Cayman Islands officials and dive business operators were looking at Bimini in The Bahamas ...as an example of what not to do in pitting protection of fragile marine life ...and coral reefs against mass development

Tough Lessons: Cayman Islands Looking at Bimini for What Not to Do

A leading dive hotelier in Cayman told a local TV station there Wednesday that Cayman officials and dive business operators were looking at Bimini in The Bahamas as an example of what not to do in pitting protection of fragile marine life and coral reefs against mass development.

Keith Sahm, General Manager of the world-famous Sunset House, and a lifelong diver and master instructor, said dredging in Bimini to make way for a cruise port are taking a toll on that island’s marine resources.

“Hopefully, we can learn from others’ mistakes and we won’t have that happening here in Cayman,” he said.

Mr. Sahm’s comments came in response to the signing of a $2.5 million contract for an environmental impact analysis related to a proposed cruise berthing in Cayman where along with marine resources, the study will examine traffic flow and other issues. The dredging required, Mr. Sahm said, would kick up enough sand and silt to suffocate corals, effectively wiping out Cayman’s main attraction and triggering a ripple effect that would impact the entire economy. “Once people start coming down here not to dive because everything’s washed out, dead, the taxi service, the hotels, everything will take a huge drastic hit,” he said. The widely circulated TV interview that has been circulated over the internet and among dive enthusiasts included mention of the mammoth suction cutter dredge, the 450-foot Niccolo Machiavelli, that is plowing through waters off North Bimini now even as the legal battle continues about whether or not proper permits were granted prior to work starting.

The reference to “learning from others’ mistakes” was the latest in an onslaught of criticism of the project that some maintain is simply too large for the island. Malaysian-based Genting Corp.’s Resorts World Bimini wants the cruise port in aid in driving business to its resort and casino. The company has revealed it wants to attract as many as 500,000 guests a year, disgorging cruise passengers onto an island that now has a population of about 1,700.

Warnings about the impact of dredging to accommodate cruise ships came originally in the company’s own commissioned Environmental Impact Assessment and lately, from all over the globe.

Last week, internationally respected marine artist and scientist Dr. Guy Harvey urged caution before Bimini’s reefs that some have called among the most magnificent in the world were destroyed.

“The islands of Bimini are an environmental gem and every step should be taken to conserve these resources,” Dr. Harvey said.

World record holder and TV celebrity Neal Watson expressed deep concern last week, calling the activity “a pending catastrophic event.”

“Having started the first recreational dive operation in Bimini in 1975 and still involved in promoting diving in Bimini, I am devastated by the pending catastrophic event about to occur in this diver’s paradise,” said Watson.

“This fragile ecosystem has already suffered a degree of degradation over the past 40 years, which has occurred throughout not only the Caribbean but also the entire world. However, this dredging project will cause more irreversible damage to the reefs in the next 30 days than would normally occur over the next 30 years.

“This is not just an environmental issue but an economic issue. In addition to the three top of class dive operations located in Bimini that generate millions of dollars in revenue for the hotels, marinas, restaurants, bars and merchants, Bimini is uniquely located 48 miles from South Florida, which has the largest number of registered boats as well as the largest concentration of divers in the Continental Unites States. Because of Bimini’s proximity to South Florida and its reputation as a world class dive destination it attracts hundreds of small boats that come to Bimini to dive Bimini’s incredible reefs and support the local hotels, marinas and merchants. All of this is in jeopardy,” said Watson, who holds the world record of the deepest compressed air dive, descending to 437 feet. He once swam 66 miles underwater in 19.5 hours from the Florida Keys to Miami, never surfacing. He’s been featured in People Magazine and Outside magazine, and on TV in many shows, including Inside Edition and The Today Show.

And the dive industry’s organization, DEMA, expressed similar outrage.

“A very real concern to DEMA and to all diving businesses – especially those based in nearby Florida ­– is the fact that any environmental degradation, especially of the magnitude being described in the North Bimini Ferry Terminal Project EIA and its addendum, is likely to have a negative impact on the perception of pristine diving which Bimini now holds in the minds of diving consumers,” said California-based DEMA president Tom Ingram.

