According to Financial Services and Investments Minister Allyson Maynard-Gibson, the controversy surrounding Guana Cay is an indication that persons have “unfettered access to the courts.”
“This actually inures to the benefit of foreign investment because if an investor ever has questions, they would know that they can have direct access to our courts,” the Minister explained to the Bahama Journal yesterday.
It apparently did not occur to Ms. Gibson that the courts have an incredibly anti-foreigner bias to them.
“Persons understand that in The Bahamas there is the opportunity to freely express oneself.” (Although, one would usually get victimized later by pro-government operatives.)
Some Guana Cay residents have waged an all-out campaign against the $500 million development slated for their tiny community, citing key environmental concerns that have already resulted in the developers scaling down the initial plans for the project.
In fact, the Save Guana Cay Reef Association has hired Grand Bahama attorney, Fred Smith, who has pushed for a judicial review into the matter.
The Supreme Court is expected to hear that matter sometime today, a move aimed at examining the process that led to the government approving the investment.
But criticisms to the Passerine development are not the only issue the government has recently had to face.
On one hand, there is the uprising against the proposal to construct a liquefied natural gas pipeline linking The Bahamas with South Florida.
The companies bidding to move ahead with the plan insist the project would be safe, but local environmentalists and other interest groups feel differently, insisting that LNG is dangerous.
The government has not yet made a determination on LNG
There have also been concerns expressed by Harbour Island residents over the Valentine Marina and Resort and Romora Bay Club’s developments.
Residents claim the Valentine development is disfiguring the character of the island. There is also the view that Romora Bay’s marina will alter the island’s image.
In fact, Prime Minister Perry Christie recently acknowledged that some Bahamians are “deeply” concerned that the government’s plans did not factor in sewerage disposals, considering that in some cases, sewerage is disposed into the sea.
“We know that we do not have the resources to do everything right now for everyone, but we are challenged to set the tone on the basis of what is right to do,” Mr. Christie has indicated.
“And I believe that if people – even if they have been given permission and therefore have a legal right – our duty is to sit with those people who are building it and say listen ‘My friends, this has gone a little bit too far. Let us see how we can work this out because you do not wish to be in a community that is not in harmony with your investment that you are putting here’.”
But according to Minister Maynard-Gibson, questions surrounding such projects in no way represent anti-foreign sentiments. In fact, she said there has been no adverse fallout.
Instead, she said Bahamians are simply expressing their views on topical national views.
Despite the assurance, both the Financial Services and Investment Minister and the Prime Minister have expressed concerns about persons who invest in The Bahamas seeking to discourage others from doing the same.
“We welcome guests, we welcome investments, but we are concerned about what may be considered as an “abuse of privilege,” Minister Maynard-Gibson said.
Source: Macushla N. Pinder, The Bahama Journal
