Press, Quotes, Articles
Please Note that this is Not a Complete List on this Subject
Diver Magazine – April 2008
Jean-Michel Cousteau: Bimini is now in a battle to survive, creating a MPA area would be a victory for all. Allowing developers to continue would certainly strip the island paradise of its precious natural riches. Over time visitors and residents will suffer the decline of economic, social, and environmental prosperity
The Bahama Journal – March 2008
Health Minister Minnis Stresses Importance of Wetlands Preservation
Bahama Islands Info – March 2008
North Bimini The Importance of the Truth
Nassau Guardian – February 2008
Fabien Cousteau famed environmentalist objects to tourism project
Cousteau stressed that the time to make decisions concerning the preservation of the environment is now. Bimini is at a critical juncture, he said. “Bimini is a very special place. Bimini is in a unique situation because the people of The Bahamas and the people of Bimini can choose whether the story ends up being a sad story to tell, and a sad example like many others. Or whether it becomes a story of success and preservation.”
Bahama Pundit - February 2008
Marty Weech “A Letter From Bimini”
Nassau Tribune - February 2008
Bimini “Paradise in Peril”- January 2008
Fabien Cousteau’s short piece on the importance of saving the mangroves.
Cinemaquatics - "Saving the Sawfish"
National Geographic Magazine
March, 2007 "An Eden For Sharks"
As recently as 2002, plans were in motion to set aside five marine areas to preserve the economic and ecological lifeblood of the Bahamas, with Bimini rated as the highest priority. But a change in government put off the project, and there's been no movement toward protection, despite angry prodding and accusations of corruption. Instead, giant resorts such as the one being built on Bimini have grown up on several outer islands.
The Tribune – November 2, 2007
New Laws to be Introduced on Building in Low-Lying Areas
Prime Minister Ingraham, "The filling in of wetlands is a thing
that has to come to an end, it has to stop."
Bimini Biological Field Station Protect Bimini
Award Winning Author Lynne Cherry
“"Why was Mr. Capo given a permit when the whole area of mangroves was designated the #1 priority area and was supposed to be protected as a Marine Protected Area? "
Earth Island Institute - The Bimini Bay Development, An Ongoing Environmental Disaster
Miami Beach Rod & Reel Club - “Bimini Destroyed”
Photographer Brian Skerry
Photographer Brian Skerry's Concern For Bimini
‘I saw something in Bimini that disturbed me as well. Large areas of mangroves were being bulldozed”
MythBuster Jamie Hyneman
“We should not allow huge developments to come in and wipe out these areas- this is what is happening in Bimini right now.”
Tourism Concern (UK) - “Save Bimini” “Water supplies are being used for the tourism development resulting in water to local communities being frequently turned off”
Global Response
Protect Mangroves & Shark Habitat
“The Bimini Bay Resort & Casino complex has already destroyed large areas of Bimini’s pristine habitats on land and sea”
Earth Action Network - “Bimini Bay Resort, Marina and Casino will be devastating to the Biminites and, with the natural wonders of Bimini destroyed, the very reasons for visiting these charming islands will be lost.”
Ecumenical Coalition on Tourism - “Gerardo Capo obviously feels little or nothing about the Biminis and its people and environment.”
Wet Pleasures Dive Outfitters - “Of critical concern is the ongoing construction of a mega-development on North Bimini. Known as the Bimini Bay Resort and Casino”
The Tribune – October, 2007
Environmental Signs In Bimini “there are still mangroves which can avoid future “death” and be saved from this unfair destruction, if phase II and III of Bimini Bay Project is stopped and the Marine Protected Area is established.”
The Tribune – Bahamas, September, 2007
Capo Moves to “Muzzle” Bimini Bay Resort Critics
“This is not the kind of investment that is good for the future of the Bahamas.”
The Bahamas Journal – September 2007 “development in Bimini Bay has for many years now been a bone of contention, not only because of its size and potential for social dislocation, but also because of environmental concerns associated with the dredge for the marina, the backfilling of wetlands and the development of a major golf course," Minister Symonette said.
Nassau Guardian - August 16, 2007
Claims of Slave-Like Conditions in Bimini
"There have been a number of complaints from Bahamian employees."
El Universal - August 11, 2007
Drug Trafficking Ring Explodes to Mexican in Bahamas
"they were going to command to us to a jail"
El Universal - August 11, 2007
They Denounce Network That Traffic Mexican in Bahamas
"dozen of workers managed to flee from the place in where they were retained: the Bimini island Bay, in Bahamas."
