The Bahamas National Trust continues to be concerned about the proposed jetty for Bimini Fast Ferry. The BNT is gravely concerned that construction has begun on the jetty including off shore structures on the seabed that are near to coral reefs. BNT has not been able to confirm from government that a full comprehensive review of the EIA has been done. The Trust requested and did recently receive a copy of the EIA from Resorts World Bimini. That document although voluminous was incomplete and did not contain appendices or the EMP needed for a completed review. BNT requested the additional documents (which have since been received) and has begun a review of the EIA as provided by Resorts World Bimini, but the Trust continues to be concerned that the EIA has not been made available to the public nor has there been any public consultation within the community on the proposed jetty.
While the intrusion of regularly scheduled cruise ship calls into the pristine marine environment of Bimini is not supported by the BNT under the current proposal, the BNT is mindful of the organization’s responsibility to provide advice to both the Government and to the private sector on the means of achieving the best possible environmental outcomes where development takes place in environmentally sensitive areas.
It is the view of the BNT that the proposed location for the jetty, artificial island and extensive dredging for this development, in close proximity to so many key dive sites, is incompatible with sound environmental policy and practice and if approved will likely cause irreparable and continuing damage to the marine environment of Bimini. The proposal to locate the artificial island atop a portion of a live reef is especially troublesome. It is also noted that the ship’s turning action and reversing into its berth as envisioned in the EIA will continue to push sand from the sea floor onto the sensitive live coral reef on each occasion that the ship calls on Bimini.
The BNT recognizes the importance of the overall investment by Resorts World in Bimini and the potential for significant new employment of Bahamians by the successful operation of the resort and casino. The Trust has requested a meeting with relevant agencies including the BEST Commission to discuss their preliminary findings and to offer alternative(s) so as to lessen the impact on the marine environment, which constitutes a significant part of Bimini’s economy and history.
