Ocean's Empty | 06.27.07

Mike Meldman, the CEO of Discovery Land Company and an actor in the breezy summer Blockbuster, "Ocean's 13", is on a public relations rampage to fix his company's image, and to make Bahamians and his clientele forget that Discovery Land Company is destroying Guana Cay and one of the Bahamas' most critical reef systems.

I am going to show you some examples of Discovery Land Company's recent attempts to fix their public relations image, illustrated through clippings in the press and their own marketing language. While you read these real-life recent examples, remember that Discovery Land Company is not in business to help people out and be friendly to everybody, nor are they in business for peace and love. They are in business to make money and to satisfy their investors. If Michael Meldman were just wasting millions of dollars on philanthropic endeavors, he would be fired by his investors. No, these following examples are carefully crafted corporate decisions to maximize revenue. These are advertising and public relations dollars designed to confuse and deceive both the Bahamian public and Discovery Land Company's clientele. Will Bahamians take the bait?

Take a look at this example. On April 2, 2007, the University of North Carolina announced that they were creating an environmental professorship in which Meldman was the primary donor in a multi-million dollar professorship for environment and conservation studies. To the student press at UNC, the irony of this made front-page headlines. The students understood that Meldman was trying to use money to fix the perception of himself and his company. Clipped from an official UNC publication:

In May 2007, Discovery Land Company updated its website and added a new section which is designed to make the company look philanthropic. There are no details, only vague writing that says the company will help with foster children. But it sounds good.

Yesterday, the Nassau Guardian published a press release entitled, “BNT benefits from Baker’s Bay” which announced that Baker's Bay Club was giving $200,000 to the Bahamas National Trust (BNT).

I admire the Bahamas National Trust deeply, and I encourage donations and support to this institution whose importance to the Bahamas grows every day. But Baker’s Bay Club did not give this gift out of good will, love for the environment or for the people of the Bahamas. If they spent their millions so freely, their investors would fire them. Rather, the Baker’s Bay Club is offering this donation, at the very least, to improve their public image. At the very worst, the donation will be used to as a carrot, dangled to lead Bahamians from the devastation and outrage being caused by this unacceptable megadevelopment.

I have seen the worldwide coral reef and mangrove communities speak out against this development. I have listened to eminent marine biologists and conservationists denounce this megadevelopment for the many ways it will harm crucial reef, mangrove and terrestrial environments. Let’s be clear about one thing – Guana Cay’s environment is unique in this world, and its elkhorn and staghorn coral structure is considered one of the best and last of its type in the world. National treasures like Guana Cay need to be protected. Guana Cay’s marine environment has supported a sustainable fishing community for generations, its beauty draws international tourism not only to Guana Cay’s small cottage tourism center, but its reef helps fill up hotels and homes in places like Treasure Cay, Hopetown and Green Turtle Cay. Beyond the vital economic importance of Guana Cay’s unique and fragile environment, is the overriding international importance of saving these unique environments before it is too late; before these treasures of God are gone forever.

The article quotes: "Those funds will come in the form of $200,000 per year in each of the first three years and thereafter we will sit with The Trust and we will look at its accomplishments, objectives and milestones, with a view to supporting the trust again to the tune of a second three-year grant for another $600,000." To me, this is code for “our bribes will influence your policy.” Baker’s Bay Club has come up with an ingenious way to ensure they can dangle money in front of an underfunded agency with the hope of influencing policy. I have seen Baker’s Bay Club use money to influence and change public opinion many times before. Bakers Bay CEO Michael Meldman, in a previous Nassau Guardian article, was quoted as defending his motives for donating money to offset negative publicity on Guana Cay. He said, "We do this sort of thing everywhere our properties are located. This is not being done here at Great Guana Cay just because we want to quiet the previous situation.” But actually, after calling all of their other properties, we found no similar foundations or donations existed at the time that article was written. Money is being channeled by calculating marketers precisely to change opinions in the Bahamas, even while outside of the Bahamas, opposition to the project is unanimous among professionals concerned about the effects such a development will have.

Bahamians are deeply religious, deeply moral people. They understand that their natural environment is a great economic and cultural resource. They will not be fooled by the latest comedic public relations scam perpetrated by the Baker’s Bay Club.

