Stephen Wrinkle, Bahamas Contractors Association (BCA) president said the Baha Mar project could drain the country of workers in a "New York minute", and leave Bahamian contractors "left on the side lines."

Fears Baha Mar could drain country of workers
By NOELLE NICOLLS
Tribune Staff Reporter
nnicolls@tribunemedia.net



If Baha Mar drains the labour pool of Bahamian workers then contractors will be left twiddling their thumbs, according to the Bahamas Contractors Association.

Stephen Wrinkle, BCA president said the project could drain the country of workers in a "New York minute", and leave Bahamian contractors "left on the side lines." It has happened before and it could happen again, he said. "(Atlantis) drained our labour pool and caused the labour rates to go up; the supply of skilled labour was at a bare minimum for local contractors. It was that experience that caused us to learn you cannot just take the labour. Otherwise what is the point of having Bahamian contractors. Why not just have a labour agent," said Mr Wrinkle.

The situation will not be different this time around unless the government requires Baha Mar to insert specific language in any final agreement mandating the participation of Bahamian contractors and funding to train Bahamians.

His comments came in the wake of Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham calling the labour component of Baha Mar "onerous, burdensome and unacceptable."

Baha Mar has requested work permits for 8150 foreign workers over the life span of the $2.6 billion project and pledged $60 million in the first instance for Bahamian contractors two work on phase one.

"There are very few contractors poised to participate in the scope of work. We are trying to press the point that they need to employ contractors who would be able to bring their crew and the full resources of the company to the project. Otherwise we are going to have a whole bunch of contractors standing around with no crew," said Mr Wrinkle.

In the long run, he said, the direct trickle down effect from employing Bahamian contractors will be significantly higher than with foreign contractors.

"They have no need to inject money into our local economy. Their priority is to take our labour. What we continue to say is this is the wrong approach, because all we are doing is providing maids and spades. That cannot work; our economy cannot work in a labour only supply environment. We need to see the mandatory inclusion and provision of Bahamian contractors rather than simply bringing in foreign contractors to suck up our labour supply," said Mr Wrinkle.

There were many lessons learned by the industry from the "Kerzner experience." Tribune sources say the number of Mexican and Filipino workers hired to build Atlantis reached the thousands, although Atlantis is often referenced as the poster child for employing Bahamian construction workers.

Mr Wrinkle said that is a fair assessment. It is a well known fact that the Bahamas does not have a sufficient number of workers to fill the labour needs of large foreign direct investment (FDI) projects like Atlantis and Baha Mar, he said.

Mr Wrinkle speculated that is why the Prime Minister "was hoping Baha Mar could be phased, so we wouldn't need that tremendous injection of foreign labour."

That is why it is important for the government to ensure the participation of Bahamian contractors and not just labourers on FDI projects, he said.

In the case of Atlantis, Mr Wrinkle said it was only because of the persistence of the BCA that Bahamian contractors got a piece of the Atlantis pie.

"It took us until phase three to have substantial participation on that project. We fought long and hard against Atlantis before we finally got a piece of the pie over there. It was not a gift. Mr Kerzner did not voluntarily employ Bahamians.

"At the end of the day we were successful at negotiating with them for the participation of Bahamian contractors," he said.

October 09, 2010

tribune242

Bahamas Blog International

Baha Mar says: $60 million allocated to Bahamian contractors is only a portion of the overall direct benefit earmarked for Bahamians

$60m 'only a portion' of overall benefit for Bahamians
By NOELLE NICOLLS
Tribune Staff Reporter
nnicolls@tribunemedia.net:


BAHA MAR executives say the $60 million allocated to Bahamian contractors is only a portion of the overall direct benefit earmarked for locals.

Robert Sands, Baha Mar's senior vice-president for governmental and external affairs, said it is "erroneous" to portray the initial $60 million being allocated as the total direct benefit to Bahamians.

He said the company's pledge to award all contracts for the $200 million first phase construction of the $2.6 billion Cable Beach redevelopment is still current. And the figure released to the public represents those initial works the company has quantified.

"Our position has not in fact changed. We have always said in the first phase the value of the works was around $200 million. The first part of that $200 million is $60 million; that is what we have announced and put a value on immediately," said Mr Sands.

