PLP MAY CHANGE STANCE ON BAHA MAR
By KRYSTEL ROLLE
Guardian Staff Reporter
krystel@nasguard.com:
The Progressive Liberal Party(PLP)may have had a change of heart as it relates to its stance on the controversial foreign work component issue surrounding the Baha Mar deal - which could result in as many as 8,000 Chinese workers being granted work permits.
Yesterday PLP Leader Perry Christie said despite indicating in June that the party would not involve itself in the decision to allow thousands of Chinese workers to receive work permits, he would do what is best for the country.
"We have since met with the principle shareholder of Baha Mar and we were briefed by the top executives of the company, Christie said. "We are meeting this afternoon to consider our position on the matter in anticipation of going back to Parliament.
"The Progressive Liberal Party is absolutely aware of the state of our economy--the deteriorated state of our economy and the urgency for there to be some kind of development.
"In that regard we are going to take a position based on the needs of the country. And we're not going to be tied to anything that I may have said in the past in regards to the work permits. We want to be able to provide a very concerted view on the matter. We(the PLP)begin meeting on the matter at our parliamentary meeting today(yesterday).
In June, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham said the approval of the "extraordinary" number of Chinese workers required to help construct the resort development would not be given without opposition support.
But at that time, Christie said the prime minister is "on his very own" as it regards deciding on the Baha Mar labor issue.
He said the PLP had not been given sufficient information on the deal and therefore would not involve itself. When speaking with The Nassau Guardian yesterday, Christie said he still has not spoken to the prime minister yet.
"I know representatives have met with the Chinese ambassador, and I don't know if the prime misinter has some special information to provide me with, but I anticipate that if he has new information that would be provided to me prior to our going to Parliament. I have not heard from him yet."
Ingraham met with Chinese Ambassador Hu Dingxian at the Office of the Prime Minister in Cable Beach on Thursday, to discuss the Baha Mar project.
Last week The Guardian also spoke to Leader of Government Business in the House of Assembly Tommy Turnquest, who confirmed that the Ingraham administration intends to bring the labor resolution to Parliament on September 8.
The Guardian understands that since the announcement from the Cabinet Office late last month that the government of the People's Republic of China had approved the Baha Mar deal, Baha Mar officials have been meeting with officials from the prime minister's office to answer questions about the project.
Turnquest said the MPs would be allowed to express their views on the labor issue before the government makes a final determination.
If a majority of MPs take issue with that component, he said the government would have to take that into consideration prior to making its decision.
Turnquest said publicly that at the height of construction Baha Mar could have up to 8,000 foreign workers on the project.
Baha Mar has said that out of the 10,000 proposed construction jobs the project will create, at least 3,300 will be set aside for Bahamians. Eight thousand permanent jobs are also projected once the resort is completed.
The proposed Cable Beach development would be financed by the Export-Import Bank of China and constructed by the China State Construction Engineering Corporation.
If the project receives Bahamas government approval, Baha Mar's first course of action would be to award nearly $60 million of construction contracts to six Bahamian contractors, representing early infrastructure works needed to prepare the site, Baha Mar's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Sarkis Izmirlian said in a press statement last month.
8/22/2010
thenassauguardian
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 Baha Mar Project Bahamas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Baha Mar Project Bahamas. Show all posts
Monday, August 23, 2010
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Pray That The Baha Mar Deal Is Sealed
“We Better Pray Baha Mar Deal Is Sealed”
By ROGAN SMITH:
As the verbal tug of war rages over the multi-billion dollar Baha Mar project and whether to allow 5,000 Chinese workers to enter the country - one leading contractor says Bahamians better pray that The Bahamas gets the deal, if not the entire island’s tourism product will be resting "solely on the shoulders of Sol Kerzner and Atlantis."
Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham sent tongues wagging when he announced earlier this week that he would not have approved the Baha Mar deal if his administration were in office in 2005.
Former Prime Minister and Opposition Leader Perry Christie approved the Cable Beach project.
Since Mr. Ingraham’s announcement, Mr. Christie has expressed serious concerns about the way Mr. Ingraham "politicises" the investment sector in the country and he warned him to desist his "irresponsible" approach to potential investors.
