JOSEPH DARVILLE, AN 82-YEAR-OLD ENVIRONMENTALIST, HAS FOND MEMORIES OF SWIMING WITH HIS SON OFF THE SOUTH COAST OF GRAND BAHAMA ISLAND, WATCHING DOLPHINS FROLIC OFFSHORE. NOW, HE FEAR FURTHER DECLINE OF THE ISLAND’S ECOSYSTEM WITH THE SCHEDULED OPENING OF CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE’S CELEBRATION KEY RESORT.
THE SPRAWLING ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX, ALREADY STRIPPED OF ITS PROTECTIVE MANGROVES, WILL BRING UP TO 4 MILLION PEOPLE A YEAR TO THE ISLAND, AMPLIFYING CONCERNS ABOUT POLLUTION AND WILDLIFE DISRUPTION. JOSEPH DARVILLE, EXECUTIVE CHAIR OF SAVE THE BAYS, WONDERS IF THE FUTURE OF THE BAHAMAS’ ECOSYSTEM IS UNDER THREAT FROM FOREIGN-OWNED CRUISE COMPANIES.
THREE EXPANSIVE DEVELOPMENTS, INCLUDING CELEBRATION KEY, HAVE BEEN BUILT OR ARE BEING BUILT IN THE 700-ISLAND ARCHIPELAGO, WITH CRUISE COMPANIES SPENDING AT LEAST $1.5BN SINCE 2019 BUYING OR LEASING LAND. DARVILLE BELIEVES THESE PROJECTS THREATEN THE FUTURE OF THE BAHAMAS AND ITS NATIVE POPULATION.
WHEN DISNEY PUT OUT ITS PROPOSAL FOR LOOKOUT CAY, A PRIVATE ISLAND NEAR GREAT ABACO, IT PROMISED TO CREATE 200 “HIGH-QUALITY” JOBS FOR LOCALS AND INVEST $1M INTO THE LOCAL ECONOMY. ROYAL CARIBBEAN’S DEAL FOR THE 7-HECTARE (17-ACRE) SITE ON PARADISE ISLAND PROMISED TO INVITE BAHAMIANS TO OWN UP TO 49% OF THE VENTURE. HOWEVER, CAMPAIGNERS SAY THESE PROJECTS ARE DETRIMENTAL TO WILDLIFE AND CORAL REEFS.
JOSEPH DARVILLE CONCEDES IT IS HARDER TO PUSH AN ENVIRONMENTAL MESSAGE IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES, WHERE THE GOVERNMENT AND LOCALS ARE FOCUSED ON ECONOMIC BENEFITS. BUT HE BELIEVES EDUCATION IS KEY TO THE FUTURE OF THE BAHAMAS’ ECOSYSTEM.