Now that I caught your attention, I've removed the bulk of this pages original content except the links.

I originally posted this page as part of my Abaco Guide back in 2005 reacting, like a lot of other folks, when I heard of the mega development being planned for Guana Cay. My first reaction was “Why Guana Cay with it’s pristine waters and fragile environment”. To be specific; an 18 hole golf course, 450 residential units, and a 250 slip marina, plus associated support structures, staff housing, and utility sheds. In addition to grounds keeping treatments, how can the this fragile island handle the demands of infrastructure for an undertaking on this scale. How is the sewerage and waste removal going to be handled?

This was the motivating force behind this page and the assorted groups of environmentalists which sprang up to fight the good fight against the developers plan. Recently published in the the Abaconian, the aforementioned marina will be completed by 2008. Seems like a loosing battle.

In addition to the Baker's Bay Golf and Ocean Club endeavor on Guana the other mega resort,The Abaco Club at Winding Bay (A Ritz-Carlton), has been up and running for a couple years now. This Resort demands upwards of $1200 a night and is specifically tailored to the rich and famous albeit they are located in an area on Abaco's mainland with less of an environmental impact than what’s taking place on Guana. And their constituent impact on the populace is hardly noticed. Just the same they plan an expansion of 260 additional mixed use units to be ready by 2010.

The Settlement at Great Guana Cay

There is more in the works: As of 2008, in addition when the just about completed Baker's Bay Golf and Ocean Club will be opening their gates, another development will be getting underway is Gilpin Point on Southern Great Abaco, 50 Miles south of Marsh near the new Sandy Point air port. They describe themselves as a Luxury Eco-Friendly Community, with marina and golf. Finally, Walkers Cay is also under consideration by stateside developers with rumors of two others on mainland Abaco. Some will say this is a good thing with the employment it will bring. Others look at the environmental impact such development will have on Abaco's fragile environment. I am one of those folks and worry for Abaco's future. Maybe economic conditions in the States will slow things down and who knows if global warming is all it's cracked up to be, this dialogue will be mute in 50 years. Time will tell.

Aside from that, multi unit condos are being planned for Marsh Harbour not to mention the many old Bahamian homes that are being torn down for new grand scale houses right in Hope Town. Walk up high street towards the Lodge, you’ll see what I mean.

As one visitor writes in her post on our Abaco Trip page, “I have to admit, Hope Town has changed a lot since I last visited 15 years ago. It seems the majority of the houses in town are no longer inhabited by local residents, but have instead been converted into vacation rentals. Though Hope Town is as beautiful as ever, it feels more like a theme park than the peaceful, laid-back town it used to be.

Call me old fashioned, but I love the out island custom of greeting everyone you see; locals, tourists, little children, seniors, everyone. In GTC, it’s as natural as breathing & EVERYONE waves, says hello, good morning, etc. I can’t tell you the number of folks we passed in Hope Town, particularly tourists, who couldn’t bother to smile or return our greetings. Disappointing.”

Another writes: "I love Guana but I am afraid that the Guana Cay that many have loved and visited for many, many years, is gone. There is so much traffic from the developers, around 30 houses are being rented to the workers from the development, noise from the vehicles at all hours of the night because the workers from Bakers work 24/7. Our return visitors are very unhappy with the direction Guana Cay is headed. Second homeowners are renting their houses to the workers so many of the houses that the return visitors rent, are not available anymore and they are finding it hard to locate a place to stay anymore. The traffic up and down the roads is horrendous. Many, not all, of the workers are rude, obnoxious and terrible drivers. So, the "wonderful" development is causing stress to the visitors and the locals too. Guana Cay is forever changed and people are going elsewhere. Oh, we have the rich and famous coming and spending money at Nippers. Lance Armstrong, Kate Hudson, some rapper, etc. But they come with the developers not to see beautiful Guana Cay and all of its beautiful locals but to have fun at Nippers and to be catered to by the developers."

My website is intended to be a thorough Guide of the Abacos. I'll direct no energy editorially on the environmental controversy on our main page page, and only a limited amount here. My position is already clear on the commerce taking place in the Abacos. The Fact is, first time visitors will no doubt fall in love with the islands as we did in 1973 when the Abacos were still British. But those 2nd time visitors whose first trip was only as long ago as the mid 90’s will see and feel the changes. Some call it progress still others say it will all come to a screeching halt if conditions like those currently in the US persist. Again, time will tell.

For some the actual specifics as to what is planned for the Abacos, you can read it directly from
Prime Minster, Hubert Ingraham speach presented to the Abaco Chamber of commerce May 2, 2008.

For those with further interest, the original links are posted below.

Guana Path

Save the Guana Reef Foundation
SEE VIDEO- by another Concerned Citizen
Save the Guana Reef Message Board
Sandy's Blog - A message from Florida's West Coast
Related Article - "Rise Up Sweet Island"

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