Two years ago gaming giant, Harrah’s Entertainment – Baha Mar’s former strategic partner – pulled out of the deal reportedly in response to comments Mr. Ingraham made in the House of Assembly.
At the time Mr. Ingraham expressed reservations about the financial viability of the Baha Mar developers, indicating that he had more confidence in Harrah’s ability to finance the project.
But, Bahamian Contractors Association (BCA) President Stephen Wrinkle said it is crucial that the Baha Mar project comes on stream as it would help to significantly grow the economy.
The $2.6 billion project promises to create thousands of temporary and full-time jobs and transform the drab Cable Beach area into a glitzy tourist mecca.
"I think he has [Mr. Kerzner] carried the load magnificently for several years, but can you imagine 8,000 new jobs and 5,000 new rooms? The room tax alone from that is [huge]. Phenomenal income streams are going to be available for that mega project," Mr. Wrinkle said during a recent Bahama Journal interview.
"I would like to see as much support given by to the government to Mr. (Sarkis) Izmirlian [Baha Mar Chairman and CEO] and his team. I think they’ve done a fantastic job of holding on. They went through a terrible experience with their Nevada group and a huge failure. They’ve incurred serious carrying costs. I think at the end of the day it’s going to be a better project than it would’ve been because you always learn more from your losses than you do your gains. But, they’ve stood the test of time and quite frankly I think we can see a renewed Cable Beach."
Mr. Wrinkle said the project would also provide huge benefits for The Bahamas.
"We’re going to have double the marketing that we have now; double the amount of people arriving at the airport now and double all the numbers that Kerzner has," he said.
"Remember what an impact we had when they built phase three of Atlantis. What they’re doing with Baha Mar is equal to all of the phases they did at Atlantis and they’re doing it one phase. This is a big deal," he said.
Regarding the Chinese workers that the government plans to bring in, Mr. Wrinkle said they are needed.
"They are calling for 8,000 workers out there; 4,000 workers have got to be found; we can’t provide 4,000 workers. We’d be hard pressed to provide half of that. On these big international projects it’s just a fact of life. We’ve sat at the table; the BCA has tried to represent the interests of Bahamian contractors and workers and we’ve had some success with Baha Mar; they’ve been receptive," he said.
"They have a commitment with the government to hire Bahamians. It’s in their Head of Agreement. It is in the contract with China State Construction and China Finance Bank. There is language in there that mandates that they make the effort and employ Bahamians where possible."
He continued: "The problem in the past is it’s never been fully implemented. So, we’ve been very active in trying to make sure that we have a seat at the table and that wherever and whenever we can gain access to work that it’s offered. These projects are so enormous that when you think in terms of $2 billion in a build-up that they say is going to take five years, every day, whether they hit a lick or not, is going to cost them several million dollars. So, the productivity has to be there. Imagine trying to run 8,000 people on a construction site. This is a huge endeavour and after that we’re going to have 8,000 permanent jobs."
June 17th, 2010
jonesbahamas
By ROGAN SMITH:
As the verbal tug of war rages over the multi-billion dollar Baha Mar project and whether to allow 5,000 Chinese workers to enter the country - one leading contractor says Bahamians better pray that The Bahamas gets the deal, if not the entire island’s tourism product will be resting "solely on the shoulders of Sol Kerzner and Atlantis."
Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham sent tongues wagging when he announced earlier this week that he would not have approved the Baha Mar deal if his administration were in office in 2005.
Former Prime Minister and Opposition Leader Perry Christie approved the Cable Beach project.
Since Mr. Ingraham’s announcement, Mr. Christie has expressed serious concerns about the way Mr. Ingraham "politicises" the investment sector in the country and he warned him to desist his "irresponsible" approach to potential investors.
Two years ago gaming giant, Harrah’s Entertainment – Baha Mar’s former strategic partner – pulled out of the deal reportedly in response to comments Mr. Ingraham made in the House of Assembly.
At the time Mr. Ingraham expressed reservations about the financial viability of the Baha Mar developers, indicating that he had more confidence in Harrah’s ability to finance the project.
