In a case which its lead attorney is pledging will be a “watershed” moment for “the rule of law” as it relates to development in The Bahamas, a judge yesterday granted leave for environmental group ReEarth to seek a judicial review with respect to the Blackbeard’s Cay resort project.
Justice Stephen Isaacs gave ReEarth permission to launch a judicial review action which calls into question the granting of permits and approvals to the developers of the Blackbeard’s Cay project, where environmentalists have expressed concern about the conditions in which dolphins are being housed as part of a dolphin attraction offered to tourists.
The site of a cruise passenger excursion which visitors can buy day passes to from downtown Nassau, Blackbeard’s Cay is the commercial name for Balmoral Island, located off the coast of New Providence.
Former PLP Minister, Charles Carter and Spanish Wells Chief Councillor Abner Pinder are among the investors in the project, along with St Maarten businessman, Samir Andrawos.
In court documents obtained by Guardian Business, the judicial review application names V. Alfred Gray, minister of agriculture and marine resources; Michael Braynen, director of fisheries and marine resources; the Town Planning Committee; Prime Minister Perry Christie as respondents, and ReEarth, headed by Sam Duncombe, as the applicant.
Fred Smith QC, partner with Callenders and Co., successfully sought leave to seek a judicial review in the Supreme Court yesterday on behalf of ReEarth, with Justice Isaacs agreeing that he can move ahead with the action and that it should be done in a “speedy” fashion, as requested by the applicant.