Global Insular Conservation Society - The destruction of the native mangrove forests and sea grass in the name of development has catastrophic potential for the future of many species of animals, sharks, shell fish, birds, reptiles etc... that rely on these forests (both above and below the water) for their survival and very existence.
Bahamas Government Minister Tommy Turnquest - July 17, 2007
“We Should Not Have Approved Bimini Bay.”
Divester.com Bimini Bay Resort: Beautiful, Luxurious…and Destroying the Environment “the development is busy filling in the only mangrove ecosystem in the Northwestern Bahama Bank
Nassau Guardian - September 18, 2006 - Government and Partners“The developers of Bimini Bay Resort have repeatedly come under fire with regard to the alleged environmental disorder that is being created with the elimination of the mangrove swamps and the creation of a golf course.”
Nassau Guardian - July 7, 2006 - Behind the Property Boom in the Bahamas“ claims the Bimini Bay Resort & Casino will destroy mangroves that help protect marine life.”
Nassau Guardian - June 21, 2006 -The FNM on “This and That” “the Minister responsible for Financial Services and Investment, Vincent Peet, sought to shed any and all responsibility for developments at Bimini Bay”
Nassau Guardian - March, 26, 2006 - Environment will be Threatened By Resort “Bimini Bay Resort has already removed a large area of mangroves, including an area with the largest species diversity of marine life in the North Sound.”
Grand Bahamas Newsletter - Biminites Fight Back“a tourist development that will destroy one of the country’s most productive marine ecosystems: the mangrove forests of the Bimini islands”
Nassau Guardian - Few Benefits for Bimini
“Bimini Bay is not good for Bimini.”
Nassau Guardian - October 24, 2005 - Bimini Residents Feel Betrayed“the protest would be only one of several times the Council and residents of Bimini have taken government to task over the development's unfavourable terms.”
Nassau Guardian - September 9, 2005 - Road Safety“the developers of Bimini Bay Resort and Casino…say that they are demolishing "non-sensitive" mangroves.”
Nassau Guardian -September 9, 2005 - Business Plan Goes Awry “That development will destroy the only fish nursery on the eastern Gulf Stream”
Nassau Guardian - September 9, 2005 - Sharks May Be In Danger “Reyes said, adding that he is demolishing mangroves in a place that is "basically not a sensitive area”.”
The Washington Post - August 24, 2005 - Wave of Marine Species Extinctions Feared “BIMINI, Bahamas -- The bulldozers moved slowly at first. Picking up speed, they pressed forward into a patch of dense mangrove trees that buckled and splintered like twigs. As the machines moved on, the pieces drifted out to sea.”
Nassau Guardian - June 23, 2005 Concerned For Bimini’s Wetlands “this development is a disaster waiting to happen.”
Nassau Guardian - July 14, 2005 -Capo defends his hiring of Mexicans “His argument was that the Mexicans could have the project completed in half the time it would take for Bahamian construction workers to do it.”
Nassau Guardian - June 16, 2005 -Letter to the Prime Minister to save Bimini Islands from disaster “over 400 signatures…These people expressed their concerns about the environment of Bimini.”
Nassau Guardian - June 16, 2005 - The PLP Doesn’t Seem to Understand Conflict of Interest “The Residents of Bimini always had problems with the Bimini Bay project.”
Nassau Guardian - June 10, 2005 - The Pitfalls of Political Lies and Legends “Surely the abuse and excess of a few developers, most notable Bimini Bay and Hall’s Pond”
Nassau Guardian - June 10, 2005 - Bimini Demonstration“residents of the island staged a massive protest to publicly voice their concerns about the project.”
Nassau Guardian - June 10, 2005 - Protest Planned in Bimini“They might be creating jobs for the future for the Biminites, but very soon there will be no fish on this island."
Nassau Guardian - June 10, 2005 - Bimini Residents Demonstrate “residents still have great environmental concerns about the project. She alleged that despite the project's developer's denial, "they are filling in the wetlands."
Nassau Guardian - May 28, 2005 - No Gate “Mr. Capo denied that residents were turned away from the area. "We never closed the gate to any Bahamian," he stressed.”
Freeport News - May 25, 2005 - Residents Upset by Capo’s Theft Claims “Mr. Capo insisting that he wants to prohibit Biminites from accessing his project because they have stolen material from the site.”