“As a result of this project, it is possible that the number of divers visiting Bimini will decline dramatically as public perception develops regarding this project’s potential environmental impact.”

Thousands have signed a petition urging the government of The Bahamas to enact a Freedom of Information Act and an Environmental Protection Act that they say, had they been in place, would have allowed public consultation before a project of this proportion was undertaken and might very well have prevented dredging that is predicted to cause irreparable damage, according to the company’s own Environmental Impact Assessment.

May 22, 2014

Save The Bays

Neal Watson, president of the Bahamas Diving Association expressed grave concerns about the future of Bimini’s waters ...as the 450-foot-long cutter suction dredger, the Niccolo Machiavelli, hovers ...waiting for a legal case to make its way through the courts ...possibly clearing the way for it to dredge a channel ...to accommodate cruise ships delivering passengers to a resort and casino

Dive association: Bimini dredging ‘pending catastrophic event’

Nearly 40 years after he first began sharing the beauty of Bimini’s coral reefs, luring divers from around the world to the tiny island in the northern Bahamas, one of the most respected names in the world of undersea adventure today issued a warning that Bimini is on the verge of a “pending catastrophic event”.

Guinness world record holder, movie and TV celebrity and president of the Bahamas Diving Association Neal Watson expressed grave concerns about the future of Bimini’s waters, as the 450-foot-long cutter suction dredger, the Niccolo Machiavelli, hovers, waiting for a legal case to make its way through the courts, possibly clearing the way for it to dredge a channel to accommodate cruise ships delivering passengers to a resort and casino.

That dredging, say opponents, would wipe out some of the most spectacular coral reefs in the undersea world.

However, Malaysian-based Genting Group, which owns Resorts World Bimini (RWB), has said it needs to dredge the channel and build the pier to deliver up to 500,000 guests a year to the casino and hotel on the island that is now home to about 1,500 residents. RWB has said it is following all appropriate laws.

Concerned citizens who formed the Bimini Blue Coalition and initiated the legal action said they are worried about everything from the destruction of their way of life and the management of human waste, to the lack of direct economic benefit and the destruction of the reefs. Six of the world’s best, experts have said, lie in the path of the planned channel. Concerned citizens also worry that the dredging will stir up so much silt and cause so much turbidity that it will kill off Bimini’s rich fishing grounds that were immortalized in Ernest Hemingway’s novel “Islands in the Stream”.

“Having started the first recreational dive operation in Bimini in 1975 and still being involved in promoting diving in Bimini, I am devastated by the pending catastrophic event about to occur in this diver’s paradise,” said Watson.

“This fragile ecosystem has already suffered a degree of degradation over the past 40 years, which has occurred throughout not only the Caribbean, but also the entire world. However, this dredging project will cause more irreversible damage to the reefs in the next 30 days than would normally occur over the next 30 years.

“This is not just an environmental issue but an economic issue. In addition to the three top-of-class dive operations located in Bimini that generate millions of dollars in revenue for the hotels, marinas, restaurants, bars and merchants, Bimini is uniquely located 48 miles from South Florida, which has the largest number of registered boats, as well as the largest concentration of divers in the continental United States. Because of Bimini’s proximity to South Florida and its reputation as a world-class dive destination, it attracts hundreds of small boats with divers that come to experience Bimini’s incredible reefs and support the local hotels, marinas and merchants. All of this is in jeopardy,” said Watson.

“Bimini has attracted fishermen, boaters and divers since the days of Hemingway,” added Watson, who continues to promote Bimini and was recently re-elected for another two-year term as head of the Bahamas Diving Association, the organization he has headed for 15 years. “The uniqueness, natural beauty, pristine clear waters, abundant marine life and incredible reefs are threatened.”

