I read again your Caribbean entries with great interest, not only because of the places that are being written of, but also because their stories are so similar to others in the region. Island after island the true Caribbean is disappearing, and it is being replaced by the sanitized multi-national corporation rendition of it -- which is far less than the original. I know that in two week's time, I will step outside Princess Juliana Airport on Sint Maarten, and see what another has wrought upon what was once a quiet hideaway. I hear that the best beaches are being seawalled to protect condos, that Westin is building yet another huge resort and that a more urban attitude is infecting even the small villages. This after only a year when I last visited.

Of course, this process began on Sint Maarten a long time ago, when the island decided to become a cruise ship and second home destination. For the longest time, however, St. Maarten held on to it's soul, albeit in corners that day-tourists rarely saw, or in homes that people wintering on the island were never invited into. Now, like Guana Cay, even that is disappearing. To add injury to insult, even St. Maarten is going to have its own dolphinarium soon, as if the world needs yet another penal colony for our swimming mammals. In short, it is too late for the island, and they are steadily slipping into the state that is Times Square by Disney. Real, but not really.

These sad thoughts make me wonder how the Guana Cay story is progressing, and if you have any plans to revisit there, and add to your thoughts? Not of all of us can be everywhere, and it is through fellows like you that we can keep up with faraway places we've never been but that we care deeply for. Do carry on, sir.

Meanwhile for me in the next few weeks, at least there is Saba. Saba is blessed to not have white beaches, that and to have inhabitants who know what they have and not to destroy it willy nilly for a billion dollar deal. Some things are worth more than money. Charles Boyer, North Carolina

From the bloggers -- love yer writing style. You are truly a raconteur and story teller par excellence. This stuff, in our humble opinion, is Pulitzer-worthy. Don't stop. Bahamas Blog

Is everyone aware of the increasing number of messes in the Bahamas? As if there aren't enough challenges to coral reefs these days with warming seas, the developers in the Bahamas appear to be running amok. Whether its a golf course for Great Guana Cay, a gargantuan casino on Bimini, or coastal development on Clifton Cay, it appears that coral reefs are taking a back seat to big money. Erik Gauger provides a really nice in-depth look at the situation on Great Guana Cay. All of these struggles to protect coral reefs need help. Shifting Baselines

I have visited the Abacos twice this year with family and friends. Out of all of the islands, we loved Guana Cay the most. Now, not to put down any of the other islands, they all have something to offer. We just felt so welcomed in Guana Cay. The first visit I had been diving with Troy at Dive Guana and was eating lunch at the Blue Water Grill. I have enjoyed food at many restaurants and found the food great and service with a smile. It was a bit slow that day, but an older gentleman was eating at the bar next to me, and listening to his conversation with the staff. He had a birthday party the night before. We started talking and came to find out he had lived in Arkansas and had just been back for a graduation.

He is a second home owner on Guana Cay. We talked for a while and made lunch that more enjoyable. Everyone is just so friendly, it reminds me of driving down a country road back home and everyone waves as you go by. Our second visit was just as wonderful as our first. Once again, we met so many nice people. This visit we spent a large amount of time on the Atlantic side on the north end of Guana Cay. The beach is soft with a pink touch to it. The water between the reef and the beach is calm with some light chop. The reef is the best I saw so far in Abaco. Now this would be the one the Discovery Land Company is going to DESTROY with the large development. It is a shame that this large American Company is stealing this from the people who live on Abaco. It will be a sad day when all the PAID scientists that they have hired say 'oh sorry, we made a mistake the reef is dead.' The residents, or what is left of them will be without their ecotourism to produce any type revenue for the people who live on it. 

I am lucky that I did get to see this with my daughter before it is destroyed. Everyone who has ever been to Guana Cay should help the locals protect this reef. The island should not be sold by the government so that some rich Americans can make millions off of this. They have done NOTHING to get along with the residents of Guana Cay and as an American myself I am ashamed of them for doing this. It is a disgrace. I am pleased to see such an effort to save this. With support Guana will WIN!

Ken
Bigelow Arkansas

Coming over the hill and seeing Dolphin Beach Resort for the first time is a memory I will always cherish, but it was nothing like going up the steps and seeing the Beach for the first time. Kaye(baby sister) and I were speechless and that is saying something. We quickly check into our great place, changed, and off to the Beach. We walked forever, only seeing one other person. Yes, this is definitely the place. How can I come here and not share it with the ones I love! The thing I did not know is that I had not seen any thing yet!

Dinner was great, the folks at Dolphin Beach were great, food great, and all was right with the world. A good nights sleep before the actual scouting begins.

