This was a really well written article and makes a lot of relevant points. While I do not live in Bimini and cannot see first hand the benefits of RWB towards the locals there, I am happy for them. I agree with a comment made that the infrastructure and jobs RWB brought were needed. With that being said, I wanted to know if this pier was necessary.
I have been on a cruise to one of the top banking countries in the Caribbean and we were transported to the main land by tenders (smaller boats). Is this not a feasible alternative? I was up in arms about the destruction of the marine life as I am an avid diver, and just plain love my Bahamaland, but my ardour was dampened by the locals' responses.
It seems the local government chief and residents are excited about what is going on. Unfortunately the waters surrounding Bimini do not only belong to the residents of Bimini. It belongs to all of us. While you may argue that the rest of us in The Bahamas may not know what it is like to walk in your shoes, we ask that you think of the long term effects of what is occurring now.
Let us not be so eager to sell out our piece of land for a few dollars. It would have been nice to stop this dredging for a few months, allow persons from the environment, locals and RWB to try to find an alternative. I just pray that it works out for everyone in the long run and we do not come to regret this choice.