But, Bahamian Contractors Association (BCA) President Stephen Wrinkle said it is crucial that the Baha Mar project comes on stream as it would help to significantly grow the economy.
The $2.6 billion project promises to create thousands of temporary and full-time jobs and transform the drab Cable Beach area into a glitzy tourist mecca.
"I think he has [Mr. Kerzner] carried the load magnificently for several years, but can you imagine 8,000 new jobs and 5,000 new rooms? The room tax alone from that is [huge]. Phenomenal income streams are going to be available for that mega project," Mr. Wrinkle said during a recent Bahama Journal interview.
"I would like to see as much support given by to the government to Mr. (Sarkis) Izmirlian [Baha Mar Chairman and CEO] and his team. I think they’ve done a fantastic job of holding on. They went through a terrible experience with their Nevada group and a huge failure. They’ve incurred serious carrying costs. I think at the end of the day it’s going to be a better project than it would’ve been because you always learn more from your losses than you do your gains. But, they’ve stood the test of time and quite frankly I think we can see a renewed Cable Beach."
Mr. Wrinkle said the project would also provide huge benefits for The Bahamas.
"We’re going to have double the marketing that we have now; double the amount of people arriving at the airport now and double all the numbers that Kerzner has," he said.
"Remember what an impact we had when they built phase three of Atlantis. What they’re doing with Baha Mar is equal to all of the phases they did at Atlantis and they’re doing it one phase. This is a big deal," he said.
Regarding the Chinese workers that the government plans to bring in, Mr. Wrinkle said they are needed.
"They are calling for 8,000 workers out there; 4,000 workers have got to be found; we can’t provide 4,000 workers. We’d be hard pressed to provide half of that. On these big international projects it’s just a fact of life. We’ve sat at the table; the BCA has tried to represent the interests of Bahamian contractors and workers and we’ve had some success with Baha Mar; they’ve been receptive," he said.
"They have a commitment with the government to hire Bahamians. It’s in their Head of Agreement. It is in the contract with China State Construction and China Finance Bank. There is language in there that mandates that they make the effort and employ Bahamians where possible."
He continued: "The problem in the past is it’s never been fully implemented. So, we’ve been very active in trying to make sure that we have a seat at the table and that wherever and whenever we can gain access to work that it’s offered. These projects are so enormous that when you think in terms of $2 billion in a build-up that they say is going to take five years, every day, whether they hit a lick or not, is going to cost them several million dollars. So, the productivity has to be there. Imagine trying to run 8,000 people on a construction site. This is a huge endeavour and after that we’re going to have 8,000 permanent jobs."
June 17th, 2010
jonesbahamas
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham and Opposition Leader Perry Christie reciprocate over the Baha Mar project
Public tit for tat erupts over Baha Mar
By STAFF WRITER ~ Guardian News Editor:
A public tit for tat has erupted between Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham and Opposition Leader Perry Christie over the Baha Mar project, and PLP MPs' recent decision to walk out of the House of Assembly without voting for the 2010/2011 budget.
Ingraham, who is leader of the Free National Movement, last night released a statement responding to a statement released yesterday by Christie on the issues.
Christie's statement yesterday was in response to Ingraham's statement on Sunday on these matters.
The prime minister's Sunday statement came after Christie held a news conference on Friday to respond to comments the prime minister made in the House of Assembly the night before on Baha Mar and to discuss the Opposition's walkout.
It appears that neither side is willing to allow the other side to have the last word.
"In addition to the PLP's abandonment of its role as the Official Opposition during the budget debate, the leader of the Opposition has also abandoned various responsibilities related to that role," the prime minister said.
"He is also shirking responsibility for past decisions as prime minister. This includes accepting no responsibility for not implementing any significant economic, social or infrastructural projects in five years."
The FNM has implemented many significant projects in three years which continue to drive the PLP to distraction and to an endless distortion of the facts, the prime minister said.
"Mr. Christie has resorted to making wild accusations about the current government's considerable efforts to bring to a conclusion a Baha Mar deal that he was unable to complete on his watch. This is typical. The FNM usually has to finish the work the PLP is incapable of completing."
