Christie at odds with PM over six planned Baha Mar hotels
tribune242
PLP leader Perry Christie is at odds with Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham over his belief that the six hotels which are to be built as part of the Baha Mar Resort should be built or opened in phases.
Mr Christie said it would only increase the cost of the project to break down the construction into phases, and would make little sense for the resort developers not to open all of the hotels at the same time if they were all constructed simultaneously.
Information reaching The Tribune is that Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham may have asked the Chinese if the hotels could be built in phases rather than all at once or that if this could not be accommodated, that they would open in a phased manner.
But Mr Christie said that considering the fact that so much money was being borrowed to fund the hotels' construction it would "not make sense to have hotels sitting there that they couldn't sell", referring to the ability to sell rooms within the hotels once they are completed.
And he added that the size of the Baha Mar development was one of the reasons for the re-development of the Lynden Pindling International Airport.
Studies
"Don't forget, Baha Mar engaged a company to do studies which concluded that both the Baha Mar development and Atlantis can co-exist/be developed at the same time," said Mr Christie.
Meanwhile, Mr Christie also told The Tribune that he understands that coming out of the Prime Minister's meetings with Baha Mar financiers, China Export Import Bank and the China State Construction Company, its general contractor, an arrangement may have been reached whereby the Bahamian labour component on the construction project would be increased by ten per cent, with 40 per cent Bahamian and 60 per cent Chinese labour.
Some sources had suggested Mr Ingraham had sought to negotiate a $200million increase in the amount of funding that will go to Bahamian contractors in connection with the project.
"The Prime Minister, I presume upon his return, will advise the country as to whether or not he was able to succeed in these discussions," said Mr Christie last week.
Stephen Wrinkle, President of the Bahamas Contractors Association, said yesterday that prior to Mr Ingraham leaving for China he told the BCA in a meeting that he would seek to increase the Bahamian content of the labour force and get more work for Bahamian contractors as part of the Baha Mar project.
"We have to ensure we've got the quantity of the workers and the dollar value comes to the contractors and not just payrolls," said Mr Wrinkle yesterday.
The contractor added that as the industry awaits an announcement on what was the outcome of any efforts on behalf of Mr Ingraham to achieve this end, the BCA continues to dialogue with Baha Mar and BTVI on training workers so they are prepared "at such time as when the facts and figures emerge".
"We know there will be a Bahamian content in the labour force and the project and we are continuing to focus our efforts on preparing our workers and contractors so if the work the Prime Minister is doing comes to fruition we will be able to presentable work force for project," said Mr Wrinkle.
November 08, 2010
tribune242
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 Resort. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Baha Mar Resort. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham not satisfied with the hotel brand arrangements that Baha Mar has made to date
PM CONCERNED ABOUT BAHA MAR BRANDING FOCUS
By KRYSTEL ROLLE
Guardian Staff Reporter
krystel@nasguard.com
Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham said yesterday that he is not satisfied with the hotel brand arrangements that Baha Mar has made to date.
Last month Ingraham expressed concerns about how Baha Mar would be branded and how it will fill so many new rooms, when for a second year it has had to temporarily close one of its hotels because of low demand.
Since then Baha Mar announced partnerships with three hotel brands.
Asked if those announcements appeased his concerns, Ingraham said,"It does not at all."
"If you recall when the Baha Mar deal was announced there was supposed to be a partnership with Harrah's, a major casino hotel company,"Ingraham told reporters yesterday during a tour of the Albany project."Harrah's was going to put in over $200 million in cash as its equity... All that I've read in the newspaper so far talks about who is going to manage the hotels[for Baha Mar]. It is critical for there to be equity partners-owners who are in the hotel business and who are major players, not managers.
"Managers come dime a dozen. You see them all the time. They are the easiest thing to pick up in the world-managers-because they have nothing in it other than collecting their money at the top,"Ingraham continued.
