Alliance Forged For Mayaguana Development Hailed

The Report on Poverty, which showed that the greatest incidence of poverty occurs in the southern Bahamas, was the catalyst for the alliance, it was pointed out in the Speech From The Throne that marked the opening of a new legislative session of Parliament on Wednesday.

Both entities have formed a joint venture called the Mayaguana Island Developers Ltd. intended to spearhead the island’s orderly development.

"A whole new range of economic opportunities for Bahamian families and entrepreneurs, building and service contractors, and resort workers will open up as a result of this pioneering venture in Mayaguana," His Excellency Arthur Hanna, governor general said on the government’s behalf.

The 2001 Bahamas Living Conditions survey, released last year, found that more than 50 percent of the country’s poor are children 14 years or younger.

One in five residents in the southern Bahamas and one in 12 residents in New Providence and Grand Bahama are living under the poverty line of $2,863 per annum, according to the survey.

Currently, a master plan is being developed for Mayaguana to give the government a better idea of how the island should be developed.

Last year, the Mayaguana Development Company crossed another pivotal hurdle in its quest to seal a Heads of Agreement with the government for a picturesque development on the quaint island.

The ESS Group Inc., an environmental consulting and engineering firm based in the U.S. has submitted its Environmental Impact Assessment [EIA] to the Bahamas Environment Science and Technology [BEST] Commission, the company disclosed.

The move is essential ahead of an official government decision on the proposal.

ESS reported yesterday that the EIA included a comprehensive evaluation of the potential environmental, land use, cultural, and social-economic effect of the proposed Mayaguana Development Project on the island.

ESS Group Inc. is responsible for conducting environmental evaluations (terrestrial and oceanographic), project impact evaluations and preliminary tidal inlet and marina layout design, according to a company press statement.

The company’s plan is to ultimately acquire 9, 999 acres of land for the project. Officials said a total of 5, 825 acres would be initially acquired to support it.

While the government has given the project an agreement in principle, official approval has been elusive.

The company has committed to enhancing the airport to allow it to accommodate international traffic, the creation of a new safe harbour and public marina and the construction of a residential community at Pirates Well Creek at Northwest Point.

The developers also envision a boutique commercial resort facility, golf courses and commercial facilities at Flamingo Pond/North Beach.

But the preservation of natural environs is deemed critical.

Under the developers’ plan, they will create and maintain a nature preserve and facilitate public beach access, establish a nature center at North Beach and develop a waste water treatment facility and solid waste disposal site, according to the environmental consultants.

Prime Minister Perry Christie had requested that the I-Group prepare an overall island plan, which would involve keeping all of the island’s eco-sensitive areas undeveloped.

The proposed project is expected to create tremendous employment opportunities on the southeastern island during both its construction and operational phase, with close to 100 jobs projected to be created.

The initial development schedule had proposed that the desalination plant and improved airport and runway would have both been open for use by the end of 2005. The proposed resort and marina were expected to be operational by December 2006.