Baker’s Bay Club has lost the scientific battle over whether their development is good or bad for the environment. An international scientific consensus strongly condemns the large, dangerous footprint of this megadevelopment. I urge the BNT to take sides on this issue which is so important to the Bahamas’ future. Bahamians are not owned by rich Americans dangling carrots in front of their mouths. Perhaps its time for the Bahamas to seriously consider abandoning this illegal and dangerous development and strongly consider the Baker’s Bay property, its coral reef, the nearby Fowl Cay reef, and the mangrove and orchid forests of Guana Cay’s northeastern wilderness into a national marine and terrestrial park. The economic and environmental benefits will resound for generations, and the positive press will help reverse the negative press Bakers Bay has brought to this proud country.

The article in the Nassau Guardian

Here is the article and quote from the Nassau Guardian article I mentioned above:

Here is another example of Baker's Bay Club using the Bahamas National Trust to their marketing advantage. They actually claim that one of their public relations' schemes consists of Bahamas National Trust officials. But read below and then see the letter from the Bahamas National Trust:

Q: How will development efforts impact Joe’s Creek, the mangroves and the bonefish flats on Guana Cay?

A: Contrary to prevalent rumors, Joe’s Creek, the mangroves and the Guana Cay bonefish flats will all be preserved and not altered by development (EDITOR's NOTE: this claim was fraudulent. Discovery Land Company's advertising material lied to its clientele and to Bahamians. Mangroves have been removed, destroyed and Joe's Creek has been severely mangled.) The Joe’s Creek area is the centerpiece of a 70-acre preserve (EDITOR'S NOTE: this is fraudulent. Less than 70 acres of the Joe's Creek area remain) which will be set aside by the developer. The preserve will be established to forever maintain the land in its current natural state. The general public will continue to have access to this preserve area for crabbing and other uses consistent with the environmental sensitivity of the area (EDITOR'S NOTE: this is fraudulent - locals who have accessed this public land for generations have been turned back by Discovery Land Company sentries). A developer-funded interpretive center, public trail system and 5-acre public beach park will provide restrooms, fire pits and a public dock for small craft. The preserve will be governed by an independent foundation made up of representatives from the College of the Bahamas, Bahamas National Trust, and the University of Miami.

(EDITOR'S NOTE: the above statement is fraudulent. At the time of printing, the Bahamas National Trust had no intention of being involved in this scheme. See note below from the executive director of the Bahamas National Trust in response to the above advertising material.)

April 20, 2005

Troy D Albury,

Thank you for the letter of April 14, 2005 regarding Bahamas National Trust's involvement in the proposed development at Guana Cay, Abaco.

I am a fairly new Executive Director at the Trust, having been in the Bahamas since early December. To the best of my knowledge, Bahamas National Trust has not been involved with the Guana Cay development at any level. As far as I know, we have not even seen the development plans and not been involved with discussions about a proposed 66-acre preserve there. The first I had heard about it was when I read it in the newspaper.

Because BNT has not been involved with the discussions, we do not have
any position or opinion about the proposal.

I hope this is helpful in clarifying our role.

Regards,

Chris Hamilton
Executive Director

Southern Boating Factual Errors | 06.27.07

Yikes! Another publication has made all sorts of mistakes when writing about the Baker's Bay Club. It is impossible such a magazine could write this article without getting their information directly from the developer themselves. This is poor journalism, and Southern Boating has no excuse to make such grave factual errors. I urge the boating community to ask their magazine to decline such errors in the future. Here is my letter to the editor:

Dear Editor,

I was surprised to read your article on the Baker’s Bay Golf & Ocean Club in the Northern Bahamas.  There are several factual errors, and it sounds as though the writer ‘took the bait’ of the developer’s marketing propaganda.  Let’s be clear about one thing – Discovery Land Company’s Baker’s Bay Golf megadevelopment is opposed by thousands of coral reef ecologists and scientists.  Baker’s Bay Club is opposed by the Sierra Club and some of the most revered marine scientists in the world.  The large imprint of this development, which is adjacent to a coral reef considered by scientists to be among the very best in the Bahamas, is wildly denounced by even the most conservative experts.  For Southern Boating to say that Baker’s Bay has an ‘environmentally sensitive culture’ is simply a falsehood. These falsehoods have been exposed by the press and in the court room.  Contrary to the article in your magazine, legal action continues.

