Baha Mar Chief Allays Foreign Worker Fears
By IANTHIA SMITH
Clearing the air on the foreign labour component of his multi-billion dollar proposed hotel project, Baha Mar Chairman and CEO Sarkis Izmirlian claimed the situation is not as bad as it looks, as thousands of Chinese workers will not be in the country long.
In fact, Mr. Izmirlian said the whole labour issue surrounding Baha Mar has been totally misconstrued.
"It’s true that at the peak of construction we are going to have about 4,950 expat workers in The Bahamas, but that is only for a period of six months," he explained when he appeared as a guest on the Love 97/JCN weekly talk show "Jones and Co with host Wendall Jones on Sunday.
"Construction [will last for] four years. During the four years, the average number of expat workers is only going to be 1,700. So it is much lower than the numbers that are being put out there. But the best part is when construction is over and the expats go home, we are going to create 6,500 full-time high paying Bahamian jobs."
Initial reports indicated that the Chinese government proposed to hire 3,300 Bahamians during the construction phase of the Cable Beach project and 5,000 to 8,000 Chinese workers.
Government officials said this translates into five Chinese workers to every three Bahamian workers.
Recently commenting on the disparity, National Security Minister Tommy Turnquest said never has any government policy allowed a ratio of non-Bahamian to Bahamian workers on construction projects of this magnitude.
But according to Mr. Izmirlian, the plan is to create 4,000 Bahamian jobs during construction.
"When you compare the number of expats, the number of Bahamian jobs and the economic impact during construction it is really as not as it has been described in the press," he said.
The government is expected to bring a resolution to parliament tomorrow to determine the number of Chinese labourers required for the project, a move former Cabinet minister Pierre Dupuch calls "illegal."
He claims it usurps the constitutional power given to the government.
But the number of Chinese labourers is not the only issue Baha Mar officials face.
Whether the project moves ahead is contingent on Baha Mar resolving its debt with Scotiabank.
Baha Mar owes the bank some $200 million.
On Sunday, Mr. Izmirlian moved to allay any fears of his company’s inability to satisfy the debt.
"We’re committed to finding a solution with the bank. We are committed to moving this project forward for me, my family and for the benefit of The Bahamas. I don’t see that as a hindrance," he said.
"Again, it takes a little bit of time, but I think we’ve reached a point where we are ready. The government is ready to bring this to parliament. We’re ready to start construction, so hopefully over the next few weeks, we should be done."
When asked if he thinks the project has become political, Mr. Izmirlian said, "any project of this size would be."
"I hope that we can put the politics behind us because to me the message from the Bahamian people is loud and clear – they want to move on. They need jobs. The country needs it," he said.
"I can’t think of a downside to this project. It’s great to create a small hotel here in The Bahamas, but when you have this level of unemployment, this many children coming out of school each year, you need a big bang. You don’t need a promise of the future. You need it today."
Officials from the National Congress of Trade Unions of the Bahamas (NCTUB) recently threw their support behind the development, claiming they are satisfied the controversial project is in the country’s best interest.
NCTUB President John Pinder said his union also supports the number of foreign workers being drafted as, "we do not have the skill set to do this project on our own."
Mr. Izmirlian accepts that more training is needed.
In fact, he said very early after construction starts, Baha Mar will work with the various unions, the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) and other schools to train Bahamians.
"We need to give them the skills so that when the hotel opens, they are ready to start," he said.
"It’s going to be a challenge to train people, but our goal is to train, train and train."
Baha Mar is projected to generate almost $15 billion in GDP, with more than 8,100 direct and indirect jobs, totaling in excess of $7 billion in wages over a 20-year period.
September 7th, 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.
Showing posts with label BTVI. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BTVI. Show all posts
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Bahamian Contractors' Association fears inadequate funding for a national training programme to certify Bahamian construction workers for jobs on the Baha Mar project
Funding fears over Baha Mar construction training
By TANEKA THOMPSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
tthompson@tribunemedia.net:
THE Bahamian Contractors' Association fears that a national training programme needed to certify construction workers for employment on the Baha Mar development will be impeded by inadequate funding.
The organisation is calling for a tangible commitment from the developers before work begins on the $2.6 billion Cable Beach redevelopment to fund the training programme - a joint venture of the association and trade school BTVI.
"While they (Baha Mar) appear to be genuinely interested in both the short and long term success of the project and the country, they have informed us that presently there is no funding allocated for any training of construction personnel," according to the BCA's position paper on the project, which was recently given to government and the developers.
"We find the fact that a $2.6 billion project is proceeding with no training programme, or responsibility for one, incomprehensible. They have assured us that under their Heads of Agreement (with the government) there is apparently no stipulation for this critical and necessary component," said the BCA, in part.
As a non-profit organisation that operates primarily on membership dues, the BCA cannot fund the initiative at BTVI, an institution that relies on government subsidies. So far, nearly 500 tradesmen and contractors have registered for enrolment at BTVI's training programme.
"One of the possibilities we have discussed with Baha Mar is collecting a percentage of every contract awarded to be allocated for the training of Bahamian workers."
The Baha Mar project has yet to be formally approved by government. A labour resolution on the thousands of work permits the developers are seeking in Chinese labour will be brought to Parliament next week.
The peak period for Baha Mar's construction is between month 24 and month 36 of the project, and at that time there also will be more than 2,500 Bahamian construction workers employed.
Total employment at the peak of the project will be close to 7,500 foreign and Bahamian workers. The China Export-Import Bank and China State Construction are Baha Mar's financing and equity/project manager partners.
September 04, 2010
tribune242
By TANEKA THOMPSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
tthompson@tribunemedia.net:
THE Bahamian Contractors' Association fears that a national training programme needed to certify construction workers for employment on the Baha Mar development will be impeded by inadequate funding.
The organisation is calling for a tangible commitment from the developers before work begins on the $2.6 billion Cable Beach redevelopment to fund the training programme - a joint venture of the association and trade school BTVI.
"While they (Baha Mar) appear to be genuinely interested in both the short and long term success of the project and the country, they have informed us that presently there is no funding allocated for any training of construction personnel," according to the BCA's position paper on the project, which was recently given to government and the developers.
"We find the fact that a $2.6 billion project is proceeding with no training programme, or responsibility for one, incomprehensible. They have assured us that under their Heads of Agreement (with the government) there is apparently no stipulation for this critical and necessary component," said the BCA, in part.
As a non-profit organisation that operates primarily on membership dues, the BCA cannot fund the initiative at BTVI, an institution that relies on government subsidies. So far, nearly 500 tradesmen and contractors have registered for enrolment at BTVI's training programme.
"One of the possibilities we have discussed with Baha Mar is collecting a percentage of every contract awarded to be allocated for the training of Bahamian workers."
The Baha Mar project has yet to be formally approved by government. A labour resolution on the thousands of work permits the developers are seeking in Chinese labour will be brought to Parliament next week.
The peak period for Baha Mar's construction is between month 24 and month 36 of the project, and at that time there also will be more than 2,500 Bahamian construction workers employed.
Total employment at the peak of the project will be close to 7,500 foreign and Bahamian workers. The China Export-Import Bank and China State Construction are Baha Mar's financing and equity/project manager partners.
September 04, 2010
tribune242
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