By Staff Reporter, Guardian News Desk

erica@nasguard.com

Developers of the Baker's Bay Golf and Ocean Club have pledged that the controversial development will remain environmentally sensitive as work on the project continues to be carried out.

Work on the controversial development began almost two weeks ago after a major legal victory for the Baker's Bay developers was handed down in the Supreme Court on October 12. That day Supreme Court Justice Norris Carroll had ruled that work on the multi-million dollar project could resume. Construction had stopped after the Save Guana Cay Reef association had applied for an injunction to stop work at Guana Cay.

The investors of the project have been embroiled in a legal battle with the Association since last year over a number of environmental concerns. But in his one hundred and fifty-four page ruling Justice Carroll refused every relief sought by the Association.

In a press release issued shortly after the ruling Mike Meldman, Chairman and CEO of Discovery Land Company, the Developers of Baker's Bay said he was pleased that Baker's Bay could now proceed with its plans to build a resort community that will attract homeowners and visitors who "respect" and "cherish" the Guana Cay environment. "As we have stated on many occasions, Baker's Bay Golf and Ocean Club will be the most environmentally sensitive development ever built in The Bahamas; a model that all Bahamians can be proud of and other developers can emulate," said Mr Meldman. "In the creation of this resort community we look forward to providing meaningful direct employment for current and future generations of Abaconians and other Bahamians as well as many indirect opportunities for entrepreneurial ventures."

According to the press release Mr Meldman also insisted that Abaconians will continue to have the right to use local beaches in the Guana Cay area. "The developers are committed to ensuring that Bahamians continue to enjoy access to the beaches as they have for generations and the presence of Baker's Bay on Great Guana Cay will benefit the community to the greatest extent possible through currently established and future socially-responsible programmes and events."