A GROUP of FNM ministers have "some reservations" about the environmental impact of the proposed billion dollar resort on Mayaguana, it was announced yesterday.

The development is still slated to go ahead, according to a statement issued yesterday by Bahamas Information Services, the government's communication agency.

However, Deputy Prime Minister Brent Symonette told Mayaguanans during a town meeting, that there are "some issues" the government wants to deal with concerning the project, the statement said.

A high level ministerial delegation visited the site of the proposed resort and marina on a fact finding mission on Monday.

Mr Symonette was joined by Minister of Public Works and Transport Earl Deveaux, Minister of Lands and Local Government Sidney Collie, and Minister of Labour and Maritime Affairs Dion Foulkes.

They met with officials of the I-Group of Boston, which entered into a partnership, known as the Mayaguana Development Company, with the former PLP government to establish the resort.

The I-Group and the government each own 50 per cent of the venture.

Executive vice president of the I Group, Junaid Yasin, showed the ministers around various departments of the operation. He noted that a 7,300-foot runway is being constructed.

There are 47 Bahamians and 29 expatriates working at the project, Mr Yasin said.

The company has said it intends to:
• Improve the existing Mayaguana airfield and terminal to accommodate international jet traffic
• Create a new safe harbour/public marina and residential/commercial community at Pirates Well Creek, Northwest Point
• Develop new island infrastructure facilities to support the development, including roads, improvement in utility, new potable water production systems, wastewater treatment facilities, and solid waste disposal facilities
• Construct a boutique resort, a small marina basin, residential home sites, a golf course, and associated commercial facilities at Flamingo Pond. North Beach
• Convert portions of Pirates Well Creek and all of Flamingo Pond from brown water to tide-flow "blue water" environments
• Create and maintain nature preserves and public access to beaches
• Create an industrial zone around the airport.

[pic] DEPUTY Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Brent Symonette, centre, along with his delegation who travelled to Mayaguana Monday,July 16 on a fact-finding mission. Pictured from left are Minister of Works and Transport Earl Deveaux, second from left,Minister of Lands and Local Government Sidney Collie,back centre, and Minister of Maritime Affairs and Labour Dion Foulkes, second from right, listen as Junaid Yasin, executive vice president of the I-Group, goes over the plans for the runway extension at the Mayaguana InternationalAirport.

Source: The Tribune