Ruins Of The Compleat Angler
Alice Town, Bimini, Bahamas
14th January 2006
Bimini Landmark Destroyed
Macushla N. Pinder
Still reeling from the shock of last month’s tragic fiery Chalks plane crash that snuffed the lives of 11 of their loved ones, Biminites are now grappling to accept another devastating blow after an early morning fire gutted one of the island’s main economic and historical hotspots and possibly killed a resident.
Up to press time, authorities still had not located the individual, who police have identified as Julian Brown.
According to residents, Brown – a former Olympian for The Bahamas in the 60’s -- reportedly did security duties at the hotel and is the son of the late proprietor of The Compleat Angler Hotel in Alice Town, the "commercial centre" of Bimini.
On Friday, fire investigators - two officers from Grand Bahama’s fire services were dispatched to the scene to assist the island’s volunteer group and one trained fire officer - were still trying to determine the cause of the blaze that reportedly began after 4am Friday.
Firefighters were however able to bring the fire under control before it spread to a nearby home.
Residents say members of the Calypso band who played at the Compleat Angler stayed at the house.
In a telephone interview with the Bahama Journal Friday, Chief Councilor for the Bimini, Cat Cay area, Tasha Bullard-Rolle admitted Biminites are now finding it difficult to reel from one tragedy to the next.
"The mood is again a feeling of disbelief and shock and for the most part residents are walking around asking each other, ‘I wonder what’s next,’" she said.
"The Compleat Angler is an historic landmark. It is the oldest establishment in the community. It was a place not only frequented by tourists but locals also enjoyed the atmosphere. It was the only place on the island that offered live Bahamian music. So, this is really a tremendous loss to the community."
The 12-room hotel, famed author Ernest Hemingway’s residence from 1935-37, was also home to the Hemingway Museum whose walls were covered with memorabilia of hundreds of championship big game fish tournaments, smiling celebrities standing next to huge, strung-up fish, Hemingway writings, news clips, and photos.
Speaking with the Bahama Journal from Bimini, Tourism Minister, Obie Wilchcombe, who is also the island’s MP said what has happened is "truly tragic."
"We have lost an important monument on the landscape of Bimini. The Compleat Angler for many years has served as a place for the adventurer, visitors, and Biminites alike; all who have come to enjoy the history of the Compleat Angler, but everything else that it has to offer," Minister Wilchcombe said.
"It is unfortunate. Again, Bimini is being challenged. But, we are again reminded that we shall seek out our Lord in faith and we recognize that this is another difficult situation yet again for Bimini residents having gone through what they have over the last several weeks, now to have this on their doorsteps in the Alice Town area.
Famed as the game-fishing capital of the world, there are annual fishing tournaments on the island, making Bimini the 4th most popular tourism destination within the chain of Bahamian islands.
"This will certainly affect the economy of Bimini. The Compleat Angler has been the watering hole for many visitors and certainly a place for entertainment. So clearly this is going to have some immediate impact. Bimini continues to have year round visitors," Minister Wilchcombe said.
"The fishing season will be even more dramatically affected this year. And so there will no doubt be a fall off in business (because of the fire) but I’m sure that Biminites will find a way to rebound as quickly as possible. The wonderful thing for Bimini is that other businesses and lodgings are being constructed as we speak and so additional inventory will be available. But there is nothing like the Compleat Angler. The Compleat Angler is a loss to the community. It has been there for generations. Just to see Alice Town shattered now without it will have a dramatic impact on one’s psyche. And so the loss will be enormous."
This latest tragedy comes only weeks after the December 19th Chalks Ocean Airways plane crash in waters off Miami Beach that killed all on board, 11 of whom were Biminites.
At last report, relatives of three of the victims announced that they had secured legal aviation specialist, The Nolan Law Group out of Chicago, to pursue compensation for their losses.
The Nolan Law Group will represent the families of Genevieve Ellis, Salome Rolle, and Niesha Fox.