The work scheduled for phase one includes the road re-routing, the building of the Commercial Village and the Pompey Village Straw Market.

There "absolutely" will be additional money to be earned by Bahamians in the remaining phases of the project, whether through direct contracts with local companies, the employment for tradesmen or the purchase of local goods and materials, he said.

October 08, 2010

tribune242

Bahamas Blog International

Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham: It's not in our interest to have a Baha Mar - four years single-phased development

PM: BAHA MAR DEAL MUST CHANGE
By CANDIA DAMES
Guardian News Editor
candia@nasguard.com

The government is unwilling to back down from its position that the plans for the $2.6 billion Baha Mar project at Cable Beach be adjusted in major ways, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham said yesterday.

His strongest public comments to date on the controversial project came during a sitdown interview at the House of Assembly late yesterday afternoon.

Speaking of the financing being provided by the China Export-Import Bank, Ingraham said,"Attached to their funding are conditions that are onerous, burdensome and unacceptable insofar as the labor content is concerned and the government is therefore asking that some adjustment be made with respect to the labor content of the deal.

"...There are two things that stick in our claw and we want to be able to digest the project and it is difficult to digest it with these things sticking across here."

Apart from the labor issue, Ingraham referred to Baha Mar's plan to build the massive project at Cable Beach in one phase with a planned 2014 completion.

He said those are "major issues, like a big bone". The prime minister added,"It has to be fixed."

"To do the project in a one, single-phased development is not in our interest, and it's in our interest to have the development but not as a single-phased development. Regrettably, that is the position,"he said.

The prime minister was repetitive in many respects as he sought to stress the government's position on this matter.

"What is going to happen to the hundreds of people who are working in those towers that are going to be demolished(at the Wyndham)while it's going to take four years for the project to be completed?" he questioned.

"They are going to be twiddling their thumbs while foreign workers are constructing the place."

Baha Mar has requested 8,150 work permits for the project.

Ingraham said yesterday,"There is more than enough land between the Nassau Beach(Hotel)and the land owned by Baha Mar east of the Nassau Beach for them to construct their 1,000 room hotel, their casino and whatever else they want to construct and open it.

"And nothing prevents them from building the others at the same time. There's no need whatsoever for all to be built and opened at the same time. That is not in our interest. That may well be in the interest of the financiers, the construction company and the owners of the project, but what about our interest? It is not in our interest."

Ingraham said that given persistent criticisms in the media he has faced over the government's handling of the Baha Mar deal he thought it was important for him to "put his anchor down".

"And it is now down," he said.

The prime minister also said there are a number of conditions that Baha Mar must meet, noting that even if the government said yes to the project, it would not necessarily mean it would start tomorrow.

"I have told the Chinese State Construction Company on two occasions, the most recent of which was when we signed the loan for the Airport Gateway(last week), that it is next to impossible for The Bahamas to approve 8,000 or so Chinese workers constructing a resort in The Bahamas with no Bahamian workers on the site at the same time and no transfer of skills to Bahamians at the same time.

"And I've asked them to go back and review their proposition so that the Government of The Bahamas can take a decision, but it is not possible for a resort to be built in The Bahamas with exclusive foreign labor. That's not possible."

He added,"They are in America. They are building lots of things in the United States of America. They're not using all Chinese labor on those projects. I don't expect all Chinese labor to be used on a project in The Bahamas, period.

"This is my country and this is yours."

Ingraham said,"I'm not now putting to them a percentum. We told Kerzner 70 percent of the workers had to be Bahamian. At the airport where the Canadian company is building the new US Departure Terminal, 75 percent or so percent of the workers are Bahamians.

"We understand the nature and complexity of this project. We understand the finances being provided by the Chinese Export-Import Bank. So we accept that the percentum of labor is going to be higher on such a project than it would be on other projects, but we cannot accept a 100 percent foreign labor content on the project, that's not possible."

Regarding the timing of the approval process, he said,"I don't want to be pressured by anybody."

Ingraham then emphasized that he was "sick and tired"of certain stories related to Baha Mar that were "being peddled every day, putting in people's heads things that are not true."

"This was a deal structured by Baha Mar and the Chinese. That's fine. They have come to us. We're not rubber stamps. We have to have our input, our say, before we make a determination. I think the Bahamian people expect no less of me and the Government of The Bahamas,"he said.

