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Locals who had watched the kids performing research on Guana Cay described them as nice kids, but woefully ineffective in the water. One story relates a kid slipping and falling several times on the beach, because he kept trying to walk with his flippers on.
Earthwatch volunteers are not meant for hard research, and Earthwatch condemns the misuse of their volunteers.
Earthwatch also condemns development companies using their name. Magruder told me that I should report to them any incident of the Discovery Land Company using their name to promote their name. But at the same time, Earthwatch is allegedly sending representatives to explain to Abaconians that the development is good for the environment.
 The development will end the traditional way of life for the Guana Cay residents. The natural beauty of the island, the coral reefs, the mangrove system, the marine and terrestrial life, will all vanish. The birdwatching-fishing-quiet low-key tourism that Guana Cay depends on will vanish. Already, the cultural genocide appears to have begun. Since the islanders of Guana Cay do not allow the developers to stay in their hotels, cottages or homes, the developers have already bought out an elderly couples' inn to house their staff. The Seaside Inn, which was once a vital part of the island, is gone forever.
The loss of the Seaside Inn was lamented in an online meeting place called the Abaco Community Message Board, where one reader wrote, "I enjoy all of the bars and restaurants on Guana, but Guana Seaside was my favorite place to sit at the bar, uncork a bottle of red, and discuss the ills of the world with Glenn, Bob, and Gerry. The music was always low so you could easily converse with the guests and locals. An era has truly ended on Guana."
But that's just the beginning.
Next Article (Coral)
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Great Guana Cay is a thin, six mile island in the Northern Bahamas.
The island's inhabitants, who settled here 200 years ago, are employed in fishing and cottage industry tourism.
The island's coral reef is of international importance as one of the most intact surviving elkhorn/staghorn coral communities in the world.
The inhabitants began fighting tooth and nail to save their island's coral reef and mangroves from destruction after hearing of plans for a golf megadevelopment on their tiny barrier reef island.
Hundreds of the world's most revered coral reef scientists and marine ecologists, as well as almost every single Bahamian environmental organization, have banded together to try to stop the Baker's Bay Golf & Ocean Club (Discovery Land Company) from realizing completion.
The proposed 585 unit, 180 slip marina, tennis courts, hotel, destination spa and championship golf course were pushed through the Bahamian central government with no local consent and without proper permits in a land grab (including of local public land designated for use by Bahamians) of unbelievable proportion. In one of the most amazing and unique environmental stories in history, the islanders have brought the developer, and the Bahamian government, to task. The small island is now waging a bitter legal battle with the government and the developers.
Rise Up Sweet Island compiles the viewpoints of the Bahamian and international marine conservation community and presents documents, evidence and history for all interested parties.
Notes from the Road is a travelogue which covers environmental and cultural issues around North America, the Caribbean and Europe.
National Geographic Magazine supports anti-Megadevelopment movements in Abaco and Bimini in new article on shark conservation.
ReEarth
SharkLab
Restrict Bimini Bay
Mangrove Action Project
Global Coral Reef Alliance
Caribbean Conservation Corps
Notes from the Sea
75% of Bahamians on Great Guana Cay signed a petition this winter against Baker's Bay Club. Three years later, resistance is strong.
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