Ingraham repeated that the government will bring to Parliament various resolutions related to Baha Mar, including immigration matters arising from a potential agreement on that project.
"Rather than rhetoric, the PLP will either have to put up or shut up on a deal they initially proposed when it comes before the House," the prime minister said.
"Mr. Christie is the poster child of failure and stunning incompetence in government. During his single disastrous term he borrowed $800 million but failed to rebuild [Lynden Pindling International Airport], failed to dredge the [Nassau Harbour], failed to build the [Bay Street] straw market, failed to move the downtown port, failed to build a single school, and failed to implement an unemployment benefit program. He even failed to bring his signature project of National Health Insurance to fruition. Compare that record to what the FNM did between 1992 and 2002, a period during which government borrowing totaled $700 million."
Ingraham said Christie and the PLP failed to negotiate a single Tax Information Exchange Agreement needed to protect the financial services industry.
And, he also failed to reign in his scandal-ridden colleagues, the prime minister said.
"In addition to attempting to wreak havoc on the Constitution and the budget process, Mr. Christie and his colleagues got the facts wrong on the matter on which they sought to offer what would have been an unconstitutional amendment," said Ingraham, referring to an attempt by Fox Hill MP Fred Mitchell to have a Social Services line item amended to increase the amount of money the government gives poor people to help bury their dead.
Ingraham said in his statement last night: "Had they (PLP MPs) done their homework, they would have realized that the budget head about which they were concerned includes assistance for several categories of individuals and families in need, not only funeral expenses.
"From July 2009 to date, the government has provided funeral assistance in the amount of $67,650. Indeed, it has honored most of the requests for assistance it has received. It will continue to do so if there is a demonstrated need."
Ingraham charged that the PLP is so desperate to return to power, and so shameless, that it is prepared to use the grief of the loss of loved ones to further its self interests.
"They have no shame over using even death to stage their political stunts," Ingraham said.
"The same people who now claim to care for the poor never increased funeral assistance from 2002 to 2007. Bahamians were losing their loved ones then, as they are now. Where was the PLP then, in what were economically good times? In 2008, it was the FNM that increased funeral assistance.
"Because the current leadership of the PLP have no record to stand on and no vision for the country they are engaging in stunts, smoke and mirrors, unconstitutional behavior, obstructionism, temper tantrums and shifting blame."
June 15, 2010
thenassauguardian
By STAFF WRITER ~ Guardian News Editor:
A public tit for tat has erupted between Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham and Opposition Leader Perry Christie over the Baha Mar project, and PLP MPs' recent decision to walk out of the House of Assembly without voting for the 2010/2011 budget.
Ingraham, who is leader of the Free National Movement, last night released a statement responding to a statement released yesterday by Christie on the issues.
Christie's statement yesterday was in response to Ingraham's statement on Sunday on these matters.
The prime minister's Sunday statement came after Christie held a news conference on Friday to respond to comments the prime minister made in the House of Assembly the night before on Baha Mar and to discuss the Opposition's walkout.
It appears that neither side is willing to allow the other side to have the last word.
"In addition to the PLP's abandonment of its role as the Official Opposition during the budget debate, the leader of the Opposition has also abandoned various responsibilities related to that role," the prime minister said.
"He is also shirking responsibility for past decisions as prime minister. This includes accepting no responsibility for not implementing any significant economic, social or infrastructural projects in five years."
The FNM has implemented many significant projects in three years which continue to drive the PLP to distraction and to an endless distortion of the facts, the prime minister said.
"Mr. Christie has resorted to making wild accusations about the current government's considerable efforts to bring to a conclusion a Baha Mar deal that he was unable to complete on his watch. This is typical. The FNM usually has to finish the work the PLP is incapable of completing."
Ingraham repeated that the government will bring to Parliament various resolutions related to Baha Mar, including immigration matters arising from a potential agreement on that project.
"Rather than rhetoric, the PLP will either have to put up or shut up on a deal they initially proposed when it comes before the House," the prime minister said.