The author says that thousands of orchids and bromeliads ‘were also saved.’  This is what visitors at the development are shown.  But think about it – removing orchids out of an important mangrove area whose link to the coral reef is vital and then bulldozing those mangroves does not mean Baker’s Bay is saving anything.  There is no ecological value to creating an orchid nursery.  It simply sounds good to an uneducated audience.  There are no endangered orchids or bromeliads on Guana Cay.  However, there are three endangered nesting sea turtles on the island, and eminent sea turtle conservationists and Jean-Michel Cousteau have denounced Baker’s Bay for the danger their plan poses to sea turtles.  By destroying the mangroves, but keeping the orchids, Baker’s Bay will destroy the islands only fish nursery, and destroy bonefishing flats which boaters sustainably use in small numbers each year.

The author wrote about the golf course being planted with paspalum grass.  But he misunderstands the facts surrounding paspalum grass, and why it is not the magic solution the developer’s believe it to be.  I have spoken to many paspalum experts, and all of them would disagree with the authors words.  Coral reefs are unique ecosystems in that they require a minimum amount of nutrients in order to survive.  While I am in favor of development, no sane person can condone such large developments adjacent to such pristine reefs.  The Caribbean’s coral reefs have been severely degraded over the past 50 years due largely to developments like this one.  The boating community is aware of this issue and it is my understanding that the vast majority of them are against the Baker’s Bay Club because it is dangerous to this crucial environment and it is anathema to the cultural qualities that make boating in the Bahamas a unique, rich experience. 

Erik Gauger

Creepy California Golf Course uses Bakers Bay Tactics, but Project Gets Halted | 06.18.07

"Too much big-scale development..." | 06.10.07

New York's The Buffalo News writes a piece on the Abaco Out-Islands. The author captures the importance of small-scale tourism in the islands. She also observes the irony of Baker's Bay Club. I enjoyed the quote about big resorts being all the same. I cannot stress to traveler's enough the misery that large developments inflict - both on the traveler and the community where these development are built.

This piece in the Buffalo News is also an important landmark, because it reminds us that there are no positive reviews of the Baker's Bay Club. The travel press are not blind - anybody writing about Baker's Bay Club does so negatively. There is no good press about Baker's Bay Club, anywhere, unless it has been paid for by Discovery Land Company.

Below are some quotes from the piece:

“Each island has its own character, and it’s different every time you visit,” says Kathryn Posten of Orlando, Fla. In contrast, she says, “Big resorts have beautiful scenery, but beyond that, they’re much the same.”

Another appeal: A notable shortage of “too much” – too much glitter, too much noise, too much business, too much big-scale development. Leave that to Nassau, the Bahamas’ busy capital on the island of New Providence, and nearby Paradise Island. The Abacos are the kind of islands Jimmy Buffett sings about: tiki bar havens where you hoist a brew with friendly locals while you catch Stone McKuen’s band’s seductive ditty, “Do Me,” or listen to the Barefoot Man’s CD extolling the virtues of Great Guana Cay. Miles-long curves of floury sand are marked by a single set of sunbathers or a few frolicking children.

...As in most places in this world, change is afoot....The government seeks a balance between preservation and tourism, say tourism officials, but just what that balance should be is a matter of debate. Upscale development has its critics, and the 585-acre luxury housing development Bakers Bay on Great Guana Cay has caused outrage among locals, who are concerned that runoff from the golf course will harm Great Guana’s reef.

Despite some commercialism and a few larger hotels, Great Abaco retains wild spaces that seem almost endless, where you can kayak, snorkel, track the rare Abaco Parrot and see the wild Barb horses, thought to be descendants of animals brought by the Spanish.

What are they Hiding? | 05.22.07

The following letter from Fred Smith to the attorney for Discovery Land Company/Bakers Bay Club and the Former Bahamian Prime Minister's administration steps up the requests to see documents that Discovery Land Company is trying very, very hard to keep hidden from public view. In the United States, these sorts of documents are public. But Discovery Land Company, and the former administration don't want the public to find out what they know, because if these documents are uncovered, we'll find out just how illegal the relationship and Heads of Agreement between the two entities really is.

Mr. Michael Barnett
Graham Thompson & Co.