Biminites - Take a Stand For their Land - May 23, 2005
NBC 6 – South Florida - May 9, 2005
“If the resort is fully built as it's planned, not only will the sharks disappear from this island, but the very fish and conch and lobster that populate the reefs out here will be gone”
Bahamas B2B - March 24, 2005 - Furor Over Bimini Bay“Mr. Reyes said screening occurs at the gate because there is a concern about nighttime access. ‘Also in recent times, there have been many police-related incidents involving alleged theft of construction materials and the alleged trafficking of people and narcotics," he added.
Shark Diver Magazine - “Bimini Beseiged” - March 2, 2005
Black Belt News – Bahamas, February, 2005 - “The project has destroyed the mangroves, the seabed, the fishing experience for tourists and the ability for the government and Biminites to expand their need for housing developments.”
Nassau Guardian - February 17, 2005 - Bimini to Re-establish itself as the “Gateway to the Bahamas” “an island-wide controversy with residents and environmental groups calling for the project to be shelved.”
Nassau Guardian - February 8, 2005
Stealing from the Future? “A giant resort like the Bimini Bay resort will keep Bahamians employed at low wages, without improving the living conditions of local Bimini residents.”
PEW Institute for Ocean Science - Bimini Beseiged
“If allowed to proceed unchecked, the complex will consume the mangroves of the North Sound and east Bimini, together with all of the animals and plants that live there”
Nassau Guardian - December 8, 2004 - Bimini Bay Project Under Fire Again “further degraded and destroyed by this extremely short-sighted and unsustainable development plan.”
Nassau Guardian - December 7, 2004
Bimini Bay Project Still Causing Worries “"tearing apart a viable and important eco system that produces huge amounts of benefits for the local people and the local coastal environment
Nassau Guardian - August 25, 2004 - Wetlands Policy May be too Late for Bimini “despite the importance of Bimini's wetlands, that community has not been slated for consultation meetings.”
Nassau Guardian - June 11, 2004 - Bastian says development ruining islands' environs “were concerned about the Bimini Bay Project, and the damage done to Bimini.”
Nassau Guardian - June 10, 2004 - Let’s Remember the Environment “The destruction of the wetlands due to urban encroachment or resort developing will do more harm than good.”
Nassau Guardian - April 29, 2004 - Consumers & Earth Day Reflections “We may have to take a second look at Bimini Bay”
Ruba Marshood – Duke University Honorable Mention 2005 Citizen Science Writing Competition The North Sound Lagoon vs. The Bimini Bay Resort & Casino
Nassau Guardian - April 26, 2004 - “We’re Not Silly Prime Minister” “In Bimini, the Bimini Bay project, to which the PLP, in opposition, objected so strenuously, suddenly has the approval of its hitherto most vocal objectors…Are we the people silly to be incredulous and to wonder to what could we attribute this startling spontaneous reversal, which was accompanied by no explanation or justification whatsoever by him or his senior colleagues?”
Nassau Guardian- March 12, 2004 - Bimini Project Gets the OK
“Mr. Capo admitted that he was at first reluctant to work with the BEST Commission.”
Nassau Tribune – Feb. 12, 2004 - Legislation Hopes After Bimini Bay “has run into several financing problems and criticism from locals concerned with the destruction of their environment.”
Nassau Tribune - December 24, 2003 - Anger as developer’s name appears on minister’s gift card “"There have been a lot of complaints about this, but he [Bimini Bay developer Gerardo Capo] just goes ahead without being stopped"
Dive Magazine (UK) - Lemon Sharks Under Threat
“Although the Bahamian Government announced its intention to declare the site a marine reserve in 2000, it is now under serious threat from these proposals.”
Florida Sportsman Magazine - The Changing Face of Bimini
“If you love sport fishing, diving and the natural world, then don't buy into Bimini Bay."
Nassau Tribune - December 24, 2003 - Anger as developer’s name appears on minister’s gift card “"There have been a lot of complaints about this, but he [Bimini Bay developer Gerardo Capo] just goes ahead without being stopped"
Bahamas Pundit - Tourism & Anchor Projects in the Bahamas
“It is perhaps the most tragic example of mistaken development in our history.”
Nassau Tribune – December 23, 2003 - Anger as Minister’s Name Appears on Developer’s Gift Card “Bimini Bay Resort development has caused rage and resentment on the island”
Nassau Guardian - July 28, 2003 - Bimini Water “Dry”
“There were rumours that the water shortage was due to the large amount being used in the Bimini Bay project.”
Nassau Guardian - July 23, 2003 - Bimini Project off the Ground
“Although it is unclear as to whether environmental concerns over the Bimini Bay project have been resolved, the first phase is well underway.”
