NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP) says records on file indicate there is no mining associated with the proposed Gillam Bay development on Green Turtle Cay, no marine works and no construction planned near wetlands or the coastline, even as an online petition calling for greater transparency and environmental review has attracted more than 1,600 signatures.
Responding to concerns surrounding the project, DEPP Director Dr. Rhianna Neely-Murphy said the department’s records do not support claims that work will take place in environmentally sensitive coastal areas.
“There is no mining associated with this project, no marine works and no work near the wetland or the coastline according to the records DEPP has on file,” Dr Neely-Murphy said responding to Eyewitness News inquiries. “Not all projects rise to requiring an EIA. Further, the proposed work is not near the areas where accretion is taking place, according to our records.”
The petition argues that Gillam Bay is one of the last remaining undeveloped coastal ecosystems on Green Turtle Cay and describes it as an important habitat for mangroves, wetlands, bonefish, marine life, migratory birds and other native species. It also says the area serves as a natural buffer against storms and erosion while remaining a popular destination for residents and visitors.
According to the petition, a proposed development includes a single-story clubhouse with a restaurant and bar, nine villas, an administrative office and a backup house facility on approximately three acres of Crown land. The petition states that the broader Green Turtle Cay community first learned the full scope of the proposal during a town meeting held on July 16, 2026.
The petition contends that community members have raised questions about how development rights for the site were granted and are seeking greater transparency regarding the approval process. It also claims that while a Certificate of Environmental Clearance was displayed during the town meeting, supporting environmental documentation has not been made publicly available online.
The petition calls on the government and relevant agencies to maintain the current construction pause while legal and regulatory reviews are completed, publish the Certificate of Environmental Clearance and supporting environmental studies, commission an independent review of the approval process, consult independent environmental experts and conservation organizations, and ensure all statutory requirements are satisfied before further work proceeds.
The petition also emphasizes that its organizers support economic investment and development but argue that growth should be balanced with environmental protection, transparency and community consultation. It says development should proceed only after legal requirements have been met, environmental impacts have been independently evaluated and the public has had a meaningful opportunity to be heard.
