16/05: Please add our names as a supporters of your drive to save Guana Cay Reef and mangroves. I enjoyed demonstrating with you in Nassau yesterday and admire the courage and determination of everyone there. I feel I have made a few good friends in just a few short hours. Thank you all.
Dick Mucklow - Bahamian; Beatrice Mucklow - Bahamian; Penny Roberts - Bahamian; Andrew Roberts - Bahamian.

03/16/05: I am in total opposition for this multi-million development in the Bahamas. The amount invested too small, what is $400 million, it is only a drop in the bucket, because the profit these developers will be making will be astronomical when compared to $400 million dollars.
Also the environmental damage to the virgin land in Guana Cay will be irreversible and irreparable. Plus, what will the Bahamian children and grandchildren have to look forward to in terms of having a stake in their land, when it has already been given away to foreigners for peanuts.
The government also has to take into consideration the Coral Reefs around Guana Cay, they will be totally destroyed if that 240 slip marina and golf course are built, the run-off will go directly into the ocean and destroy this once pristine settlement in The Bahamas.
I AM IN TOTAL OPPOSITION TO THIS LAND DEVELOPMENT IN GUANA CAY REEF. IT SHOULD REMAIN THE WAY IT IS! IT SHOULD REMAIN AS AN ECOTOURISTIC/NATURAL CONSERVATORY SITE!
That is my humble 100% Bahamian view. J.A. Nichols, Nassau

01/08/05: Please add the following names, keep up the fight and good work.
Lory Kenyon, Hope Town, Abaco, Bahamas
Rachael Aberle, Eleuthera, Bahamas
Neil Aberle, Eleuthera, Bahamas

01/04/05: Not sure if non-citizens or land owners can be on the petition, but please consider Sean & Annette McMullen of North Palm Beach, FL to be vehemently against the destruction of Guana Cay and Abacos in general with any large scale development that only serves to turn the Abacos into the exact type place people go there to escape!! There are 140+ golf courses in Palm Beach County, FL alone!! And private gated communities?! Hundreds with all the walls, gates, Disney-like landscaping and one could ever desire.
I realize this is all about $$$ (actually am a commercial real estate consultant), but the potential tragedy posed by this project (and others), which will absolutely destroy one of the most pristine and unspeakably special places on Earth, must be stopped.
Please let us know what we can do to help. I will write letters and send to the addresses you posted. I will also forward your website to a dozen or more boating/cruising/tourist friends who have all spent time in the Abacos/Great Guana and ask them to take action.
Hopefully THOUSANDS of people will flood all concerned with negative comments. Scary thought that your own Prime Minister is willing and anxious to "pave over paradise". Doesn't say much for the future of the Bahamas.
Sean & Annette McMullen, Florida

01/03/05: As Friends of Guana Cay, please add our names to your petition to SAVE GUANA CAY REEF!
John, Cheryl, Emily & Elizabeth S, Ohio

01/03/05: We are lovers of all the Abaco Islands. But, our favorite is Guana Cay. It is truly a special place. I have visited numerous islands in the Caribbean. But, there is an indescribable magic about Guana Cay. The people, the pace of life and the beauty of that fabulous island must be preserved! Not to mention the gorgeous water that surrounds it. It would be an absolute atrocity for anyone or anything to harm the beauty, the wildlife or the ecosystem in any way shape or form!
I am in Texas but, my heart goes out to all of you. My thoughts and prayers are with you all! Irene & Trent E., Texas

12/28/04: Dear Prime Minster Christie, I have recently read of the proposed development on Guana Cay and cannot understand the short sightedness of the Bahamas government. At a time when Eco Resorts are becoming very popular and their impact on environmentally sensitive areas is minimal, that the government would have the short sight to consider a resort from the “same old” over built, put it any where, add as many pollinates as necessary to make mainlander think its tropical type resort.
You seem to have an opportunity to create something that is special. A vacation spot that could give people an opportunity to enjoy and understand the beauty of your islands not just the over priced luxury of a prepackaged golf and tennis world.
The American Island of St. Johns was saved from the fate you are now purposing for this little island and their tourist business have thrived for decades, yet you can find endless examples of over built over priced time share resorts that have changed hands repeatedly and decreased in value and maintenance every time.
To create the resort they have purposed they must destroy a natural creek bed, add endless chemicals to your soil, which will need to be reapplied on a regular basis because the natural soil is porous and will not hold these water-soluble substances. They will do all of this to attract people that have no interest in your island or its unique heritage.
Don’t let these developers of little insight in. Hold out for someone who will cherish you beautiful islands. There are many companies who understand how to develop resorts that don’t crush a fragile island.
Please stop this waste of beautiful land. Chris H.