"Mr. Christie is the poster child of failure and stunning incompetence in government. During his single disastrous term he borrowed $800 million but failed to rebuild [Lynden Pindling International Airport], failed to dredge the [Nassau Harbour], failed to build the [Bay Street] straw market, failed to move the downtown port, failed to build a single school, and failed to implement an unemployment benefit program. He even failed to bring his signature project of National Health Insurance to fruition. Compare that record to what the FNM did between 1992 and 2002, a period during which government borrowing totaled $700 million."
Ingraham said Christie and the PLP failed to negotiate a single Tax Information Exchange Agreement needed to protect the financial services industry.
And, he also failed to reign in his scandal-ridden colleagues, the prime minister said.
"In addition to attempting to wreak havoc on the Constitution and the budget process, Mr. Christie and his colleagues got the facts wrong on the matter on which they sought to offer what would have been an unconstitutional amendment," said Ingraham, referring to an attempt by Fox Hill MP Fred Mitchell to have a Social Services line item amended to increase the amount of money the government gives poor people to help bury their dead.
Ingraham said in his statement last night: "Had they (PLP MPs) done their homework, they would have realized that the budget head about which they were concerned includes assistance for several categories of individuals and families in need, not only funeral expenses.
"From July 2009 to date, the government has provided funeral assistance in the amount of $67,650. Indeed, it has honored most of the requests for assistance it has received. It will continue to do so if there is a demonstrated need."
Ingraham charged that the PLP is so desperate to return to power, and so shameless, that it is prepared to use the grief of the loss of loved ones to further its self interests.
"They have no shame over using even death to stage their political stunts," Ingraham said.
"The same people who now claim to care for the poor never increased funeral assistance from 2002 to 2007. Bahamians were losing their loved ones then, as they are now. Where was the PLP then, in what were economically good times? In 2008, it was the FNM that increased funeral assistance.
"Because the current leadership of the PLP have no record to stand on and no vision for the country they are engaging in stunts, smoke and mirrors, unconstitutional behavior, obstructionism, temper tantrums and shifting blame."
June 15, 2010
thenassauguardian
Perry Christie - Opposition Leader accused Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham of attempting to sink the Baha Mar deal
Christie accuses PM of attempting to derail Baha Mar
By STAFF WRITER ~ Guardian News Desk:
Opposition Leader Perry Christie yesterday accused Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham of attempting to sink the Baha Mar deal.
Christie's statement came a day after Ingraham said his administration would not have approved the multibillion-dollar Cable Beach project under the terms agreed to by the former administration.
"The question that must be asked is whether or not the prime minister is seeking deliberately to scuttle the Baha Mar project," Christie said in a statement.
"We are astonished that the prime minister says that he would not have supported the Baha Mar project without answering the question of what he would have done to produce the 10,000 jobs for Bahamians, which this project promises to create.
"When we approved it, there was no question then of 5,000 or any other number of Chinese laborers. Indeed at that point in time there was no Chinese involvement at all. The PLP agreed to the project to enhance our tourism industry, diversify the tourism plant so as to create a strategic counterbalance to the dominance of Kerzner and Atlantis, and to create jobs. Mr. Ingraham, in talking down this project, has no answer to any of these points."
During a news conference on Sunday, Ingraham said the approval of the extraordinary number of Chinese workers required to help construct the Cable Beach resort development would not be given without opposition support.
It is estimated that between 5,000 and 7,000 Chinese workers would be required as a result of an arrangement between Baha Mar and its new Chinese partners for the $2.6 billion deal, which is still subject to both Bahamian and Chinese government approval.
"In this case we are not going to born this PLP baby by ourselves," Ingraham said.
"We will ask Parliament by resolution to approve the labor ratio between Bahamian workers and foreign workers for that project. If the PLP votes no, it'll be no. After all this is a baby conceived by them. We are seeking to deliver this baby but we don't have sufficient gynecological ability or qualifications to do so on our own."
But yesterday Christie repeated that Ingraham would have to carry the burden of whether the Baha Mar deal gets the green light all on his own.
While pointing out that Ingraham is fond of saying that he does not pay attention to anything the PLP has to say, Christie charged that with the full power in law to make an immigration decision, he (Ingraham) now wants to share the decision of whether 5,000 Chinese workers should come to build the new Cable Beach hotels.