"I spoke, I believe very clearly in the House the other day when I said that firstly we would not consider the resolution on the agenda of the House until we get written confirmation that Baha Mar has settled its loan with Scotia[bank], and that two, we would not deal with the matter of the resolution in the House before I go away(to China)on October 22.

"Nothing has transpired to change those two."

He added"I tried to deal with this before. I scheduled my time to deal with it on two occasions. I don't now want to be pressured by anybody as to when I would do so. When I was ready others were not. In due time I will and it will be announced. So there will be no surprise as to when it is going to be dealt with.

"...We have been more than willing to facilitate and accommodate Baha Mar. It is not our fault that it took all this time for them to come to terms about the loan. It is not our fault. We had two separate meetings of the House of Assembly scheduled for that purpose. They were not in a position to do so."

Asked whether he thought the decision by the Chinese partners to invest in Baha Mar was a vote of confidence in The Bahamas, Ingraham said,"If the Chinese didn't have confidence in The Bahamas they wouldn't even talk to Baha Mar. I wouldn't talk about invest, so the investment's in The Bahamas.

"And we are deeply appreciative for the Chinese willingness to invest that kind of money in The Bahamas. We are deeply appreciative and would wish for the project to go ahead.

"We know what the Chinese interest is in terms of what benefits they get out of the deal...There must be some interest on the part of The Bahamas and The Bahamas'interest is to maximize the benefits which may be derived for The Bahamas from this investment and to ensure that when the project is complete, that the project advances us, enhances our tourism and does not drag us down."

10/6/2010

thenassauguardian

Time for straw vendors to get their house in order

Time for vendors to get their house in order
tribune242 editorial


"SHOWBOATING" on the sidelines is what government is calling the position taken by the PLP in the case of the nine jailed straw vendors in New York. We see it as the PLP playing its usual game -- taking advantage of the ignorance of less fortunate people.

The position is that nine straw vendors went to New York in September on a shopping spree. According to their own admissions they knowingly purchased fake designer goods -- brand named bags and jewellery -- for resale at their market stalls on Bay Street. As they waited at the airport in New York to board their return flight to Nassau, loaded down with shopping bags of illegal goods, they were arrested and charged in a Manhattan court with conspiracy to defraud the US by trafficking in counterfeit merchandise.

Because Deputy Prime Minister Brent Symonette, who is also Minister of Foreign Affairs, made a public statement to the effect that vendors at home should take note of what had happened to their colleagues and govern themselves accordingly, the PLP are trying to infer that the government had abandoned the straw vendors. They had no intention of helping them, said the PLP, until the PLP got on their case and embarrassed them into action.

This, of course, is not true. The government was not embarrassed by the PLP's senseless haranguing. On learning of the vendors arrest all agents of government moved in to provide whatever help they could. Mr Symonette received a daily report from the Bahamas Consulate in New York, which provided assistance to the vendors and kept their families informed.

Almost immediately the Ministries of Education and Labour and Social Development assisted the families and children left behind in Nassau. The government also engaged legal counsel to represent the vendors.

But apparently that is not enough. The PLP want the government to help them with their bail, find suitable accommodation for them until they go to trial, resolve the bond issue "and see whether -- since this is a government-to-government issue -- to see if we can't through the attorneys seek to get the charges dropped."

Fox Hill MP Fred Mitchell and Fort Charlotte MP Alfred Sears, both lawyers, should know that once a matter gets before the courts it ceases to be a government-to-government issue. Nobody can interfere with the judicial process. No one can do it in the Bahamas, nor can anyone do it in New York. It is, therefore, wrong to take advantage of less educated people, and make them believe that somehow governments can negotiate with the courts. Should offenders facing our courts in Nassau and jail time in HM Prison expect the same consideration from their government? These PLP lawyers should know that the symbol of a blindfolded justice sends out the message that all persons are equal before the Law and each gets equal justice -- regardless of who they happen to be. The most the Bahamas government can do is to ensure that the vendors have good legal representation and are judged fairly. The vendors cannot expect more than that - and it is wrong of the PLP to fool them into believing otherwise. The law cannot be bent to accommodate them. As for those still in Nassau, who want to find wiggle room to continue the illicit trade, they should take Mr Symonette's wise advise and get their stalls in order before the police have to come and do it for them.