May 14, 2014

thenassauguardian

Concerned citizens who oppose the Resorts World Bimini mega-resort are cautiously celebrating ...after the developers agreed, at the urging of a judge, not to begin dredging without handing over all the necessary permits

Bimini locals remain wary over resort’s lack of transparency

CAUSE FOR CONCERN – The Niccolo Machiavelli dredger anchored off Bimini’s pristine and ecologically significant reef system. The 450-foot vessel is to be used as part of the controversial construction of a 1,000 foot pier and ferry terminal by Resorts World Bimini. The developers have agreed, at the urging of a judge, not to start dredging without delivering copies of all the necessary permits and approvals to concerned citizens.

Coalition delighted by pledge not to dredge without handing over permits; still concerned about secrecy, failure to consult with the community

Concerned citizens who oppose the Resorts World Bimini mega-resort are cautiously celebrating after the developers agreed, at the urging of a judge, not to begin dredging without handing over all the necessary permits.

The Bimini Blue Coalition, which initiated a judicial review challenge of the project citing the potential for extensive environmental damage foreshadowed in the company’s own Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), claims if any permits or approvals do exist, they have been granted by the government in secret, despite numerous requests for information.

“We are delighted to know that Resorts World intends to abide by Bahamian law and commend the legal team that has represented us so well,” said the coalition in a statement. “But at the same time, given the lack of transparency thus far on this issue, where the government and the developer are concerned, we are still very wary.

“We have requested that we be notified before any permits or approvals might be granted and given an opportunity to present very valid reasons why permits shouldn’t be granted.

“This resort will be a game changer for Bimini. One can’t walk back the cat. We don’t want to awaken one morning to find permits have been granted, work is beginning and the people of Bimini have never had any input whatsoever.”

The developer’s attorney, John Wilson, agreed to produce the permits before dredging last week Friday at the urging of the court, after the coalition’s lead lawyer, Fred Smith, QC, sought an injunction to force Resorts World Bimini’s hand.

“In all fairness and justice, given that this entire development is before the court, we ought to have sight of the relevant permits so that we can take the appropriate actions,” Smith argued, adding that the arrival of a massive dredger off the coast of the island suggested that a start to the dredging was imminent.

The area tapped for excavation to accommodate a cruise ship-size ferry includes six of Bimini’s pristine reefs and is dangerously close to eight others, the coalition says. Smith told the court his clients are seeking to prevent “irreparable” ecological damage.

Several scientists and experts have backed this claim, with international dive guru Neal Watson recently saying dredging in Bimini will cause more irreversible damage to reefs in 30 days than would normally occur in 30 years.

“An entire process has been undertaken, in secret, where we have not been given an opportunity to be consulted, and to make a considered contribution to the decision-maker as to whether a permit should or should not be granted. We have been asking for them, they haven’t given them,” Smith told the court. “We were told we would be given them, we now find the dredger, at the site, we still haven’t seen a permit.”

Court of Appeal President Justice Anita Allen pointed out that Wilson had already given a commitment to the Supreme Court that his clients would not begin work without permits. She asked why he could not simply give another undertaking not to begin dredging without first issuing notice that the permission had been granted, and providing copies of the permits to the coalition.

“You have nothing to hide, you have your permits – I don’t know if you have them or not – but you can’t dredge until you have them,” she told Wilson. “The further undertaking I’m asking: can you not go a step further and say ‘We will give you a copy of the permits before we dredge’?

What’s wrong with that? If they are all lawful, if they are all legal, they are all properly given, what’s the problem?”

Before committing to provide the permits, Wilson argued that although a similar commitment had been given in the lower court, his clients should not be held to it as the matter had been stayed pending the outcome of the appeal.

Justice Abdulai Conteh said he was “troubled” by this line of argument, adding that the court must guard against any move to alter the facts on the ground in Bimini and thereby undermine the entire proceedings, effectively rendering the hearings futile.

“This is not semantics or if you like, some theory. The courts are there to do justice, regardless of who or what is involved,” he told Wilson.

The court also asked the government’s attorney David Higgins if he could confirm whether permits had in fact already been granted.

