Baha Mar; No Need for Acrimony

The Bahama Journal Editorial


That we live in a time and in a place where some who lead can be petty; can be vindictive and where there is more bile spewing than even the law should allow is today self-evident.

And for sure, that we also live in a time when Bahamians should come together in order to pull themselves up from under is also as clear as day. But as clear happens to be the fact that, there are still so very many Bahamians who – for whatever reason – relish in the politics of personal destruction.

As a direct result of this penchant to see politics as some kind of infernal blood-sport, there are those in parliament who routinely hurl invective and slander-tainted innuendoes at others; all in aid of supposedly winning in a debate.

Much of this is rooted in the fact that some of these people are simply ignorant of the fact that this is just not the way it should be in Parliament.

Here we take some little comfort in the fact that, where ignorance is bliss; ‘tis folly to be wise.

Notwithstanding our current chagrin, there is –yet- some comfort to be found in some of what is about to happen in the House of Assembly.

Here, the good news we have today concerns what seems a dawning consensus to the effect that, the Baha Mar Project should proceed.

We suspect that it will proceed precisely because it seemingly has the potential to help the Bahamas in this dread hour; when things are clearly set to pose any number of other challenges.

Evidently, the principals behind this Baha Mar project are to be given their kudos for having the fortitude to persist in a time and in a place where the going –as they say- was rough.

But yet again, in a world where all’s well that ends well, we are happy to report that, the Rt. Hon. Hubert A. Ingraham seems agreed that the Baha Mar project should and indeed, will proceed.

As this nation’s Chief notes: “...As a result of candid discussions with the Chinese Export Import Bank, the China State Construction Company, and following upon discussions between those companies and their partner, Baha Mar, I can advise that consensus has been reached on a number of significant issues related to the proposed Baha Mar Cable Beach Development...”

And as Mr. Ingraham went on to explain, “First, the construction value of works to be subcontracted to Bahamian contractors and subcontractors has been doubled from $200 million to $400 million. Bahamians will also work on elements of the Core Project... Second, China State Construction and Baha Mar have agreed to an extensive and comprehensive training and retraining programme...”

We also note that, “ Baha Mar has also agreed to establish a Training and Service Academy which will provide extensive training prior to the opening of the various hotels and other amenities. The Academy will be permanent, offering ongoing training opportunities for employees and prospective employees...”

This is surely some very good news for the Bahamian people, writ large. But even while all of this is well and good, we wonder why this eminently worthy project attracted so much venom and so much bile from so very many quarters.

Indeed, even as we send out praise-thanks for what has transpired concerning Baha Mar in the aftermath of the prime minister’s Asian foray and in particular, his visit to Beijing, we remain discomfited by some of what now emanates from Parliament as this matter is debated and digested by the nation’s law-makers.

Indeed, like lots of other Bahamians who routinely tune into some of what passes for debate in parliament; we are not impressed. Like others who believe that the people’s business should be handled with the highest degree of decorum and civility; we are just not impressed with speakers who believe that the essence of debate is to be found in making personal attacks.

And for sure, like lots of other Bahamians who seriously believe that there are times in life when the governing party and its parliamentary opposite should work together – united in service and love – for the achievement of the common good.

We make these few comments as prologue and preface to a more nuanced comment on the current debate concerning the Baha Mar project; with such a commentary coming in when the dust has settled, so to speak.

At that juncture, Baha Mar would be consigned to the category: Done Deal. And yet again, we insist that this project is a good one for the Bahamas, for Baha Mar’s investors and for the governing Free National Movement and Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition, the Progressive Liberal Party.

November 19th, 2010

The Bahama Journal Editorial

Bahamas Blog International