Did not sleep much, up before sunrise, can not miss anything. Coffee and Bailey's in hand, sack for shells, and a towel was all we needed. We walked, looked, and was totally amazed that the Reef was so close to the beach. We must go get some snorkel gear. It was a little rough but not to bad. We walked down to Coco Paradise. Met the owner and operator, his son and the wonderful local cook. Talked, ate, and a couple of Bloody Mary's, yes, found yet another great place.

Time to get down to business, met with the operators of Dolphin and explained that I wanted to bring 25 to 30 folks into Guana in March or April and throw a party to celebrate family and friends. They directed me to Donna for golf carts, Troy for boat trips and diving, identified all the places to eat and gave me all the information I need regarding logistics of pulling this off. I explained that I wanted to make sure that my guest that would be giving up the precious gift of time, would not be disappointed.

Everyone took time with me to discuss what I would need, what it would cost, and gave me options for saving money. After all, I have not won the lottery yet! The scouting of facilities, food, transportation, etc took most of the day. We did however manage to find Nippers for lunch and vowed to return for evening spirts.

Now the real scouting begins, because of FLOYD, most of the locals came to Nippers for dinner and drinks. I feel very, very lucky to have met so many on my first trip. I met the School Teacher and learned about the school and how everyone worked to support this little school. We were even able to help with a little printer problem the next day. Met the couple that owned Guana Beach Resort that burned down. They were returning to the states and invited us to a final far well on the foundation, the only thing remaining of the resort. The owner of Nippers and all the local friends and relatives that work so hard to keep us happy. The store owner, who worked with me to arrange faxing of list for my future guest, The Mayor, the owners of Dive Guana, several private home owners, and loads of wife's, kids, dogs, and friends that were all there to help put this little piece of paradise back together.

We found out that the community was planning a group effort to clear up an area near the center of town. What can we do, off to the local hardware store for some gloves, we worked together and made a small dent in a very big job. We were ask and joined the community in lunch served at what was left of the fig tree. It was a great day that finished up with dancing and singing on the slab of Guana Beach Resort.

Last Day, we must see the reef. It was more beautiful then I can tell you. We were schooled in what not to do to preserve this beautiful wonderful gift from God. We spent the whole day just off the beach at Nippers and High Rock. Great pictures, great memories, new friends, and a plan to return.

The only thing that could keep Sister Kaye and I from a complete break down is knowing that in a few months we would return.

April 2000, I returned with 28 additional guests. My children, their spouses, my 1 year old granddaughter, sisters, cousins, and friends. We came form New Hampshire, California, Texas, and of course Oklahoma. A whole week. The first time I took this group to High Rock, walking with my granddaughter, hundreds of butterfly's surrounded us. It was magic. Three of this group turned into full fledged scuba folks. They have since been to several places but the Reef at Guana still remains on top of the list because of the colors and variety of coral and fish. It was as perfect as anything I could have ever wished for in my dreams. Guana Cay locals stole their hearts. This is a very rare and special place, not just because of the beauty of the reef, water, beaches, and number of stars but because of the people. Everyone vowed to return and with exception of 4, have returned.

Now, times are changing, big money is trying to cash in on something that the folks at Guana have always had and never took advantage of for personal gain. They could have long ago, made the money and ran but this is there home, they respect the beauty and do not want money and power to destroy what they have worked so hard to preserve.

Money has already restricted access to High Rock, the place my granddaughter knows as butterfly beach, Sea Side has sold to a development company to use for big wigs in there organization, no more camping on the beach at the north end of the island due to development, Nippers is sold, we will see what that means, and the REEF, what will happen to the REEF? What will happen to the HEART of Guana, the people? Will they leave, will they be ran out?

I truly hope that Big Money wakes up before all is lost. I had hoped that someday my daughter could take her granddaughter to this place and tell the story of the butterfly's or even better be able to have her granddaughter experience this gift in person.

Okie Flo, a Guana want to be.

Dear Prime Minister Christie:

My husband and I have invested in your country as second homeowners on Guana Cay in the Abacos. We fell in love with the natural, pristine beauty of Guana Cay and many of its local residents are like family to us.

As such, we strongly wish to see your country prosper with sustainable, long-term growth that benefits its citizens and preserves its natural beauty. We believe the planned Discovery Land Company development from the Discovery Land Company at the north end of Guana is incompatible with this type of growth and, in fact, represents the worst type of growth possible. We implore you to reconsider your approval for this development to take place.

The golf-course will ruin the reef that sits just offshore the north end of
Guana. Many studies show the incompatibility of golf-courses with coral reefs, citing that the chemical runoff from golf-courses deadens reefs and pollutes the waters.

