Gov’t Told To Scrap Baha Mar
BY KARISSMA ROBINSON
The National Development Party (NDP) wants the government to scrap the controversial $2.6 billion Baha Mar project because in its current state it is "not in the best interest" of the Bahamian people.
"The deal is not good for Bahamians and that is the bottom line," said NDP member Renward Wells.
"The NDP calls on the Free National Movement (FNM) Government, which touts itself as being a party of accountability and transparency, to immediately table the entire Baha Mar deal. The Bahamian public should be able to see and have an open and honest discussion on this agreement."
Mr. Wells and prominent attorney Paul Moss were guests on the Love 97 talk show, On Point Monday night with host Rogan Smith, where they made it quite clear that the government is about to make a huge mistake.
"Looking at it in totality I am not sure that the financial benefits that the government is projecting is going to happen," said Mr. Wells.
Mr. Wells also objected to 265 acres of prime land being transferred before any construction begins on the project.
"We don’t believe in the sale of Bahamian land. The prime Minister stated that the land will be transferred in Fee simple and Baha Mar says they are paying for the land. I want to know who is right," he said.
Mr. Wells said that there are still a lot of questions that are left unanswered.
"Who will the government have review Baha Mar’s construction drawings for building code violations and design flaws? Who will the government have on-site to inspect and ensure that the design on the blueprint is adhered to?" he asked
Furthermore, Mr. Wells said there are a number of Bahamian mechanical and electrical engineers who are capable of designing such a project.
Mr. Moss said due to the poor state of the economy it seems as if the government would do almost anything to provide jobs.
"They will sell their souls to the devil to try to create jobs. They are not going to get it done that way. What is going to happen is an invasion of this country, strangers will take over your land and future generations will not know The Bahamas as we know it today," said Mr. Moss.
Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham has already gone on record saying that if he was prime minister at the time, he would not have approved the Baha Mar deal.
"It is incredible that even after he said it was a bad deal; he is still going to go ahead with it," said Mr. Moss, who said the country cannot afford to go ahead with this project as it is.
"This deal, given what we know, must be renegotiated. We call on the FNM Government to re-negotiate this deal to ensure that the maximum benefits of this project accrue to Bahamians," he said.
As previously reported, House members will not debate the Baha Mar resolution today that deals with the foreign labour component of the agreement.
Baha Mar wants the government to approve more than 8,000 work permits for Chinese workers to work on the Cable Beach project.
Baha Mar officials have to first deal with their financial issues with Scotiabank.
Baha Mar has an outstanding $200 million loan with the bank.
September 22nd, 2010
jonesbahamas
A political blog about Bahamian politics in The Bahamas, Bahamian Politicans - and the entire Bahamas political lot. Bahamian Blogger Dennis Dames keeps you updated on the political news and views throughout the islands of The Bahamas without fear or favor. Bahamian Politicians and the Bahamian Political Arena: Updates one Post at a time on Bahamas Politics and Bahamas Politicans; and their local, regional and international policies and perspectives.