Higgins said he did not have that information – a statement which drew an expression of disbelief from Smith, who pointed out that in its draft bill of costs, the Attorney General’s Office had claimed 48 hours were spent investigating what permits had or had not been granted, at a combined cost of $46,000.

The appeal itself centers on the question of costs, and was applied for against a Supreme Court decision that the Bimini Blue Coalition must pay a combined $650,000 as security ­- $400,000 to the developer and $250,000 to the government – before the case could continue.

Earlier on Friday, Smith presented a number of amendments to his original notice of appeal, several of which Wilson objected to. In particular, he opposed the claim that the amount the Bimini Blue Coalition had been asked to pay was excessive to the point that it effectively denied the applicant and other grass-roots organizations of their right to access the courts.

Wilson argued that the court had given very strict guidelines when allowing an extension of time for the appeal, and that Smith was going outside those guidelines.

A protracted legal discussion ensued, with Justice Allen maintaining that Smith had been given strict instructions to limit his appeal to certain provisions of the original notice. Justice Conteh, however, said in his view Smith’s additions went to the heart of the appeal ­- the question of what the costs should have been.
Eventually, Smith asked leave to amend his notice to better reflect the earlier instructions of the court.

The court also questioned Smith’s attempt to drop the case against Resorts World Bimini in an effort to focus on the government, specifically the process by which it granted permits to the developer. In this way, Smith sought to avoid having to pay security for costs, which he has maintained his clients cannot afford.
It was noted the Supreme Court earlier ruled that failure to pay any part of the $650,000 would lead to the entire case being thrown out.

Although Justice Conteh said that in his opinion, it was a composite ruling and the two respondents could be separated, Justice Allen was not convinced and Smith indicated his willingness to argue the appeal against both parties if necessary.

May 13, 2014

Save The Bays

Niccolo Machiavelli ...the monster dredger and reef destroyer ...should not be allowed to tear up the seabed off the coast of north Bimini

‘Reef Destroyer’ arrives in Bimini

By Diane Phillips & Associates

Machevelli dredgers off Bimini harbour

 
Environmentalists say pristine dive sites set to be destroyed in defiance of senior judge’s warning

Niccolo Machiavelli ...the monster dredger and reef destroyer

A mammoth seafloor dredger, dubbed ‘The Reef Destroyer’ by local environmentalists, has arrived in Bimini as developers forge ahead with construction of a controversial ferry terminal despite a top judge’s stern warning.

The 450-foot, 1,200 ton Niccolo Machiavelli is a specialized cutter-suction dredger designed to break up hard material which standard dredgers cannot remove. It is among the most powerful machines of its kind, and is set to be unleashed on one of the most pristine and significant marine ecosystems in the world, environmentalists say.

“That monster dredger cannot be allowed to tear up the seabed off the coast of North Bimini,” said Fred Smith, QC, attorney and one of the directors of fast-growing environmental movement Save The Bays. “There are 14 world-class dive sites and some of the most sensitive and important reef systems on earth there - many of them directly in the developers’ intended path of destruction.

“Resorts World Bimini is being allowed to move full speed ahead by a government that has failed in its mandate to act in the interest of Bahamians – and this despite a strong warning from one of the country’s top judges.”

Last month, Court of Appeal Justice Abdulai Conteh told lawyers for the government and Resorts World Bimini that construction should not be allowed to progress while the project is being challenged in the courts.

"In a democracy, no self-respecting government would do anything to jeopardize proceedings before the court. When there is a contested issue, one should not change the facts on the ground until a decision is made,” the judge said. “It’s more than a precept, and it is applicable in the Bahamas - it's about the rule of law.”

Justice Conteh's comments came as part of the ongoing appeal by Save The Bays and the Bimini Blue Coalition against a Supreme Court’s ruling that unless Smith’s clients pay a collective $650,000 ‘security for costs’ to the government and Resorts World Bimini, their judicial review action would be dismissed.

“Clearly, this administration has no self-respect,” Smith said yesterday. “The justice spoke to the grave implications if work continues, but the government has obviously given carte blanche to the developers, and they are racing ahead to get the work done before justice can run its course.

