Published On:Tuesday, October 26, 2010

By MEGAN REYNOLDS

Tribune Staff Reporter

mreynolds@tribunemedia.net

AS APPROVAL for a controversial development in Bell Island was revealed yesterday, The Tribune was frustrated in its efforts to obtain the planning permits afforded to another media house.

Environment Minister Earl Deveaux had forwarded documents to The Nassau Guardian showing how the Department of Physical Planning approved plans to dredge and excavate more than 12 acres of land and sea at the 349-acre island in the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park.

However, the Minister did not return calls from The Tribune requesting the same documents. Someone from his office called late in the afternoon offering to provide copies today.

Plans to dredge three areas to accommodate vessels up to 150 ft long, excavate a marina and redevelop a barge landing were submitted by Islands of Discovery Ltd after Prince Karim Aga Khan bought the island last year.

The permits will allow developers to excavate 4.32 acres of upland area for the yacht basin, 2.56 acres of marine area for an outer channel, 4.28 acres of marine area for a barge landing and 1.9 acres of marine area for the outer area of the barge landing within 11 months.

Executive director of the Bahamas National Trust (BNT) Eric Carey said work will not commence until an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) has been submitted and the BNT expects to receive the EMP this week.

Dr Deveaux consulted the BNT over plans as managers of the park, however the Trust has no power to approve or prevent developments.

Mr Carey said the BNT is pushing for dredging to be reduced by half by eliminating plans to dredge 2,800 ft for the barge landing and installing a fuel pipe leading to the marina instead.

He said this would require further risk management strategies but would be less damaging to the environment.

"We believe that once the conditions that we have set for mitigating the environmental concerns are met or executed, this can proceed as an acceptable activity for which the environmental impact can be managed," Mr Carey told The Tribune.

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