PM: FNM will pay political price over Baha Mar labour resolution
By PAUL G TURNQUEST
Tribune Staff Reporter
pturnquest@tribunemedia.net:
PRIME Minister Hubert Ingraham said yesterday that he and his party are prepared to take whatever political ramifications will come if they are forced to go it alone on the controversial labour resolution for the Baha Mar project.
When asked yesterday during a nationally-televised press conference at the House of Assembly, Mr Ingraham said he will make the best decision available to him at the time.
"I will not take account of what the political consequences of it is. I will do what I think is the best for the Bahamas and if that means that there is a political price to pay then I will pay it, and my party will pay it," Mr Ingraham affirmed.
For some time now, the Progressive Liberal Party and the government have been at odds on this controversial labour component of the Baha Mar project. With some 8,100 Chinese labourers needed to complete the development, both political parties have voiced their "serious concerns" on the matter. Coupled with the fact that unemployment remains high throughout the country, and an election year is slated for 2012, many politicians are fearful of having to publicly vote either in favour of or against this colossal $2.6 billion project.
In one vein, Baha Mar promises to provide thousands of permanent jobs for Bahamians once the project is completed. However, at the same time, it will require the largest foreign labour input on any one development to complete the core project - again while thousands of Bahamian labourers remain unemployed.
And, even if the project is completed as planned, there still remains concerns over whether or not the newly-added 3,500 rooms could actually be filled.
September 30, 2010
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