Environmentalists in Bimini say work on the ferry terminal is continuing despite Court of Appeal Justice Abdulai Conteh’s statement that the facts on the ground should not change until justice has run its course. Opponents of the development have circulated photos of newspapers dated after the judge’s remarks, with work underway in the background.

“This is always the way in the Wild West development show that this country has become. By the time a court can decide if a project is being undertaken according to the law, it is already a fait accompli, the environment has already been irreparably damaged, and local communities have already been overwhelmed or displaced.”

Smith noted that following Justice Conteh’s remarks, the attorney for Resorts World Bimini promised the Court of Appeal his clients would do nothing without the appropriate permits.

“The responsibility for this falls squarely in the lap of the government,” Smith said. “If work is continuing it is because they are allowing it to continue. They continually bow to the will of wealthy developers and the Bahamian people are always the losers in the end.”

On April 25, Smith wrote to the Attorney General’s Office urging the government not to do anything to jeopardize the Bimini judicial review proceedings.

“We would be grateful if you could urgently revert with confirmation that your respective clients will maintain the status quo (by which we mean, not carry out or allow the carrying out of any further changes to the development site including construction or pre-construction operations” the letter said.

In a letter to Resorts World Bimini, sent on the same day, Smith asked the company to confirm whether the government had granted any permits, licenses or approvals in respect to the development.

Smith said there has been no response to either letter to date.

Meanwhile, a recent presentation by marine biologist Dr. Kristine Stump demonstrated that under successive developers, the Bimini project has already had serious negative effects on the marine environment.

The results of her study showed declines in several important fish species that occurred after mangrove deforestation.

“We found acute and chronic effects on not only the sharks, but also the entire marine community following the development within the lagoon,” Stump told the dozens of scientists and conservationists attending an international conference in Nassau.

The waters around Bimini, Bahamas are home to a plethora rare and important marine species, including the endangered small-toothed sawfish.

The Niccolo Machiavelli is a cutter-suction dredger equipped with a rotating cutter head for breaking through hard materials such as compacted sediment and stone. The material is then sucked out by dredge pumps. The vessel can dredge to a depth of 35 meters and exerts a cutting power of 7,000 kW.

It is named for the 15th century Italian thinker whose notoriously cynical political theories gave rise to the expression “The ends justify the means.”

BahamaNews Ma Bey

April 30, 2014

West End and Bimini Constituents “Not Pleased” with their Member of Parliament - Obie Wilchcombe

Is Your MP Performing: West End, Bimini Constituents “Not Pleased”
By Sasha L. Lightbourne


It seems as if West End and Bimini Member of Parliament, Obie Wilchcombe has a lot of work to do if he plans to offer himself as a candidate for that constituency in the next general election.

The Bahama Journal began its weekly series entitled "Is Your MP Performing" several weeks ago.

When asked whether Mr. Wilchcombe was performing several residents said that their MP was not.

Megan McKenzie, a resident of West End, Grand Bahama told the Journal recently that she "rarely" sees her MP.

"He doesn’t really come to West End," she said.

"He is not usually a part of the things that happen in the community. I don’t think he’s performing. I can’t even tell you the last time that I saw him because it’s been that long. The thing is, he did so well during his election campaign and now he is no where to be found."

Janet Smith, who is also a West End resident, shared similar views.

"I don’t think he’s doing a good job because we don’t see him," she said.

"I haven’t seen him in West End and I moved back here from New Providence 10 years ago. I never expect anything from my MP though. They are all the same – they know you around election time and then they are absent for the next five years."

Another West End resident, who identified himself as ‘Doc’ Grant said Mr. Wilchcombe is not performing.

"Nothing is happening in West End," he said.

"I can’t tell you the last time I’ve seen him, so in my view he isn’t performing."

Mr. Wilchcombe is one of four MPs who has to visit more than one island to reach out to all his constituents.

Residents in Bimini shared similar sentiments.