Dear Sir:

Re: Save Guana Cay Reef Association – Your undertaking to immediately provide copies of Permits; discovery generally

Thank you for your letter of the 22nd instant.

I am surprised that your clients are resistant to the scope of documentation to be discovered.

I note your reference to the provision of “permits” relating to your clients “construction” on Guana Cay.

This is not what was undertaken.

You will recall considerable exchanges between the Court and Counsel for the parties relating to the basis upon which your clients were engaging in any activities on the Cay.

You represented to the Court that everything your clients were doing had all necessary approvals, permits, licenses, agreements as may have lawfully been necessary under the relevant statute, be it from some central government or local government authority, and hence your clients’ activities never did and do not rely on the Heads of Agreement as a basis for engaging in any activities.

In particular, in relation to the lawful basis upon which your clients were purporting to build anything, lay out roads, etc., or the basis upon which they were importing materials (for instance, under the Hotels Encouragement Act or the Heads of Agreement) and the basis upon which they were conducting extensive dredging, drainage, construction works, bulldozing, destruction of mangroves, tearing down and uprooting forests, taking away sand and blocking Joe’s Creek, and particularly any such works on the Crown and Treasury Lands and the basis upon which your clients purported to possess and occupy such lands.

You will recall that, as a result of such representation, the Court of Appeal denied the injunction because they held, if your clients had all lawful permits even if my clients won the appeal, your clients may still have been lawfully entitled to do what they had been doing.

Whilst my clients do not agree with that proposition it is nonetheless the basis upon which you undertook to provide the relevant documents and the basis upon which the Court refused the injunction.

Unless we have your confirmation by return that your clients will comply with the undertaking given to the Court and not in the narrow sense which you now suggest, we shall have no alternative but to take action upon the breach of your undertaking.

In addition, please provide the remaining items sought.

Yours faithfully
CALLENDERS & CO.

Frederick R. M. Smith

Crucial Subcontractor Leaving Baker's Bay | 05.21.07

This may signify the beginning of the end. The dredging company, Encore Dredging, which subcontracts under the American Bridge Company, is leaving Baker's Bay Club. As of today, they are preparing their equipment to leave the island.

Workers from both American Bridge Company and the dredging company have been talking freely about the reasons for doing so. It is believed, based on the words of workers at site, that the subcontractor is leaving because Discovery Land Company is not paying American Bridge Company, and if American Bridge Company is not getting paid, they won't pay their subcontractors.

Other possible reasons include the recent court case news, and the change in administrations in the Bahamas.

Any new dredging subcontractor considering the Baker's Bay bid should consider that the project will likely be shut down soon.

Island Rising, "Case May Rock Nation"| 05.21.07

On May 17, the islanders of Great Guana Cay once again met with Discovery Land Company in court. As you know, the locals lost the case in the Supreme Court during the time that Perry Christie served as Prime Minister.

This image shows the guarded entrance to the crown and treasury land - now illegally in the hands of the developer. The appeals case looks at the illegality of giving crown and treasury land - similar to National Park land in the United States - to a foreign entity for a pittance. Photo by Anonymous.

The appeal was extremely successful, and the appeals court judges asked very, very difficult questions of Discovery Land Company. Michael Barnett, lead attorney for Baker's Bay Club, was largely at a loss as judges asked very specific and very pointed questions.

The judges did not place an injunction on Baker's Bay Club; but they promised to have a decision within two months. Bahamians are very excited about the prospect of having the Supreme Court decision overturned, as the evidence that the developers and the now-out-of-office Central Administration together engaged in an illegal and unethical proposition that willfully hid crucial details from locals, and intentional stepped over legal bounds to make this monstrosity happen.

Here are some articles and legal documents for those of you interested in more detail:

Important Articles and Background Material for this post:

Nassau Guardian: Case May Rock Nation
The Bahamas Journal: Guana Cay Project Victory
Read the Appeal documents: here
Read the Letter to Michael Barnett, the day after the appeal here

The Birds of Great Guana Cay in Danger | 05.21.07

The beautiful Glossy Ibis forages in Guana Cay's mangrove systems. But those mangroves are almost gutted by Discovery Land Company. Stock photo

We have discussed some of the obvious threats that Discovery Land Company poses to specific species. The 3 species of sea turtle that nests on the beaches of Baker's Bay are an obvious example. But we have avoided discussion of the birds. This has not been intentional; because Great Guana Cay is also an important bird-nesting site.