Nassau Guardian - April 14, 2003 - Scaled Down Bimini Project “unstopped” “Asked to comment on concerns expressed by environmental groups, including Bimini residents, Mr. Grimes said: "We are unaware of any negative impact that the project has caused to the environment.’”
Nassau Guardian - February 14, 2003 - Bimini Resident Upset Over Undelivered Promises “blames the Bimini Bay project for the destruction of a large piece of land, which resulted in the clearing of cedar trees, "destroying nature."
Nassau Guardian - Feb. 13, 2003 - Bimini Resident Over Undelivered Promises “the only thing they came in here to do is to destroy Bimini.”
Nassau Guardian - February 3, 2003 - Government to meet with Bimini Bay developer “it seems inappropriate to impact the most important resource of the Biminis to obtain cheap fill."
Freeport News - January 28, 2003 - Decries Ecological Damage to Bimini “Control of the potable water supply, an especially important, sovereign right in The Bahamas in general and Bimini in particular has been allowed to be taken over by foreign interests.”
ReEarth - Environmental Issues in the Islands of the Bahamas “Restrict Bimini Bay Resort”
Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide
“Bulldozing mangroves on Bimini Island, Bahamas, to make way for the Hilton Group's Bimini Bay Resort and Casino”
Nassau Guardian – July 22, 2002 -Bimini Under Attack “if there is going to be long-lasting environmental damage to the Bimini Islands, then this sort of development should not continue.”
The Bahamas Journal of Science
Bimini Special Issue
Volume 9, No. 2 May, 2002
Bahamas Tribune – April 8, 2002 DREDGING KILLING FISH CONCERN AS BIMINI WORK RESUMES “unprecedented ecological disaster in the North sound lagoon of Bimini via the Bimini Bay development”
Nicki Kelly – The Punch, Bahamas aberrant projects that should never have seen the light of day. One of these is Bimini Bay.”
The Bahamas Tribune - April 8, 2002 - Dredging Killing Fish Concern As Bimini Work Resumes "Bimini Bay development continues to wreak havoc on the ecosystem there, compromising Bimini's culture and environment."
Black Belt News – Bahamas, February, 2005
“The project has destroyed the mangroves, the seabed, the fishing experience for tourists and the ability for the government and Biminites to expand their need for housing developments.”
MP Kenneth RusselMP Reports Minister to Police – The Tribune“I have to conclude that the only reason they came to Bimini was because Capo instructed them to and he probably told them what to say when they got there.”
Global Anti-Golf Course Movement
“It is inconceivable as to how such indiscriminate destructive activities can continue to take place.”
On behalf of the Global Anti-Golf Course Movement's (GAG'M) coordinating groups:
Consumers Association of Penang (CAP), Malaysia
Friends of the Earth (FoE), Malaysia
Global Network for Anti-Golf Course Action (GNAGA), Japan
Tourism Investigation & Monitoring Team (tim-team), Thailand
Third World Network (TWN)
Additional signatory:
Forest Peoples Programme (FPP), United Kingdom
David Jennings - Effects of Large-Scale Anthropogenic Development of Juvenile Lemon Shark Populations of Bimini, Bahamas “Our results suggest that the development thus far has had a negative effect on both first-year survival rates of neonate lemon sharks and the habitat structure of the North Sound.”
Photographer Tim Calver - “Bimini is just too small for the vast numbers of cookie cutter town homes that are planned and it's mangrove shoreline is far too valuable as habitat to be removed for something as self serving as a golf course or a channel to bring yachts to a backyard.”
www.timcalver.com
Senator Fred Mitchell
“It is described as an ecological disaster by residents of Bimini.”
Bahamian Ecologist Romauld Ferreira - “For example, look at what happened in Bimini – the total clear-cutting of that portion of Bimini (being used for Floridian Gerardo) Capo’s development. Disaster. Well what’s the penalty for that? What penalty should be applied for someone who does that? I’m sure BEST Commission did not give them permission to do that.
Save Guana Cay Reef Association
“…the Bimini Bay development. It's a biological travesty condemned by every scientist who sees it yet the government preaches that it's a sound project.”
Save Our Earth
“Hundreds of people affiliated with dozens of groups are trying to prevent the wholesale devastation of Bimini’s irreplaceable mangrove ecosystem by Bimini Bay Resort.”
Marine Conservation Biology Institute
“It’s been a slow-motion disaster.”
The Petition Site – Sponsor Holly Cooper
Save the Mangroves at Bimini
“This is an ecological disaster in the making.”
1067 Signatures