Baha Mar announced yesterday that it signed a letter of intent with Hyatt Hotels Corporation to operate and manage the planned 700-room Grand Hyatt. Baha Mar Ltd. also selected Hyatt as its timeshare partner in the project, which will initially include 50 units as part of the first phase, with plans for expansion in subsequent phases, the company said in a statement.
Earlier it announced that Rosewood Hotels and Resorts will operate and manage the 200-room luxury hotel that Baha Mar will construct and Morgans Hotel Group will operate and manage the planned 300-room luxury lifestyle hotel.
In addition to concerns surrounding the hotels'branding, Ingraham said the government remains concerned about the project's controversial labor component.
Baha Mar has requested 8,150 work permits for the project. The current deal requires that the core of the project be built exclusively by foreign labor.
The government intends to the take the labor issue directly to the source when Ingraham travels to China later this moth.
Ingraham said he is meeting with China State Construction Engineering Corporation and the China Export-Import Bank to discuss the project.
"We told the China State Construction Engineering Corporation from the first time we saw them more than a year ago that it was not possible to have that number of foreign workers on a job site with the Bahamian content being so low. Nothing has changed. We've been telling them that for more than a year.
"It appears that some people either don't take us seriously or they apparently think that we are so desperate that we will do whatever we are asked to do. But our strength is not weakened,"Ingraham said.
Asked what the government would do if the company refuses to amend the deal, Ingraham said the government will"figure that out"if it comes to that.
Notwithstanding the government's concerns, Ingraham said the project would be good for The Bahamas.
"We are obviously very pleased that the bank is willing to invest more than$2 billion in The Bahamas. That will be a tremendous boost for our economy. We are concerned about making sure the maximum benefit could be derived for Bahamians and for the economy of The Bahamas,"he said.
But Ingraham said the project has to be done in"such a way that it can be sustainable in the long run and have occupancy levels that are not going to threaten what we have."
"We wouldn't want(to be)a dog with the bone in his mouth and see a shadow in the water and let[the bone]go in order to pick that shadow up. We want to make sure that the next bone is capable of being developed and operated in a way whereby they can both be successful in th context of The Bahamas. That's our interest in these projects."
In a statement yesterday Baha Mar said It is anticipated that the development will make "The Bahamas one of the premier tourist locations in the world, drawing millions of vacationers and business travelers each year to the resort's six hotels."
"With almost 3,500 rooms and condos, the largest casino in the Caribbean, the largest convention center in The Bahamas, a world-class golf course, retail village and much more, Baha Mar Resort represents the Caribbean's largest single-phase destination resort. Baha Mar will employ approximately 4,000 Bahamians over the life of the construction period, which is expected to last nearly four years. Once the resort is complete, approximately 98 percent of the staff will be Bahamian nationals, representing some 7,000 jobs for Bahamians."
10/19/2010
thenassauguardian
By KRYSTEL ROLLE
Guardian Staff Reporter
krystel@nasguard.com
Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham said yesterday that he is not satisfied with the hotel brand arrangements that Baha Mar has made to date.
Last month Ingraham expressed concerns about how Baha Mar would be branded and how it will fill so many new rooms, when for a second year it has had to temporarily close one of its hotels because of low demand.
Since then Baha Mar announced partnerships with three hotel brands.
Asked if those announcements appeased his concerns, Ingraham said,"It does not at all."
"If you recall when the Baha Mar deal was announced there was supposed to be a partnership with Harrah's, a major casino hotel company,"Ingraham told reporters yesterday during a tour of the Albany project."Harrah's was going to put in over $200 million in cash as its equity... All that I've read in the newspaper so far talks about who is going to manage the hotels[for Baha Mar]. It is critical for there to be equity partners-owners who are in the hotel business and who are major players, not managers.
"Managers come dime a dozen. You see them all the time. They are the easiest thing to pick up in the world-managers-because they have nothing in it other than collecting their money at the top,"Ingraham continued.