Remember that Great Guana Cay sits on the northern edge of the Bahamas and Atlantic; many of the other barrier islands in the area are already developed, or never had the same forested area as Baker's Bay.

The short tailed hawk is one of many species under threat from the Discovery Land Company. Stock photo

Several key species nest in the Baker's Bay area; when construction is complete, this habitat will be gone forever. The Baker's Bay Club EIA mentions some of the threats to these birds, but there are no solutions. The birds are conveniently forgotten.

White-tailed tropicbirds and Audubon's Shearwater both nest on Great Guana Cay. The following list is an amalgamation of two birder families' lists. It is an impressive list for such a small area.

The threats to the birds of Great Guana Cay are immense. Discovery Land Company simply plans to terraform almost all of the native habitat on the forested northern 2/5ths of the island. This insane project is destroying very unique and crucial bird habitat. If you have ever viewed a North American birding book, and examined a good West Indian birding book, you'll know that the migratory patterns of many species specifically involve the Bahamas, or even more specifically, the out-islands of Abaco.

Thank you to the familes who provided the lists for this Guana Cay Bird List:

American Oystercatcher

White-Cheeked Pintail (Bahama Duck or Bahama Pintail) * Discovery Land Company actually advertises that they will provide hunting grounds to hunt this species. It is illegal to hunt this species in the Bahamas.

Bahama Woodstar
Bananaquit (Bahamas subspecies)
Barn Swallow
Belted Kingfisher
Black and White Warbler
Black-bellied Plover
Black-faced Grassquit
Black-throated White Warbler
Bobolink
Brown Pelican
Cape May Warbler
Common Yellow-throated Warbler
Cuban Emerald Hummingbird
Double Crested Cormorant
Eastern Kingbird
Glossy Ibis
Great Blue Heron
Great White Egret
Great White Heron
Green Heron
Ground Dove
House Sparrow
Key West Quail Dove
Killdeer
Laughing Gull
Little Blue Heron
Magnificent Frigatebird
Mallard
Mangrove Cuckoo
Bahama Mockingbird
Northern Mockingbird
Northern Parula Warbler
Ovenbird
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Prothonotary Warbler
Red-legged thrasher
Red-winged Blackbird
Ring-billed Gull
American Robin
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Ruddy Turnstone
Sanderling
Short-tailed Hawk
Smooth-billed Ani
Snowy Egret
Starling
Turkey Vulture
West Indian Red-bellied Woodpecker
White Tailed Tropicbird
White-crowned Pigeon
White-tailed Tropicbird
Willet
Wilson’s Plover
Yellow-crowned Night Heron

Kudos to 'Environmental Blogging' | 05.19.07

A new environmental blog covers the issue of Michael Meldman's donation to the University of North Carolina. The blog is well written and worth a visit.

We encourage environmentalblogging.com to continue to cover the Great Guana Cay issue.

This Week's Press | 05.16.07

Lots of press in the Bahamas this week.

Argument Carried to United Nations

FNM Will Not Sell Land Senselessly

FNM Will Abandon Megadevelopment Policy

Read the Appeal | 05.14.07

Learn about the Great Guana Cay islander's appeal. Read the court document here.

Save Guana Cay Reef calls on the new FNM Government to bring Sunshine to Guana Cay | 05.14.07

The Save Guana Cay Reef Association continues its fight to protect the rights of the Bahamians and residents of Guana Cay.

After having completed a very successful international exposure of their plight at the United Nations, the Association applauds the FNM Government’s commitment to freedom of information and, in particular, Prime Minister Ingraham’s speech in Abaco promising that the Ministries of Government will now make relevant information available to the public.

For 2 years, the Association has been trying to discover what permits, approvals, concessions and/or licenses may have been issued to the Bakers Bay Developers by the Hope Town District Council, Ministry of Works, BEST Commission, Ministry of Health and other Government organizations.

Disgracefully, for 2 years, they have been stonewalled and not one piece of information has been provided, other than by Captain Allens of the Docks Committee.