The PLP should be the last to be crowing when we discover that when the matter of the counterfeit goods should have been settled in 2006, a "senior government official" in the PLP administration instructed a "senior police official" not to raid the vendors' stalls, but let them continue to sell their goods. These instructions came after police raided the warehouse on East Street, allegedly the supplier of the counterfeit goods, and were prepared to move onto the straw market to put a stop to the illegal trade there.

The police's lack of action in stamping out the trade in 2006 led the US government to unfairly conclude that Bahamian police officers were "complicit" in the straw market's counterfeit commerce. From the information we now have the police turned a blind eye to what was going on in the market on instructions in 2006 from a "senior government official."

This is why we find the holier-than-thou position now being taken by the PLP not only farcical, but insincere. If they are so concerned, why don't some of them take up a collection and help pay the bail for the ladies who are now in distress?

They should also go to the straw market and -- despite the famous remarks of one reverend gentlemen that "principles don't put food on the table" -- instruct the ladies that the continued illegal sale of counterfeit goods that once put food on their tables, will now land them in jail.

We recommend to the straw vendors that instead of being lulled into a stupor by PLP words excusing their actions, they should heed the sound advice of Mr Symonette, who said: "As a result of these charges, I highly recommend that Bahamians be guided accordingly."

In other words quickly clean up your act and abide by the law.

October 06, 2010

tribune242 editorial

Bahamas Blog International

Branville McCartney calls for the enforcement of penalties for minor offences to bring a sense of order to The Bahamas

'We are living in a lawless society'
tribune242



A disregard for the country's laws and rising crime levels have created a "lawless" society, said former Cabinet Minister Branville McCartney as he called for the enforcement of penalties for minor offences to bring a sense of order to the Bahamas.

"When you look at crime, crime is out of control, we live in a lawless society, I don't care what the politicians say. We need to start sweating the small stuff," said the Bamboo Town MP during a recent interview with The Tribune.

The "small stuff", according to Mr McCartney, includes enforcing penalties for minor crimes like speeding, running stop lights and stop signs, parking in no-parking zones and the sale of counterfeit goods in business establishments.

Addressing the highly publicised arrests of nine straw vendors who are awaiting trial in New York for allegedly buying counterfeit designer bags they were planning to sell back home, Mr McCartney said this is an example of an area where the local authorities had fallen down on law enforcement.

"For example with the straw vendors recently, the fact of the matter is what they are doing is illegal," he said.

After the nine vendors were arrested, counterfeit bags bearing the logos of top designer brands remained on many shelves in the market. Some vendors claim the bags are top sellers, bringing in more revenue than locally made souvenirs.

This reasoning sends a "terrible message" to the nation's youth, Mr McCartney said.

He continued: "They also say that's what the tourists want. Well if the tourist wants illegal drugs are you going to give them that? If they want you to rob a bank, you going to do that?

"If people see that there are consequences for illegal actions, that's a deterrent. If people are parked in a no-parking zone they should be punished. You sweat the small stuff and things will start falling into place.

"You go to Miami, you click your seat belt. Persons will put on their seat belt because they will be fined. A simple camera on the stop light will be a deterrent (because) you know a ticket is coming right away."

Mr McCartney, former chairman of the Chamber of Commerce's Crime Prevention Committee, said he is an advocate of corporal and capital punishment. "I believe in (flogging) 100 per cent. That makes an example and people will take note - drastic times require drastic measures.

"I also believe in capital punishment. That is still the law today, we have some road blocks but we are the government and we need to do things to remove these road blocks and start hanging these people who have been sentenced to death (because) the criminal is winning," he said.

Hanging and flogging remain on the country's law books, but have not been carried out for some time due to legal appeals.

All six condemned inmates at Her Majesty's Prison have active court proceedings: Maxo Tido is appealing his conviction and sentencing before the Judicial Council of the Privy Council in the United Kingdom, while Godfrey Sawyer, Wilfred McPhee, Edwin Bauld Jr, Frank Pinder and Renaldo Bonaby have all lodged proceedings at the Court of Appeal in Nassau.

