The legal battle that has engulfed the $500 million Guana Cay project came to an end on Thursday. Now some Abaco residents are expressing their “joy” over the Supreme Court’s decision to allow work on the multi-million dollar project to continue.
On Thursday, October 12, the Baker’s Bay Golf and Ocean Club won its Supreme Court battle against opponents of the development. Developers have been locked in an intense battle with the Save Guana Cay Reef Association (SGCRA), which has protested against the development for almost a year. During that time the two parties have gone through many legal twists and turns.
But for the first time some Abaco residents are speaking out about the ruling, which allowed work on the $500 million project to continue. “I am so happy that the Courts decided to rule in favour of Baker’s Bay because that development is a blessing for the Abaco community,” said one Marsh Harbour resident. “It’s like the industry we never had because it allows a lot of our young people to have jobs.”
Merva Penn, another Abaco resident, told The Nassau Guardian: “I just thank God that the judge saw the good that the development did for us. Letting them start work again was a dream come true because now all of those who lost their jobs can hopefully get back to work. And that’s all we ever wanted.”
Some even maintained that the ruling serves as a crushing blow to the SGCRA. “I hope they [the Association] learn their lesson and give up, because this ruling shows that they have no legal ground to stand on,” said Marsh Harbour resident Shelton Wright. “The Baker’s Bay developers want to be here and the Abaconians want them here because they will build our economy. So [those] Reef people need to stay out of our business. I mean who knows what’s best for Abaco than Abaconians?”
At a recent demonstration in Marsh Harbour, Abaco, where more than 150 residents rallied in support of the controversial Guana Cay development, some residents even expressed anger at the SGCRA role in halting work on the development. “We’ve been quiet for a very long time and we’ve finally decided to show everybody from the rest of the country that it’s not Abaco that is against the development. It’s just a handful of people that don’t want to see the development go through,” said Art Sands, manager of Purchasing and Receiving, Baker’s Bay.
But in the days since, Fred Smith, spokesperson for the SGCRA, has publicly denounced the rally calling it a ‘desperate act’ by Baker’s Bay developers. Just days ago he also insisted that despite the recent ruling by Justice Norris Carroll, his group will continue to oppose the Guana Cay development.
Less than a decade ago, Guana Cay was a sleepy little-known Abaco offshore cay with picture book sandy beaches and turquoise waters with Bakers Bay in the north being a major attraction to snorkellers and divers. But its peaceful existence was shattered after the Passerine Partners expressed interest in the tiny island back in 2004. The group had proposed to build the Baker’s Bay Golf and Ocean Club, a resort/residential complex, which they say will include a 75-room luxury villa-style hotel and associated amenities, a first-class 240-slip marina, an 18-hole, 585-acre championship golf course, 350 residential lots and many other luxury facilities.
Their plans did not sit well with some and the SGCRA was formed. In January 2006 the SGCRA had presented a case in front of Supreme Court Justice Norris Carroll. The case was based on an application submitted by the Save Guana Cay Reef Association, who challenged a Heads of Agreement between the government and Baker’s Bay developers. They claimed that among other things, the move was illegal, the parties entered into it irrationally and failed to consult with the residents as promised.
By: JASMIN BONIMY, The Nassau Guardian