The Association celebrates the arrival of the Government in the sunshine and is now taking the FNM Government, its Manifesto, and the promises of the Prime Minister at face value.

Today, the Association has written to Mr. Hubert Ingraham, the Prime Minister, Mr. Zhivargo Laing, the Minister of State for Finance, Mr. Sidney Collie, the Minister of Lands and Local Government, Mr. Neko Grant, the Minister of Tourism, and Mr. Earl Deveaux, the Minister of Works requesting that Bahamian citizens at Great Guana Cay be provided with the normal information which citizens of a country, especially those on the local level, should be entitled to.

Attached are copies of all of the letters.

The citizens of Guana Cay continue to fight for their environment and in particular, for their rights under the Local Government Act, the visionary piece of legislation which the FNM enacted when they were in power in 1996.

In addition, the Association’s letters call upon Mr. Collie as the Minister responsible for Crown Lands to stop the trespass and destruction of the Crown Land at Guana Cay, especially since Ms. Deborah Fraser of the Attorney General’s office has given evidence that no Crown Grants had yet been issued to the Bakers Bay Developers. The rights of the citizens of Guana Cay have been savaged over the last 2 years by the PLP administration, their small community has been destroyed and their environment is being devastated.

The citizens of Great Guana Cay call upon the FNM Government to make good on its promises to protect the Bahamian people from abuse, protect Crown Lands for Bahamians, and make full and transparent disclosure about what the PLP Government has allowed the Bakers Bay Developers to do at Guana Cay.

Frederick R. M. Smith

New Government Sends Megadevelopment Policy to Trash Bin | 05.12.07

Read the Bahama Journal Article Here

Within the first week of his admininistration, Hubert Ingraham has sent a clear message that the age of mindless megadevelopment policy has ended. In a way, on a national scale, the message of Save Guana Cay Reef has pervaded the Bahamas, and they have won the greatest battle of all.

But the fact remains that construction proceeds at a fast pace at Guana Cay. Until construction at Baker's Bay Club ends, all Bahamians must be vigilant and do everything in their power to save their country.

Outline of United Nations Presentation | 05.08.07

The following is Attorney Fred Smith's outline to the United Nations speech given today in New York. I encourage you to read the entire outline, which is linked at the bottom of this post.

Tuesday, May 8 at the United Nations: sunny Bahamian weather in New York City.

Mangroves are critical ecosystems for shore protection and fisheries. They are essential to a healthy coastal environment; yet they are being destroyed worldwide at an accelerating pace. They represent an international environmental resource that is little understood or appreciated.

In The Bahamas, vast areas of mangroves are being destroyed by foreign development speculators to create all-inclusive tourist resorts and exclusive real estate, golf and marina developments. In Bimini and in Guana Cay the devastation has been catastrophic and continues.

Delegates listen to a speech given by the group affiliated with Guana Cay and Bimini, on the relationship between mangroves and coral.

The Government of The Bahamas, in particular the former recent PLP administration of Prime Minister Perry Christie, which was last week voted out in general elections after five years in power, has encouraged and promoted this at the altar of “Development” at all costs! Despite paying lip service to “Environmental Protection”, there is no environmental protection act.

This presentation is part of a group presentation on behalf of the Save Guana Cay Reef Association, an NGO from the Abacos in The Bahamas in conjunction with the Mangrove Action Project, an NGO from Bimini on the legal and policy challenges faced in protecting mangroves, and by extension the environment in The Bahamas. This paper addresses issues relating to environmental protection, tourism, land and marina developments and land use in The Bahamas.

These are issues which present challenging social, economic, and political considerations, not only for The Bahamas, but also for neighboring Caribbean nations and coastal communities worldwide, especially those that are being “discovered” by developers, precisely because they are beautiful, pristine and secluded environments, away from the hustle and bustle of large towns and cities and therefore ripe for glossy development plans and marketing to affluent second home buyers, golfers and mega yacht owners looking for offshore berths.

Fred Smith at the United Nations

Leaders in coastal communities are challenged to become educated, debate and develop rational approaches to these challenges. Although there are many similarities in the impact on the environments of coastal communities, their cultures and rights are often affected in unique local ways.