Many claimed that they have not seen Mr. Wilchcombe in a while.

"I don’t think he is performing at all," Bimini resident, Lopez Bullard said.

"Nothing is getting done on the island. They need to be worried about the dump on the island – that’s a serious problem. We need him to come around more because we supported him a lot during the last election."

Mr. Bullard added that Mr. Wilchcombe is only usually on the island to attend funerals.

"He needs to step to the plate because the young people don’t play and we will switch on you quick," he said.

Ashley Hinzey felt the same way.

"As far as I can see I don’t think he is performing," he said.

"I don’t see him in the community. Everything in Bimini happens because of the private sector because we rarely see Obie. We may see him at a funeral or something but when we have festivals or community functions he is not around."

Mr. Hinzey said Mr. Wilchcombe is his friend but he does not think that he will vote for him in the next election.

"My MP is not around to see what’s going on," another Bimini resident said, who wished to remain anonymous.

"We have a lot of issues on the island especially that deals with the local government. Right now we have a problem with issuing taxi licences – the process for that is not fair."

The resident also said that the Bimini dump is an issue.

"It has not been filled in for the last few years and I think the MP needs to come down and take a look at it," he said.

However, one West End resident, Ruth Woodside, said she felt that Mr. Wilchcombe was "doing his best."

"I like Mr. Wilchcombe and he has been performing in my view," she said.

"We may not see him as much as we would like to but there are things happening in the community. Very little is happening in Grand Bahama because of the economy but there is nothing that Mr. Wilchcombe can do about it; he is doing his best."

September 27th, 2010

jonesbahamas

Bahamas Blog International

AES Defends "Safe" LNG Project

By Candia Dames

candiadames@hotmail.com

Nassau, Bahamas

25th April 2005

 

 

 

The local environmental group reEarth has launched a national campaign against liquefied natural gas projects in The Bahamas, but an official from the company has insisted that the plant and pipeline would be safe.

 

"AES from the very beginning has been fully committed to making sure that the facility is going to both meet all environmental [requirements] as well as being a very safe operation," said Robin Pence, vice president of communications for AES.

 

"We feel that we have met all conditions for both of those qualifications."

 

But reEarth officials continue to insist that LNG is dangerous.

 

"Liquefied natural gas is not flammable as long as it is contained," the group notes on its website. "If the containment facility is breached LNG reverts to natural gas and becomes a flammable vapour cloud when mixed with air. This cloud of plume can drift for miles until it reaches an ignition source; a cigarette could ignite it."

 

While Mrs. Pence did not speak specifically to this claim that LNG could be explosive, she reiterated that regulators both in the United States and The Bahamas have already approved the project.

 

"The [Bahamas Environment Science and Technology Commission] have reviewed the proposal from both an environmental and safety perspective and has approved it," she pointed out. "We believe that it's going to provide a very good source of fuel for people in Florida by making sure that we are respectful, safe and environmentally-friendly for the people of The Bahamas."

 

But the local environmental group has urged Bahamians to ask themselves why AES is seeking to bring the project to The Bahamas and not the United States if it is so safe.

 

"Why should The Bahamas bear the brunt of the Untied States' energy needs?" - the group has questioned. "Across America from Florida to California and Canada to Mexico, LNG plants are coming under fire from communities that don't want these plants near their communities. The United States should seriously be looking at alternative energies to support their burgeoning demands on the world's energy resources."

 

The question of why AES chose The Bahamas was one Mrs. Pence quickly responded to.

"I think what has made this a good location is that it is an uninhabited island," she said. "It's far from any tourist or population centre as opposed to being on the mainland and next to any population centre. So this is a remote island far from anything and from that perspective it has been deemed the best site and it is also the safest and most environmentally-friendly."

 

The company wants to build a regasification plant on Ocean Cay, near Bimini and transport LNG to South Florida via an undersea pipeline.

 

Wealthy residents of Cat Cay, located 7.8 miles away from Ocean Cay, have fiercely opposed the company's proposal.

