By NAVARDO SAUNDERS

Freeport News Reporter

Residents of Guana Cay have formed a coalition and retained legal counsel in an effort to prevent the development of a 500 acre project, which they claim will destroy the environment, natural beauty and ambience of the Cay.

The nearly 200 residents of the small, quaint and picturesque community about 90 miles off Grand Bahama, say they are 100 percent opposed to the proposed Passerine/Bakers Bay development, which would comprise a 241 slip marina, a golf course and housing development.

Calling themselves the 'Save Guana Cay Reef Lobby', the residents have retained outspoken Grand Bahama attorney Frederick (From Page 1)

Smith to fight on their behalf.

In an interview yesterday, Mr. Smith said residents firmly believe that the proposed development will cause ruination to the environment.

"Dredging for a 241 slip marina will destroy the reef that is only 25 yards offshore," said Mr. Smith. "The Hawksbill Creek Turtle will disappear. The large mega yachts will destroy the bonefishing flats. The chemical run-off from the golf course will likely poison and pollute the marine environment and reef.

"We cannot have development at all costs. We must save some of the pristine Bahamas that the government markets in all of its "island-hopping" campaigns for future generations of Bahamians and tourists to enjoy."

Mr. Smith said the development will not help the economy either, as the labour force has been saturated with work since the hurricanes.

He said the developers would have to bring hundreds of foreigners to the Cay to construct the development.

"Save Guana Cay understands that the government is in discussions with the developers to sell Crown land to them and to enter into a Heads of Agreement," said Mr. Smith. "The residents of Guana Cay will be petitioning the government not to do so."

According to Mr. Smith, residents began signing the petition since yesterday.

"Other settlements in the Abacos are also supporting Save Guana Cay in its efforts to stop unbridled development," he said. "They are supporting Guana Cay in their right to vision the future of their own community."

Mr. Smith added that decisions regarding the future of Guana Cay, which is about nine miles long and three and a quarter miles wide, should not be made by foreign developers "interested only in making money and leaving."

"Guana Cay urges Central government to respect the rights of local residents to be responsible for their own future and to husband their own local resources," the attorney said. "Guana Cay is for those who love Guana Cay and not those who just want to dig it up and use it to make money. It is a local resource and not a national resource to be used and abused, It is a national treasure."

Additionally, Mr. Smith noted that Guana Cay does not have the infrastructure such as roads, hospitals and fire engines to support such a massive development.

"Sure the government will say that the developers will take care of those things, but talk is cheap," he said.

He added that the Lobby is also hiring environmental specialists to critique the Environmental Impact Assessment prepared by the developers.

The outspoken attorney reiterated that the Save Guana Cay Reef Lobby is 100 percent opposed to the proposed development and the Bahamians and foreign residents - consisting of about 100 of each - are petitioning the Central and Local Governments to stop it.

CAPTION: OPPOSING DEVELOPMENT - Guana Cay residents met to voice their disagreement of the proposed Passerine/Bakers Bay development, which would comprise a 241 slip marina, a golf course and housing development there. Calling themselves the 'Save Guana Cay Reef Lobby,' the residents are petitioning Central and Local Government to stop the development.