Disney Lighthouse Point EIA still under review

Disney Lighthouse Point EIA still under review
Lighthouse Point, Eleuthera. (FILE PHOTO)

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the multimillion-dollar Lighthouse Point cruise port development is expected to be released to the public “in a matter of weeks”, said Director of the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection Rochelle Newbold yesterday.

During a Ministry of Environment press conference, Newbold said officials are still in the process of finalizing the document.

“Once that document is completed, it will be out online for the public to review and to give comment on,” she said.

“The placement of the document online does not indicate finalization of the document but it does conclude a discussion between the technical persons of Disney and ourselves to make sure we have captured all of the issues.”

Newbold noted input from the public is a necessary part of the process.

“You will see that within a matter of weeks as that whole…process comes to a  close,” she said.

The government signed a heads of agreement with DCL for the project on March 7. The cruise port is expected to cost between $250 million and $400 million.

Among its commitments for the project, DCL has said that it will develop less than 20 percent of the property, employ sustainable building practices, establish environmental monitoring programs during construction and operation and donate more than 190 acres of the privately-owned land to the government for conservation and public use.

The company submitted the Environmental Impact Assessment in late December.

According to Disney Cruise Line, construction will begin on the site after the Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan are accepted by the government, public consultation has occurred, and all other necessary government permits and approvals have been granted.

However, environmentalists maintain that the project will significantly impact Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and damage the culturally and ecologically important sites.

Environmentalists aiming to stop the controversial development slated for Lighthouse Point, South Eleuthera, have launched the “Stop Disney – Last Chance for Lighthouse Point” digital campaign against the project.

As of yesterday, the petition had garnered nearly 320,000 signatures of its 500,000 signature goal.

About Sloan Smith

Sloan Smith is a senior digital reporter at Eyewitness News, covering a diverse range of beats, from politics and crime to environment and human interest. In 2018, Sloan received a nomination for the “Leslie Higgs Feature Writer of The Year Award” from The Bahamas Press Club for her work with Eyewitness News.

2 comments

320,000 signatures acquired…and what percentage of those are Bahamian? 1 or 2 percent??

2% is over half the Eleutheran population and they didn’t have a clear vote. The Eleutheran population should be what matters the most. The cruse ship will leave more damage than revenue over years. Anyone can see why so many people know this is bad. I hope Disney stops the project related to corona and the Eleuthera people use media coverage to grow tourism where they keep the revenue. This is a chance to grow for generations.

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