Christie 'would reverse $65m container port deal'
By PAUL G TURNQUEST
Tribune Staff Reporter
pturnquest@tribunemedia.net:
PLP Leader Perry Christie has warned would-be investors in the government's $65 million Arawak Cay container port that when he is returned to the office of Prime Minister he will reverse the deal.
Describing himself as the person who intends "to win the next general election," Mr Christie said his position on the matter has not changed.
He said: "My position on the $10 bill is known. My position on the port is known, and time doesn't change that.
"What political organisations do is review its own thinking on a matter with respect to the issue. And there is nothing to date that has convinced me that there should be a change in that thinking."
Describing the Hubert Ingraham-led government's decision to relocate the container port to Arawak Cay as an "abominable mistake", Mr Christie said the move would work against the beautification of the downtown area.
"I find it very difficult to understand how the government of the Bahamas can proceed with this matter. I do not believe, no matter how they try to hide the existence of that port, I do not feel it is right to put an industrial centre next to the Fish Fry and destroy what would otherwise be a scenic drive along West Bay Street."
Mr Christie added that the project seems to be littered with "major" flaws considering its enormity and the expense that would have to be undertaken to do it.
With the next General Election expected any time within the next 18 to 24 months, sources within the FNM have stated that Mr Christie's position on the matter would mean very little, even if he were to hold the seat of Prime Minister.
"I as a citizen of this country am not threatened by anything that Perry Christie says he will do because considering his history, he will do nothing," the source laughed.
Brandishing such remarks as being "typical of the PLP" he went on to add how the PLP had also threatened to reverse the deal on Atlantis which was first refused under the PLP but later signed after the FNM came to power in 1992.
"The PLP would be opening themselves to a litany of lawsuits. So that is a political argument at best. Once this agreement is signed that is it. These stakeholders can sue them for attempting to stop it.
"But Mr Christie should know better. He is trying to make this deal fail before it gets off the ground. He is trying to instil fear in the hearts of the stated investors and those yet in the pool. That is unfit for a former Prime Minister to be doing, particularly in this current climate," he said.
In thanking all those parties involved in making the signing a success, Prime Minister Ingraham told the press on Monday that it took "great effort" on the private sector's part because they were faced with reducing income which they are now making, and having threats by an Opposition Party that it would discontinue the operation at Arawak Cay.
"And so they had to be bold and take my word and my action for it that a deal done with the government of the Bahamas is a deal done, irrespective of any noise to the contrary in the marketplace.
"The government therefore, looks forward to a harmonious relationship between the private sector and ourselves. We expect that the port will be managed by the private sector and not by the government," he said.
May 12, 2010
tribune242
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