Baha Mar announced yesterday that it signed a letter of intent with Hyatt Hotels Corporation to operate and manage the planned 700-room Grand Hyatt. Baha Mar Ltd. also selected Hyatt as its timeshare partner in the project, which will initially include 50 units as part of the first phase, with plans for expansion in subsequent phases, the company said in a statement.
Earlier it announced that Rosewood Hotels and Resorts will operate and manage the 200-room luxury hotel that Baha Mar will construct and Morgans Hotel Group will operate and manage the planned 300-room luxury lifestyle hotel.
In addition to concerns surrounding the hotels'branding, Ingraham said the government remains concerned about the project's controversial labor component.
Baha Mar has requested 8,150 work permits for the project. The current deal requires that the core of the project be built exclusively by foreign labor.
The government intends to the take the labor issue directly to the source when Ingraham travels to China later this moth.
Ingraham said he is meeting with China State Construction Engineering Corporation and the China Export-Import Bank to discuss the project.
"We told the China State Construction Engineering Corporation from the first time we saw them more than a year ago that it was not possible to have that number of foreign workers on a job site with the Bahamian content being so low. Nothing has changed. We've been telling them that for more than a year.
"It appears that some people either don't take us seriously or they apparently think that we are so desperate that we will do whatever we are asked to do. But our strength is not weakened,"Ingraham said.
Asked what the government would do if the company refuses to amend the deal, Ingraham said the government will"figure that out"if it comes to that.
Notwithstanding the government's concerns, Ingraham said the project would be good for The Bahamas.
"We are obviously very pleased that the bank is willing to invest more than$2 billion in The Bahamas. That will be a tremendous boost for our economy. We are concerned about making sure the maximum benefit could be derived for Bahamians and for the economy of The Bahamas,"he said.
But Ingraham said the project has to be done in"such a way that it can be sustainable in the long run and have occupancy levels that are not going to threaten what we have."
"We wouldn't want(to be)a dog with the bone in his mouth and see a shadow in the water and let[the bone]go in order to pick that shadow up. We want to make sure that the next bone is capable of being developed and operated in a way whereby they can both be successful in th context of The Bahamas. That's our interest in these projects."
In a statement yesterday Baha Mar said It is anticipated that the development will make "The Bahamas one of the premier tourist locations in the world, drawing millions of vacationers and business travelers each year to the resort's six hotels."
"With almost 3,500 rooms and condos, the largest casino in the Caribbean, the largest convention center in The Bahamas, a world-class golf course, retail village and much more, Baha Mar Resort represents the Caribbean's largest single-phase destination resort. Baha Mar will employ approximately 4,000 Bahamians over the life of the construction period, which is expected to last nearly four years. Once the resort is complete, approximately 98 percent of the staff will be Bahamian nationals, representing some 7,000 jobs for Bahamians."
10/19/2010
thenassauguardian
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Baha Mar Resolution Tabled In Parliament
Statement to Parliament on the Baha Mar Development by Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham:
THE PRIME MINISTER: Mr. Speaker,
I rise to Table a Resolution meant to garner the position and sense of the representatives of the people on the proposed Resort development by Baha Mar at Cable Beach, New Providence and to ensure that the Bahamian people are fully informed on the requirements, consequences and benefits which are projected to result for The Bahamas if the development proceeds as now proposed by the principals.
The Baha Mar project is to comprise six hotels with approximately 3,500 rooms and condominiums, an approximately 100,000 square foot casino, 200,000 square feet of convention facilities, a twenty acre beach and pool experience, an 18-hole golf course and a 60,000 square-foot retail village and additional residential products.
The total value of the project is estimated at $2.5 billion. A contract for the amount of $1.918,965,693 billion has been negotiated with the China Construction Company as primary contractors for the project.
The Resolution results from the fact that the foreign labour component intended during the construction of the Resort exceeds levels ever experienced in The Bahamas and is beyond anything ever contemplated by my Government.