"As the prime minister is always so anxious to show how decisive he is, he should have no hesitation in exercising his authority and deciding the matter in the same way that he decides everything else: entirely on his own, without any help from his own colleagues, much less the Opposition," Christie said.
But Christie said that irrespective of whether the Baha Mar deal is approved, thousands of students are leaving school this month, joining thousands more who are unable to find decent jobs.
"He (Ingraham) must find an answer to the 30,000 jobs that are needed in this economy," the Opposition leader said. "That is his job, not the PLP's job."
He charged that Ingraham's statement on the Opposition's performance during the recent budget debate and the Baha Mar project are a "profound embarrassment", and a "sorry attempt" to deflect attention from the real issue.
"The real issue is the abject failure of the Ingraham government," Christie claimed.
"The issue is not Perry Christie and the PLP. Instead the issue is the government of the Free National Movement that has driven our country dangerously into debt and dramatically increased the burdens on the poor, the working class, and the middle class in our country. No amount of rhetoric or grandstanding on Mr. Ingraham's part can change those unchangeable facts."
June 15, 2010
thenassauguardian
By STAFF WRITER ~ Guardian News Desk:
Opposition Leader Perry Christie yesterday accused Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham of attempting to sink the Baha Mar deal.
Christie's statement came a day after Ingraham said his administration would not have approved the multibillion-dollar Cable Beach project under the terms agreed to by the former administration.
"The question that must be asked is whether or not the prime minister is seeking deliberately to scuttle the Baha Mar project," Christie said in a statement.
"We are astonished that the prime minister says that he would not have supported the Baha Mar project without answering the question of what he would have done to produce the 10,000 jobs for Bahamians, which this project promises to create.
"When we approved it, there was no question then of 5,000 or any other number of Chinese laborers. Indeed at that point in time there was no Chinese involvement at all. The PLP agreed to the project to enhance our tourism industry, diversify the tourism plant so as to create a strategic counterbalance to the dominance of Kerzner and Atlantis, and to create jobs. Mr. Ingraham, in talking down this project, has no answer to any of these points."
During a news conference on Sunday, Ingraham said the approval of the extraordinary number of Chinese workers required to help construct the Cable Beach resort development would not be given without opposition support.
It is estimated that between 5,000 and 7,000 Chinese workers would be required as a result of an arrangement between Baha Mar and its new Chinese partners for the $2.6 billion deal, which is still subject to both Bahamian and Chinese government approval.
"In this case we are not going to born this PLP baby by ourselves," Ingraham said.
"We will ask Parliament by resolution to approve the labor ratio between Bahamian workers and foreign workers for that project. If the PLP votes no, it'll be no. After all this is a baby conceived by them. We are seeking to deliver this baby but we don't have sufficient gynecological ability or qualifications to do so on our own."
But yesterday Christie repeated that Ingraham would have to carry the burden of whether the Baha Mar deal gets the green light all on his own.
While pointing out that Ingraham is fond of saying that he does not pay attention to anything the PLP has to say, Christie charged that with the full power in law to make an immigration decision, he (Ingraham) now wants to share the decision of whether 5,000 Chinese workers should come to build the new Cable Beach hotels.
"As the prime minister is always so anxious to show how decisive he is, he should have no hesitation in exercising his authority and deciding the matter in the same way that he decides everything else: entirely on his own, without any help from his own colleagues, much less the Opposition," Christie said.
But Christie said that irrespective of whether the Baha Mar deal is approved, thousands of students are leaving school this month, joining thousands more who are unable to find decent jobs.
"He (Ingraham) must find an answer to the 30,000 jobs that are needed in this economy," the Opposition leader said. "That is his job, not the PLP's job."
He charged that Ingraham's statement on the Opposition's performance during the recent budget debate and the Baha Mar project are a "profound embarrassment", and a "sorry attempt" to deflect attention from the real issue.
"The real issue is the abject failure of the Ingraham government," Christie claimed.
"The issue is not Perry Christie and the PLP. Instead the issue is the government of the Free National Movement that has driven our country dangerously into debt and dramatically increased the burdens on the poor, the working class, and the middle class in our country. No amount of rhetoric or grandstanding on Mr. Ingraham's part can change those unchangeable facts."
