Although the intentions may be seen as good, the government has to be very careful about how it accepts money and services from controversial investors in The Bahamas. Because what on the surface may seem to be the investors giving back to the Bahamian society through kind-hearted philanthropy could on the bottom be quite the opposite, with the investors expecting to reap concessionary benefits from the government.

The developers of Bimini Bay Resort have repeatedly come under fire with regard to the alleged environmental disorder that is being created with the elimination of the mangrove swamps and the creation of a golf course, which is said, could endanger the reefs and the marine life.

The fear is that the crystal clear and beautiful waters of Bimini will be spoilt and fishing could become a memory in that island and others in proximity to it.

According to an article under "Destination Watch" in the September 2006 issue of National Geographic Traveler "the Out Islands of the Bahamas, much loved by escapist travellers, are undergoing changes that threaten the social, aesthetic, and environmental qualities that make them special." The article says, "Large-scale foreign real estate development is changing the look and feel of the islands, imposing what detractors call a Florida-suburb style.

It says a massive, controversial development on North Bimini has trashed many of the lagoon's mangroves. Destruction of the mangrove swamps, essential to marine ecology, has raised concerns for the island's sport fishing industry.

However, the government has accepted that the Bimini Bay developers will be its "partners" in constructing modern multi-million dollar schools to replace the ancient and inadequate all-age school building, which now exists in that island. But is this done out of the goodness of the investor's heart or does this mean that the government now owes him and will not be able to say no to whatever he asks for, now and in the future?

The government has to be very careful, with this and other investments, such as the $1.8-billion Mayaguana project of the Boston-based I-Group, which is being touted as a 50-50 business partnership with the government, the government's contribution being almost 10,000 acres of Crown land, sold at a deeply discounted rate, among other concessions.

There is also the question of whether the government should have accepted that substantial amount of money from Kerzner International for the purpose of refurbishing public roads, a responsibility that is clearly and undeniably that of the government. The people who use the public thoroughfares pay to have their motor vehicles inspected and licensed, they pay for gasoline and they would expect for government to keep the roads in good repair and to build new roadways when it is necessary.

Kerzner is already the largest single private sector employee in the country, with vast amounts in tax exemptions from the government. The work done with the money donated may in fact make it easier for visitors to access and exit Paradise Island, but will it in any way have the government and the people of The Bahamas beholden to the investor for such a generous gift?

The people need to know.