 

The Cat Cay residents say the facility would be too close to their backyards and could become a terrorist target.

 

At a town meeting on Cat Cay three weeks ago, Cat Cay Club President Manuel Diaz said residents would never support the project.

 

"The Bahamian flag represents bright sunshine, crystal clear blue waters and a black nation," Mr. Diaz said. "There are no LNG symbols on it and you can rest assured that it will be a very cold day in hell before that ever happens."

 

Mr. Diaz has also said that, "Supposedly, the government will collect $1 million in revenues and permanently create 35 jobs at the Ocean Cay industrial complex. Well, Cat Cay Yacht Club already contributes around $10 million annually to the overall Bahamian economy."

 

But Mrs. Pence also pointed to the economic benefits of the AES project.

 

"For The Bahamas it provides a source of revenue," she told The Bahama Journal.

"The project is estimated to make direct payments to the Government of The Bahamas of approximately $700 million over the first 25 years of operation. It would also create jobs over the two years in the construction phase and then permanent jobs for people who would maintain the facility."

 

Asked whether AES has been frustrated in the delays in getting the project approved, she said, "We certainly understand the need for the government to go through all the appropriate reviews to make sure that it has passed all the appropriate tests and that the community is supportive."

 

In early January, Prime Minister Perry Christie had said on a local talk show that the AES project would have been approved by the end of that month.

 

But he later indicated that the vehement objection from Cat Cay residents resulted in the government delaying approval.

 

It is now unclear when "and if " the controversial AES project will get the governmental green light, although company officials remain hopeful that it will.

LNG Project Approved

By Candia Dames

candiadames@hotmail.com

Nassau, Bahamas

16th December

 

 

 

 

Minister of Trade and Industry Leslie Miller told the Bahama Journal yesterday that the government has approved in principle the proposal submitted by the AES Corporation to build a liquefied natural gas pipeline in The Bahamas.

 

The minister was asked to respond to reports in the Trinidadian press yesterday, which quoted him announcing the approval at the IBC/Energy Caribbean conference.

"We intend to diversify and expand the economic mix which will enable us to move ahead", he said. "The environment and tourism impacts can and will be addressed and the government intends to provide the clarity and stability necessary to attract these investments."

Minister Miller's announcement came on the same day that the Tractebel and El Paso energy companies and FPL Group Resources were announcing an alliance geared at sealing the government's approval to carry out a similar project in the northern Bahamas.

Some Bahamians, particularly those who are a part of environmental groups, are worried about a possible adverse environmental impact any LNG project could have.

AES officials have tried to placate those anxieties, assuring communities in The Bahamas and South Florida that any negative impact would be negligible.

Company officials continue to point to the significant benefits that such a project would bring to The Bahamas.

According to Project Director Aaron Samson, the AES project for The Bahamas would pay $7 million a year in business license fees.

The project is also expected to create about 450 jobs during the construction phase and 25 to 35 permanent employment opportunities.

"We're convinced that this is a very finance-able project and we won't have difficulties bringing it to fruition", Mr. Samson told the Bahama Journal in an earlier interview.

Company information says AES owns or has an interest in 160 plants in 23 countries.

Local environmentalists like those belonging to the group ReEarth continue to raise concerns regarding such projects.

ReEarth spokesperson Sam Duncombe has questioned whether companies like AES choose The Bahamas for their projects because of "our country's very loose environmental laws."

"I think a lot of it is that if they choose The Bahamas they would avoid the environmental laws that they would have to adhere to in the United States", she has told the Bahama Journal.

But it is a criticism Mr. Samson has repeatedly dismissed as he pointed to the unwavering commitment that AES has to the strictest international environmental standards.

The entire project would include a liquefied natural gas import terminal; a liquefied petroleum gas removal plant; a seawater desalination plant; an undersea pipeline to supply potable water from Ocean Cay to North Bimini; as well as Ocean Cay employee housing and associated facilities on South Bimini, and an undersea natural gas supply pipeline.

