Ambassador for the environment Keod Smith, who is also chairman of the Bahamas Environment Science and Technology (BEST) Commission, hoped that experience gained in dealings with the resort would help bring the government one step closer to implementing laws to regulate environmental standards for all future developments.
Mr Smith, together with members of the media, yesterday visited the construction site of the future Bimini Bay Resort, which will include 350 residential units, single family homes and condominiums as well as a marina, shopping centre, casino, customs and immigration offices among other amenities.
Problems The property, initially bought in 1995 by developer Geraldo Capo, an entrepreneur who among many projects constructed the Treasure Cove community in New Providence, has run into several financing problems and criticism from locals concerned with the destruction of their environment.
“It has not been an easy task – people called me crazy,” said Mr Capo of his project.
After going through “hell and high water”, Mr Capo finally feels that his dream is becoming a reality.
He is proud to have chosen Bimini for the site of his project and to have invested large sums of money in it, as he “believes in the Bahamas, believes in the form of government of the Bahamas and in Bahamians.”
Mr Capo conceded that there had been environmental concerns and difficulties with the BEST commission in the past, but feels his company is now on the proper path based on the guidance and requests of the commission.
“We have spent a lot of additional money on environmental studies which were prepared by an independent environmental company and have established a system of co-operation with the BEST commission,” Mr Capo remarked.
The BEST chairman concurred with this assessment.
“It is a pleasure to be working in this kind of environment, the fact that we exist in this level of co-operation,” said Mr Smith. He was also pleased to acknowledge that Mr Capo’s company has “pursued the corrective measures we required, including putting in place an independent environmental company and covering the cost for it completely.”
Mr Smith feels this project can serve as an example for future developments in the Family Islands and hopes it will push forward legislation to firmly establish environmental standards and “set parameters so we can see what those standards ought to be.”
“The kind of environmental legislation which is going to eliminate the need to address these issues on a case-by-case basis,” Mr Smith said.
Among Mr Capo’s many ambitions is to provide the locals of Bimini with permanent employment.
The entrepreneur sees his project and a future 400 or 600-room hotel as a source for this employment. Tasha Rolle, chief councillor for Bimini and Cat Cay, is very pleased with the BEST commission’s monitoring of the situation and is positive the project “will boost the Bimini economy considerably.”
Karin Herig, The Tribune