In the earliest of times in the development of the tourism sector in our country in the 1950s the law and the Government permitted as much as 25% of the labour force in construction and or operation of a tourism development resort to be foreign. The Hotels Encouragement Act 1954 permitted “for the admission into The Bahamas of key personnel and special workmen both during the construction period and operation of the new hotel, subject to the proviso that at all times seventy-five per centum of the total number of persons employed in the construction or operation of the new hotel shall be natives of The Bahamas if such natives of The Bahamas are available to perform the several and respective services required.”
While that provision remained in the law, following Majority Rule a move toward Bahamianization of the work force brought change.
Beginning in the 1980s the practice evolved where large foreign components were engaged in the construction of hotels, and a smaller number of foreigners were allowed to work in the hotel upon completion.
Honourable Members will recall the substantial foreign work force engaged to construct the Crystal Palace Resort and casino, today the Wyndham Crystal Palace Resort and the US Departure Terminal at the then Nassau International Airport. At those two projects Indian, Brazilian and other foreign nationals far out-numbered Bahamian nationals on the work force.
When my Government first came to office in 1992 we determined not to continue this practice of the former Government. When, in 1993 we agreed terms for the commencement of a Five Phase redevelopment and Expansion of Resort Properties on Paradise Island by Sun International (now Kerzner International) we established that notwithstanding the demonstrable need for the engagement of large numbers of expatriate experts and labour for the timely completion of the project, the ratio of Bahamians to non-Bahamians on the construction site would not exceed 30% foreign to 70% Bahamian, increasing on the required Bahamian component above the 1954 statutory base of 25%.
It is noteworthy that this ratio obtained during Two Phases of construction of the Kerzner International resorts under FNM administrations and was continued when Members Opposite most recently formed the Government during the Third Phase expansion of Kerzner International on Paradise Island. (70% Bahamian : 30% Foreign)
Members Opposite at the same time however, did not require an adherence to this accepted ratio of Bahamian to foreign workers in the construction of the Bimini Bay Resort at North Bimini. As a result foreign workers, principally from Mexico, far exceeded the number of Bahamian nationals engaged on that construction site in the middle of the last decade.
The Bahamas Government now has for consideration the construction of the Baha Mar Resort in Cable Beach. The terms of the funding obtained by the developers of the Resort include a requirement that the overwhelming majority, if not virtually all of the workers to be engaged on the “Core Project”, over the life of the project, be foreign workers - some 8,150 persons.
It is projected that some 1,200 Bahamians will be engaged in the construction of the non-Core project that is, the new West Bay Street, the new Commercial Village and the initial site preparation for the Core Project. More specifically these projects include:
• Construction of a new West Bay Street/Corridor including utilities with a value of $75 million
• Construction of a new Commercial Village at Cable Beach and related “back of house” on Gladstone Road with a value of $30 million
• Construction of free standing buildings including the golf clubhouse and buildings around the beach and pool area and retail village with a value of $20 million
• Major earthwork, irrigation and landscaping related to the construction of the new Golf Course with a value of $10 million.
I have been advised that the principals of Baha Mar are in discussion with their Chinese partners and financiers with a view to additionally, engaging Bahamian contractors in a number of “trade packages” related to the Core Project to include general site clearing and preparatory work, masonry, dry wall, ceilings, painting, electrical, mechanical, site security, fencing, beach restoration, remediation, and landscaping having a total estimated value of $40 million.
It is further expected that many of these jobs will carry over to continued employment in the “trade packages” for the Core Project I mentioned. This we are informed is expected to result in the engagement of 3,300 Bahamians at the height of construction of the Core Project.
Honourable Members are aware that the basic justification for permitting the engagement of foreign workers in The Bahamas has been the transfer of technology and of skills. This occurred, very measurably, during each phase of the Kerzner International developments on Paradise Island and is occurring now, at the first phase in the expansion of the Lynden Pindling International Airport.
Based on the numbers, in the case of the Baha Mar Project it is proposed that 71% of the work force will be foreign and 29% Bahamian. This represents a complete reversal of conditions imposed upon Kerzner, for example.