Customs Officer Accused Of Terrorizing Investors

By Candia Dames

candiadames@hotmail.com

Nassau, Bahamas

09/02/2004

Customs officials have reassigned a senior officer who had been stationed at Ocean Cay, near Bimini after he clashed with an executive of the AES Corporation, which operates an aragonite mining operation there.

 

In a report to Customs Comptroller John Rolle, Sandy Stubbs, the officer involved in the recent incident, said he feared for his life due to the "aggressive attitude and action" of AES Project Director Aaron Samson.

 

But Mr. Samson, whose company is also seeking the government's permission to build a liquefied natural gas plant on the cay, has denied that he was out of order in dealing with the customs officer, who he claimed was "terrorizing" AES workers.

 

The Customs Comptroller said that his officers are investigating the incident to determine exactly what happened and who may have acted improperly.

 

The whole matter stemmed from another incident that happened weeks earlier.

 

AES officials reportedly believe that Mr. Stubbs, who was stationed on the cay on a rotational one-month basis, was a good friend of a Bahamian AES worker who had been suspended by his supervisor. It is believed that Mr. Stubbs held a grudge against company officials.

 

Following the suspension, Mr. Stubbs allegedly ordered that AES Operations Manager Bruce Fitzgerald and diesel mechanic, Johnny Stott, be deported even after Immigration authorities on Bimini assured him that the expatriates had the necessary documents for their employment in The Bahamas.

 

But Mr. Stubbs insists that he was following proper procedures.  He reportedly confined the men to their quarters for hours then redirected an AES charter plane back to the United States with the workers on board.

 

Mr. Samson flew to Ocean Cay the following day to deal with the matter, which was reported to Trade and Industry Minister Leslie Miller and made an informal complaint to the Customs Department.

 

In his report, Mr. Stubbs said that Mr. Samson asked him to meet him at the AES office so that he could call the Minister, who had reportedly asked Mr. Samson to get the customs officer on the phone.

 

But Mr. Stubbs said he wanted to first call Customs headquarters in Nassau to inform authorities about the situation.

 

"I spoke to Mr. Miller and relayed the incident to him," he wrote. "Mr. Miller agreed with me for following instructions and procedures. However, he did ask if I could be more lenient with them (AES). He then went on to tell me about the LNG project in details and the benefits of such a project."

 

Minister Miller recently told the Bahama Journal that AES is "very close" to getting approval for the LNG project and the government expects to bring in millions of dollars annually as a result of the investment.

 

Mr. Stubbs said Minister Miller also asked him to come and see him when he came to Nassau.

 

Minister Miller confirmed to the Journal that he did speak with Mr. Stubbs regarding the incident, but he suggested that Mr. Stubbs may have exaggerated it.

 

The Minister also said he asked the customs officer to treat the foreign investors "in a delicate manner and with respect".

 

"I stated to him that I was concerned that you are ill treating foreigners," Minister Miller said. "I spoke with him for less than a minute. I asked him to be careful how he deals with foreign investors."

 

He also confirmed that Mr. Stubbs had locked away the foreign workers.

But Mr. Stubbs, in his report, claimed to be the victim.

 

Mr. Stubbs said after being approached by Mr. Samson, "I asked him if he was threatening a government official. He then asked me what kind of official do I think I am? He told me again that I was on his Cay. His and Leslie Miller."

 

He continued, "As I walked to the Customs office, he continued to follow me shouting at me and using degrading remarks to refer to me."

 

Mr. Stubbs also said in his report that, "After the phone conversation [with Minister Miller] Mr. Samson in an angry and loud voice, asked me who do I think I am and how dare I embarrass his people! I told him I was only doing my job and following procedures. He then said he don't quite care about procedures.

 

"He told me that he was having a meeting with his staff at the cafeteria and that I dare not come around there if I know what's good for me. I continued to walk to my office in silence and then proceeded to write this report."

 

But Mr. Samson said, "I categorically deny that I threatened him. It was an unfortunate incident. I got involved so that an unruly official would stop terrorizing and threatening my employees."