June 15, 2010
thenassauguardian
Monday, June 14, 2010
Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham: I would not have approved the Baha Mar development
PM: I would not have approved Baha Mar
By MEGAN REYNOLDS
Tribune Staff Reporter
mreynolds@tribunemedia.net:
PRIME Minister Hubert Ingraham announced he would not have approved the Baha Mar development under his administration as he hit back at allegations made by Opposition leader Perry Christie.
Speaking at a press conference called at the FNM headquarters in Mackey Street yesterday, Mr Ingraham denied holding any negotiations with developers of the $2.6 billion project agreed to under the PLP administration as he called for the PLP's full support in following it through.
"Had we been involved we would never have agreed to a deal like that for the Bahamas," Mr Ingraham said.
"We didn't cancel it, we didn't stop it, we didn't review it, we told Baha Mar when we came into office we don't like it, but if you are willing to live with what you signed with the PLP government we will accept it. They came forward with changes they wanted and we negotiated changes we wanted. Had we been involved we would never have agreed to a deal like that for the Bahamas."
Once funding from the China Export-Import Bank and employment of the China State Construction Company as general contractor has been approved by the Chinese government Mr Ingraham said major decisions on the employment of nearly 5,000 Chinese workers for the project will be taken to Parliament for a cross-party decision.
He said the work permits for 4,920 Chinese workers to develop the West Bay Street corridor and Baha Mar's commercial village would have to find agreement from the Opposition.
"The government of the Bahamas is committed to ensuring that foreign direct investment in our economy benefits Bahamians," said Mr Ingraham.
"It would be unconscionable for large numbers of foreign workers to be engaged in the Bahamas if large numbers of similarly skilled Bahamians are available to take up those jobs.
"Mr Christie, while certain to seek credit as the 'father' of the Baha Mar Project is already seeking to find shelter from becoming a part of a tough decision on the labour component for the construction of that project.
"I make abundantly clear that my government will not approve any extraordinary foreign labour component for the Baha Mar Project without the support of the Official Opposition.
"We are not going to born this PLP baby by ourselves.
"After all this is a baby conceived by them."
The high number of Chinese workers could translate to as many as two foreign workers for every Bahamian, which Mr Ingraham compared to Kerzner International's Atlantis worksite on Paradise Island where seven out of every ten labourers were Bahamian.
Mr Ingraham also took the opportunity to refute claims Baha Mar's negotiations were stalled under the FNM as he said it was the PLP that delayed progress by not following through with their obligations under the 2005 Heads of Agreement as government-owned lands in West Bay Street were not transferred to Baha Mar under the PLP as they should have been, and the Supplementary Heads of Agreement sought by the PLP government in May 2007 were not concluded before the FNM came to power.
And he said his government "cannot wait forever" for negotiations to conclude as protracted negotiations have stalled plans to divert Gladstone Road as Baha Mar interferes with the New Providence Road Improvement Project.
"Mr Christie has suggested that my government is seeking to keep secret, its negotiations with Baha Mar," Mr Ingraham said.
"No negotiations are taking place between the Bahamas Government and Baha Mar.
"Obviously we cannot be in a state of uncertainty forever so at some stage some decisions have to be made."
Baha Mar spokesman Robert Sands issued a statement following Mr Ingraham's press conference yesterday.
He said: "The size and scope of the Baha Mar project is unprecedented in the Bahamas.
"We are pleased with the consensus in the Bahamas on the desirability of the enormous economic, employment and social benefits it represents.
"We are making excellent progress, and we expect final approval from the Government of the People's Republic of China very shortly.
"Additionally we have already begun the process of bidding out the contraction work with the commercial village and the re-routing of West Bay Street which in itself will create hundreds of jobs for Bahamians.
"It is the first step in the project's creation of approximately 10,000 jobs for Bahamians over the next five years.
"We will continue to work closely with the Bahamian government and look forward to receiving the necessary approvals so we can begin work as quickly as possible."
Mr Ingraham agreed the Bahamas needs a major project and clarified the country currently only has the manpower and infrastructure to carry out one major project at a time, be it Baha Mar or Atlantis phase four.