The marina will ruin the fish estuary, causing a disastrous effect on the waters and marine populations in the Abacos - two of the most vital elements of Abaco's economy. Furthermore, the exclusivity of the development is entirely at odds ith the inclusive nature of Guana's resident community.

When you consider tourism in the Abacos, you realize that people are attracted to these islands for the very things they do not have: golf-courses, casinos, and large-scale development. The typical visitor to the Abacos does not come to play golf; the struggling Treasure Cay golf-course can certainly attest to that.

Rather, the typical visitor to the Abacos comes to immerse himself or herself
in the peace and beauty of the natural environment. He or she comes to snorkel
and dive among the beautiful and plentiful reefs that are healthy and teeming
with life, to swim and fish in unpolluted waters, to walk deserted beaches that
are free of crime and tawdry tourist attractions. He or she comes to marvel at the natural flora and fauna, and the absence of commercialism and glitzy resorts. He or she is here because the Abacos represent something keenly unique that cannot be found anywhere in the US, or in Nassau or Freeport.

The allure of the Abacos is its pristine, natural beauty, and its tourism as well as the livelihoods of many of its citizens are dependent on it. Destroy this environment and you will ruin Abaco's tourism and you will destroy its economy and that of the country as a whole. Not only will visitors stop coming, but many second homeowners will leave in search of the environment they loved in the Abacos and lost. It is reasonable to expect that if second homeowners leave, they will not purchase property again in The Bahamas.

Your government undoubtedly looks to the Discovery Land Company development as a source of long-term income. There seems to be no reason at all to believe that this could even be possible. The relentless wind alone on Guana will prevent the marina and the golf-course from generating any sort of sustainable business. It is impossible to play golf in the windy conditions that exist on Guana, and more desirable, protected marinas abound in other parts of the Abacos. The lack of fresh water will render maintenance and upkeep of the golf-course impossible.

When pondering such conditions, one wonders why the Discovery Land Company would even consider such an endeavour for Guana Cay. The Disney Corporation - a multi-billion dollar corporation - was unsuccessful with a development on Guana's north end, and abandoned it after only two years. To say the Discovery Land Company can succeed where Disney could not is sheer arrogance.

The more likely scenario is that they will realize this and abandon the project
just as Disney did. The Bahamas will be no better off financially, the natural
environment of Guana Cay will be ruined, and the livelihoods of its residents and its tourism business will be destroyed.

Prospective visitors are steadily becoming aware of the Discovery Land Company development and the harmful effect it will have on Guana Cay. It has been brought to the attention of several travel publications in the United States, who have written about it and the disastrous consequences it will have for the Abacos. One magazine recently featured Baker's Bay on a Top 8 list of ultimate beaches, but commented that due to the Discovery Land Company development, "...sadly, time may be running out on Baker's Bay' status as 'pristine'."

To promote long-term economic growth, it makes more sense to capitalize on Guana's natural attributes, rather than try to create something synthetic. Many of your sister countries in the Caribbean - Dominica, Saba, St. Vincent, the British Virgin Islands, and Antigua, just to name a few - have begun to realize the merits of sustainable tourism and are embracing ecotourism as a viable and effective strategy for long-term growth. Studies show that mass development such as the Discovery Land Company development is not sustainable in the long-run, because it inevitably causes destruction of the fragile tourism at the same time. It would promote a healthy respect and awareness for the environment, and encourage and stimulate economic growth for the local businesses on the island. It would make the best possible use of local talents, expertise, and lore. This is the type of development that could be embraced by all and would position The Bahamas for healthy long-term profitable growth.

Ecotourism activities:

• Minimize impact.
• Build environmental and cultural awareness and respect
• Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts.
• Provide direct financial
• Provide financial benefits and empowerment for local people.
• Raise sensitivity to host countries' political, environmental, and social climate.
• Support international human rights and labour agreements.

Instead of destroying the environment at the north end, an ecotourism initiative would capitalize on and celebrate its natural beauty while protecting it at the same time. It would promote a healthy respect and awareness for the environment, and encourage and stimulate economic growth for the local businesses on the island. It would make the best possible use of local talents, expertise, and lore. This is the type of development that could be embraced by all and would position The Bahamas for healthy long-term profitable growth.

My husband and I love your country and only want what is best for it. Guana
Cay is a unique and precious resource that will be forever destroyed if the
Discovery Land Company development is allowed to continue. As such, I again implore you to please pursue healthy development alternatives and halt the current plans of the Discovery Land Company development.

Sincerely,
Elizabeth and
Roger Brock
Guana Cay, Abaco

More Letters