What must be determined is whether this invaluable benefit of skills transfer and improved exposure to new technologies can or will occur in a project where contact between Bahamians and foreign experts is likely to be limited.
I also believe that the Government has an obligation to explain to the Bahamian people other requirements of The Bahamas unrelated to labour issues which arise from this project. Principally this will involve the transfer of Government-owned and Crown Lands to the developers. Because of the conditions precedent set by Baha Mar’s financiers – China Import Export Bank and the China Construction Company – these lands are required to be transferred in advance of the start of construction of the project.
As you are aware, the Cable Beach Hotel, now the Sheraton was transferred to Baha Mar in 2005.
The Crystal Palace Resort and Casino, now the Wyndham Crystal palace, was acquired on leased land by Baha Mar in 2005. That hotel, like the Nassau Beach Hotel, is constructed on leased Crown Land.
Approval for the Baha Mar Project requires the transfer of the following publicly-owned land:
Wyndham Hotel & Casino Land - 13.450 acres
Nassau Beach Land - 7.546 acres
Hobby Horse Hall parcel - 70.964 acres
Fidelity Bank - .866 acre
Cecil Wallace-Whitfield Centre - 2.259 acres
Cable Beach Police Station - 1.377 acres
Old West Bay Street - 11.228 acres
New Corridor #7 - 1.610 acres Plus an additional parcel of .783 acre
Gladstone Road back of House - 50.00 acres
Prospect Ridge Parcel - 2.365 acres
Water and Sewerage Corporation - 99.782 acres Parcel
BEC Parcel - 2.570 acres
BEC Substation - .165 acres
TOTAL - 264.965 acres
It is the position of my Government that these lands will only be transferred for the expressed purpose of facilitating the development and that should the development not proceed the land must return to the Government.
Mr. Speaker,
I should also advise that a number of unresolved matters between Baha Mar and Scotia Bank relating to outstanding loans attached to the Baha Mar Project are being negotiated even now. It is expected that all outstanding matters will be resolved within the next two week period. Hence, it is proposed that we reserve our debate of the matter until these matters have been completed.
It would appear that the Wednesday 22nd or Thursday 23rd September may be an appropriate time for the debate.
THE RESOLUTION:
Mr. Speaker,
To be very explicit, so that the noise in the print and broadcast media to the effect that somebody is holding up this project can be put to rest – BahaMar cannot do the deal with the Chinese bank until it satisfies the ScotiaBank loan.
They are in discussions with ScotiaBank. The next meetings take place next week in Toronto. But there will be no deal unless Scotia’s loan is satisfied.
Secondly, there will be no deal unless the Government of The Bahamas and the Chinese Government exchange letters saying “we approve in The Bahamas’’, and we get from the Chinese Government at the same time in the next hand, “we approve here [China].”
They will go ‘hand go, hand come’ – at the same time and the same place.