"At the same time we can't have both; not simultaneously," he said.
June 14, 2010
tribune242
By MEGAN REYNOLDS
Tribune Staff Reporter
mreynolds@tribunemedia.net:
PRIME Minister Hubert Ingraham announced he would not have approved the Baha Mar development under his administration as he hit back at allegations made by Opposition leader Perry Christie.
Speaking at a press conference called at the FNM headquarters in Mackey Street yesterday, Mr Ingraham denied holding any negotiations with developers of the $2.6 billion project agreed to under the PLP administration as he called for the PLP's full support in following it through.
"Had we been involved we would never have agreed to a deal like that for the Bahamas," Mr Ingraham said.
"We didn't cancel it, we didn't stop it, we didn't review it, we told Baha Mar when we came into office we don't like it, but if you are willing to live with what you signed with the PLP government we will accept it. They came forward with changes they wanted and we negotiated changes we wanted. Had we been involved we would never have agreed to a deal like that for the Bahamas."
Once funding from the China Export-Import Bank and employment of the China State Construction Company as general contractor has been approved by the Chinese government Mr Ingraham said major decisions on the employment of nearly 5,000 Chinese workers for the project will be taken to Parliament for a cross-party decision.
He said the work permits for 4,920 Chinese workers to develop the West Bay Street corridor and Baha Mar's commercial village would have to find agreement from the Opposition.
"The government of the Bahamas is committed to ensuring that foreign direct investment in our economy benefits Bahamians," said Mr Ingraham.
"It would be unconscionable for large numbers of foreign workers to be engaged in the Bahamas if large numbers of similarly skilled Bahamians are available to take up those jobs.
"Mr Christie, while certain to seek credit as the 'father' of the Baha Mar Project is already seeking to find shelter from becoming a part of a tough decision on the labour component for the construction of that project.
"I make abundantly clear that my government will not approve any extraordinary foreign labour component for the Baha Mar Project without the support of the Official Opposition.
"We are not going to born this PLP baby by ourselves.
"After all this is a baby conceived by them."
The high number of Chinese workers could translate to as many as two foreign workers for every Bahamian, which Mr Ingraham compared to Kerzner International's Atlantis worksite on Paradise Island where seven out of every ten labourers were Bahamian.
Mr Ingraham also took the opportunity to refute claims Baha Mar's negotiations were stalled under the FNM as he said it was the PLP that delayed progress by not following through with their obligations under the 2005 Heads of Agreement as government-owned lands in West Bay Street were not transferred to Baha Mar under the PLP as they should have been, and the Supplementary Heads of Agreement sought by the PLP government in May 2007 were not concluded before the FNM came to power.
And he said his government "cannot wait forever" for negotiations to conclude as protracted negotiations have stalled plans to divert Gladstone Road as Baha Mar interferes with the New Providence Road Improvement Project.
"Mr Christie has suggested that my government is seeking to keep secret, its negotiations with Baha Mar," Mr Ingraham said.
"No negotiations are taking place between the Bahamas Government and Baha Mar.
"Obviously we cannot be in a state of uncertainty forever so at some stage some decisions have to be made."
Baha Mar spokesman Robert Sands issued a statement following Mr Ingraham's press conference yesterday.
He said: "The size and scope of the Baha Mar project is unprecedented in the Bahamas.
"We are pleased with the consensus in the Bahamas on the desirability of the enormous economic, employment and social benefits it represents.
"We are making excellent progress, and we expect final approval from the Government of the People's Republic of China very shortly.
"Additionally we have already begun the process of bidding out the contraction work with the commercial village and the re-routing of West Bay Street which in itself will create hundreds of jobs for Bahamians.
"It is the first step in the project's creation of approximately 10,000 jobs for Bahamians over the next five years.
"We will continue to work closely with the Bahamian government and look forward to receiving the necessary approvals so we can begin work as quickly as possible."
Mr Ingraham agreed the Bahamas needs a major project and clarified the country currently only has the manpower and infrastructure to carry out one major project at a time, be it Baha Mar or Atlantis phase four.
"At the same time we can't have both; not simultaneously," he said.
June 14, 2010
tribune242
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