This paper will focus on The Bahamas, and in particular, Great Guana Cay, a small island in the northern Bahamas Island chain known as The Abacos. Although localized, the story of Guana Cay represents a microcosm of what is happening throughout The Bahamas, and elsewhere in coastal communities. It is a story that is still unfolding politically and in the courts...

You can read the complete outline of the United Nations speech today. Click here.

Guana Cay Citizens at United Nations Today | 05.08.07

Fred Smith, attorney for Save Guana Cay Reef, and Troy Albury, President of Save Guana Cay Reef, speak at the United Nations

Today is a historic day for the fight against the Discovery Land Company's massive megadevelopment on Great Guana Cay. The citizens of Guana Cay, their attorney and a group of scientists will be representing the push for sustainability in the Bahamas today. I will be reporting in with updates all day. Here is an article from The Nassau Guardian:

Click to visit Nassau Guardian Article

Guana Cay fight goes international Smith to speak at United Nations
By ANGELO ARMBRISTER

Freeport News Reporter


The fight to save Guana Cay is now gaining international exposure as Grand Bahama Human Rights Association (GBHRA) President Fred Smith and other "Save Guana Cay" representatives are set to address the United Nations Commission on sustainable development.

Smith will be accompanied by Thomas Goreau, president of the Global Coral Reef Alliance, and Troy Albury of the Save Guana Cay Reef Association, who also will make presentations at the summit, which will be broadcast live over the Internet at 1 p.m. today.

In an interview with the Freeport news before he left, Smith could hardly contain his excitement.

"I'm very proud to be representing The Bahamas and speaking on behalf of Save Guana Cay Reef Association and the Mangrove Action Project out of Bimini," he said. "We have been given a very rare and unique opportunity to speak before the United Nations Commission on sustainable development."

Smith explained that Goreau, who has been very active internationally in reef protection, arranged for the group to appear before the United Nations.

"We are going to speak about environmental protection, marsh land and mangrove protection and developments in so far as their impact on coastal zones," he said.

Noting that The Bahamas is an archipelago of 700 low-lying islands and cays, Smith said that climate change and global warming are things that Bahamians should be very much concerned about.

"In Grand Bahama we're only a couple of feet above the sea level so any little glacier that melts, we might be under water," he said. "So my speech is going to be focused on what laws exist in The Bahamas for environmental protection, the policies of the Bahamian government and the profile of development in The Bahamas."

The Human Rights activists said that his address will focus primarily on Save Guana Cay and how it mirrors what is happening generally in The Bahamas as it relates to foreign real estate developers, "who come here and are mainly interested in making a quick dollar and leaving.

"The reason these developers are coming here is because they keep finding these beautiful, untouched, pristine, virgin coastlines, coastal zones, so we want to keep them that way, because they don't have them in South Florida in the U.S. anymore," he said. "Bimini and Guana Cay have been very hard hit by this, and we are hoping to alert the international environmental community to the devastation and environmental rape that has gone on in The Bahamas, particularly under the PLP (Progressive Liberal Party) administration over the last five years."

Smith noted that former Pime Minister Perry Christie has declared April as coastal awareness month, but he has failed to appreciate the absolute and fundamental importance of mangroves.

"They provide fishery nurseries, they are the eco-system between the salt water and our land and they are the ones that act as a sponge and a filter for the growth of land in The Bahamas," Smith said. "The wetlands and mangroves creep and grow and actually build land."

If it were not for mangroves in The Bahamas, Smith said there would not probably ber very much Bahamas.

"They are the land growers of The Bahamas and at the same time provide the protection and the fishery resources for conch and lobster and shrimp and all kinds of small fish and in particular the lemon shark in Bimini," Smith said.

He noted that those same mangrove areas are sold to foreign developments as crown land that appears to be worthless.

The mangroves, he said, are given away to developer's and are dredged for mega yacht marinas, exclusive golf courses, exclusive second homes, small resort hotels and gated communities.

Smith said that he wants the new Free National Move-ment (FNM) government to be aware that, "we are going to be watching them every step of the way.

"We are hoping that this is the first international alarm raised at the beginning of the FNM, term so that they make good on their promises to protect the environment, promote respect of the environment," he said, adding that he is very keen on having Environmental Protection Act passed as soon as possible.

Smith invites any persons that maybe interested in environmental protection in The Bahamas to log on the United Nations website to hear his address live at 1 p.m. today.