October 05, 2010

tribune242

Bahamas Blog International

Branville McCartney: The tough economy and poor public relations will make the 2012 general elections a particularly tough fight for the governing Free National Movement (FNM)

McCartney predicts tough 2012 general election fight for FNM
By TANEKA THOMPSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
tthompson@tribunemedia.net



THE tough economy and poor public relations on the part of the governing party will make the 2012 general elections a particularly tough fight for the Free National Movement, said former Cabinet Minister Branville McCartney.

Although the Bamboo Town MP believes the FNM is still the best choice for the country's electorate, he said the party must go into overdrive to win over disgruntled voters worried about their finances and those who feel slighted by the Ingraham administration's policies.

"I think we need to start gearing up for the next election, I think this will be a very tough election," said Mr McCartney, who resigned as Minister of State for Immigration in February.

"I think it's a mix of things, of course the economy, when people are hurting in their pockets - and that doesn't have anything to do with this administration per se, the economy - people sometimes vote based on their pockets.

"And I think the FNM, it's a party of doing things but we've not promoted what we've done, public relations is not good with the FNM," Mr McCartney conceded.

"There have been things done and statements made that perhaps turned off a lot of people, I think showing a lack of compassion. The party will also have to win over young 'swing' voters who were not old enough to cast a vote in 2007.

"You have to bear in mind that a lot of the swing voters are young people, those who were 13 at last election, and will be 18 or thereabouts in 2012. And they wouldn't know why the PLP was voted out - they only know what's going on now.

"It places us to a certain extent at a disadvantage but I have no doubt in my mind that the FNM is the best party (to lead the country).".

Mr McCartney, partner in the law firm Halsbury Chambers, resigned from Cabinet earlier this year because "my feelings of stagnation and the inability to fully utilize my political potential at this time." He has publicly said he would like to lead the FNM - and the country - if given the chance.

The FNM was expected to hold its annual convention this year when it was anticipated that if nominated, Mr McCartney would have challenged Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham for the party's top spot. On Thursday, the FNM's national council voted to put off the convention until 2011.

A day earlier, Mr Ingraham told the press that he advised the council not to hold the event, citing financial challenges as a main reason.

October 04, 2010

tribune242

Bahamas Blog International

Is Bamboo Town MP - Branville McCartney - Ready To Lead The Free National Movement (FNM)?

IS BRANVILLE MCCARTNEY READY TO LEAD FNM?
thenassauguardian editorial



There seems to be a lot of talk these days about Bamboo Town MP Branville McCartney taking over the leadership of the Free National Movement, and running for the post of prime minister.

At the outset, it should be pointed out that McCartney may have a long way to go before he finds himself ready for that position.

As far as becoming the leader for the FNM, well, let's just say while that road may be shorter than the one that leads to prime minister status, young McCartney may find the way to the FNM leadership to be an uphill battle.

His recent suggestions for the prime minister to"pass the baton"to a new generation of politicians reveals his thinking on the matter.

But does Branville McCartney have what it takes to take over the leadership of the party and eventually become the next prime minister of the country? Some say he hasn't paid his dues in politics yet and has to tow the line.

During a recent news conference at the House of Assembly, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham when asked about possible challenges to his leadership of the FNM, said that he had no problems with anyone who wished to challenge him.

He added that he had no problems handing over the leadership of the party and going back into retirement, where he was when the party brought him back into front-line politics.

It may have seemed easy for the prime minister to say that, but anyone who knows him knows he won't sit back and be dictated to. In fact, Hubert Ingraham is infamous for his "take charge" personality.

It's probably part of what makes him a leader.

In spite of what he says, Hubert Ingraham will not allow just anyone to take over the FNM party, even if he's stepping down. He will no doubt have a say in who eventually runs the party.

But should that baton be handed to McCartney?

Hypothetically, let's imagine who would get the leadership of the Free National Movement if Prime Minister Ingraham chooses to move back into retirement.

Who are the possibles for leadership in the party - Zhivargo Laing, Brent Symonette, Neko Grant, Kenneth Russell, Tommy Turnquest, Carl Bethel, Dr. Hubert Minnis, Branville McCartney?

Do any of those names ring a bell for FNM leadership? Or does Ingraham have someone else in mind?

The public push of Branville McCartney for leadership and prime ministership does not in any way move Prime Minister Ingraham.

10/4/2010

thenassauguardian editorial

Bahamas Blog International