12/20/04: Hi, Your website is great! short sweet and to the point. I will pass it on to my list. I will also write a letter to the press. Will try to contact Keod Smith Ambassador to the Environment to see if I can get anything from him. Sam Duncombe, Director reEarth Nassau, The Bahamas

12/17/04: I would be very surprised if there's anything "sound" about the Guana Cay development. In Bimini the Bahamian Government is allowing the Bimini Bay development. It's a biological travesty condemned by every scientist who sees it yet the government preaches that it's a sound project. As in Guana the citizens were bypassed and the deals made in Nassau. The officials say that there's "only a few people opposed to the project". That's untrue, but the Biminites feel mostly helpless against a government that doesn't include them. The parallels between Guana and Bimini show that the PLP's policy is to plow it all up for a quick buck. In Bimini PLP won by some 70% in the last election because they promised to be "more environmentally sound" than the FNM. As soon as they were elected they immediately made a quiet deal with Miami-Cuban developer Gerardo Capo to destroy the Bimini Estuary. They tout the development as "drastically reduced from the earlier FNM approved proposal". The reality is that they leave out that the FNM had greatly reduced the project already from it's original form and had set aside a lot of land. PLP re-expanded it back to it's original size but agreed with Capo to have less dwellings. It seemed that the original density was just a poker player's ploy. Still there will be thousands of new people on Bimini, an 18 hole golf course in what is now mangrove estuary, hotels, casino, mega-marina etc. etc. all for which there is no adequate way to deal with sewage, solid waste and nutrient runoff. Capo's EIS was a self-serving joke and even then he ignores the environmental provisions in it. Already his digging and filling has drastically reduced the conch, bonefish, shrimp, lobster and probably every other inshore species in Bimini. The seagrasses are covered in silt because Capo doesn't use his silt containment booms that he promised (except in his official web site pictures). Also, although Capo owns the land a site plan from him to expand his development into all remaining Crown land on North Bimini was seen on the Prime Minister's desk. In addition to all of this Capo imports cheap Mexican and other foreign labor instead of using Bahamians like he promised. We are in the same boat in Bimini as you are in Guana. Maybe we should join forces? To get a little insight into the Bimini Bay problem go to the forum thread "out of the mouths of babes" at the site listed here and have a look at http://outdoorsbest.zeroforum.com/zerothread?id=280429 "Bertram 25"

12/15/04: 1. Where are they going to get all the fresh water to keep the greens and fareways watered? 2. How are they going to handle the runoff of all the organic chemicals (pesticides) and inorganic chemicals (fertilizer) necessary to maintain a golf course? Having a Master's Degree in Solid Waste Management and Water Chemistry (Environmental Engineering, UF) I can guarantee you that the reef system adjacent to Guana Cay will be dead and covered with algae in a short period of time if a golf course is allowed to be built as planned. The golf courses referenced at Winding Bay and Emerald Bay are located on very large islands with groundwater supplies for fresh water. Also, there are no barrier reef systems adjacent to these facilities, only rocks and then deep water. There is a golf course nearby at Treasure Island that could be utilized by the development if they need to have golf available and run them over on a ferry boat to the mainland. Actually, it would be better for the people of Guana Cay, the local reef systems, and the ecology of the island if no development were built at all. Guana Cay is much too small an island for a golf course. It would destroy the shallow fresh water table aquifer that many on the island use for their water supply. Development of a golf course on Guana Cay must be stopped. It would be an ecological disaster and counter-productive to the long-term interests of the other inhabitants of the island. Robert W. Bass, Professional Geologist/Environmental Engineer

12/15/04: Seems to me that regardless of the environmental impact of the development, the permanent and even seasonal residents of Guana don't want a development of this type on their Cay and I really don't blame them. The residents of Cherokee didn't want Winding Bay either. This is just another example of Nassau selling the country to slick foreign businessmen with fancy brochures, who will make a pile of money destroying the ambiance and beauty of these islands. These Cays have done very well over the past several decades and generating millions in tax revenue, by marketing and distinguishing themselves by what we don't have here ... like golf courses, casino's etc. "Island Notes"

12/14/04: Dear Prime Minister Christie
A very good friend of mine informed me of the proposed development on Guana Cay and the environmental disaster that will result. I have seen the devastation of the Great Barrier Reef and the significant effect on the Tourism and economy in Australia. The future generations of Bahamian’s, Canadians and people of the world will have very little beauty and a lot of un-natural disasters to look forward to with our governments’ poor foresight. I urge you to stop this development and preserve the environment and take it one step further and to promote eco-tourism. TB, MD, Toronto