WHEREAS the Government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas (hereinafter called ‘the Government’) and Baha Mar Development Company Ltd., a company incorporated under the laws of the said Commonwealth (hereinafter called ‘BDC’), entered into a Heads of Agreement, dated the 6th day of April 2005, to develop a major resort in the Cable Beach area of the Western District of New Providence, one of the Islands of the said Commonwealth (hereinafter called ‘the Agreement’);
AND WHEREAS the Government, BDC and Baha Mar Joint Venture Holdings Ltd., an international business company incorporated under the laws of the said Commonwealth, entered into a Supplemental Heads of Agreement dated the 31st day of January 2008 (hereinafter called ‘the Supplemental Agreement’);
AND WHEREAS neither project contemplated under either the Agreement or Supplemental Agreement has materialised;
AND WHEREAS Baha Mar Ltd. (hereinafter called ‘Baha Mar’) now proposes to undertake a project comprising six hotels with approximately 3,500 rooms and condominiums, an approximately 100,000 square foot casino, 200,000 square feet of convention facilities, a twenty acre beach and pool experience, an 18-hole golf course and a 60,000 square-foot retail village and additional residential products (together hereinafter called ‘the Project’);
AND WHEREAS one of the conditions precedent to the Government performing its obligations under the Agreement and Supplemental Agreement is that Baha Mar shall provide the Government with satisfactory evidence of funding;
AND WHEREAS Baha Mar’s primary source of funding for the project will be obtained from The Export-Import Bank of China, and the primary contractor in respect of the Project will be CCA (Bahamas), Ltd., a subsidiary of China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited;
AND WHEREAS The Export-Import Bank of China has agreed to make available to Baha Mar and or its subsidiaries a term loan facility in respect of the Project in an amount up to $2.45 billion;
AND WHEREAS a condition precedent for the disbursement of the loan facility by The Export-Import Bank of China is that Baha Mar must provide evidence to The Export-Import Bank of China of release of all Scotiabank existing security and financial indebtedness incurred by Baha Mar under or in relation to the Scotiabank existing facility;
AND WHEREAS completion of the Project on a highly accelerated schedule will necessitate substantial employment of non-Bahamian workers during construction;
AND WHEREAS Baha Mar has specified that the aggregate number of non-Bahamians required over the course of the construction phase is 8,150 with the peak number at any given time being 5,000 non-Bahamians as shown in Annex I;
AND WHEREAS CCA (Bahamas), Ltd., Baha Mar and its subcontractors will be required to cause all of the non-Bahamian workers on the Project to be repatriated from the Bahamas immediately following the completion of their respective work periods;
AND WHEREAS Baha Mar has indicated the job categories required for workers in the initial project phase and core project phase as shown in Annex II;
AND WHEREAS the Project, if undertaken as proposed, will have immense impact on the economy of The Bahamas creating approximately 3,000 construction jobs in addition to 7,000 new permanent jobs for Bahamians;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that this House supports the Project and the issuance of work permits for up to 8,150 non-Bahamian construction workers with the number at any given time being not more than 5,000.
Bahamas Blog International
THE PRIME MINISTER: Mr. Speaker,
I rise to Table a Resolution meant to garner the position and sense of the representatives of the people on the proposed Resort development by Baha Mar at Cable Beach, New Providence and to ensure that the Bahamian people are fully informed on the requirements, consequences and benefits which are projected to result for The Bahamas if the development proceeds as now proposed by the principals.
The Baha Mar project is to comprise six hotels with approximately 3,500 rooms and condominiums, an approximately 100,000 square foot casino, 200,000 square feet of convention facilities, a twenty acre beach and pool experience, an 18-hole golf course and a 60,000 square-foot retail village and additional residential products.
The total value of the project is estimated at $2.5 billion. A contract for the amount of $1.918,965,693 billion has been negotiated with the China Construction Company as primary contractors for the project.
The Resolution results from the fact that the foreign labour component intended during the construction of the Resort exceeds levels ever experienced in The Bahamas and is beyond anything ever contemplated by my Government.
In the earliest of times in the development of the tourism sector in our country in the 1950s the law and the Government permitted as much as 25% of the labour force in construction and or operation of a tourism development resort to be foreign. The Hotels Encouragement Act 1954 permitted “for the admission into The Bahamas of key personnel and special workmen both during the construction period and operation of the new hotel, subject to the proviso that at all times seventy-five per centum of the total number of persons employed in the construction or operation of the new hotel shall be natives of The Bahamas if such natives of The Bahamas are available to perform the several and respective services required.”
While that provision remained in the law, following Majority Rule a move toward Bahamianization of the work force brought change.
Beginning in the 1980s the practice evolved where large foreign components were engaged in the construction of hotels, and a smaller number of foreigners were allowed to work in the hotel upon completion.
Honourable Members will recall the substantial foreign work force engaged to construct the Crystal Palace Resort and casino, today the Wyndham Crystal Palace Resort and the US Departure Terminal at the then Nassau International Airport. At those two projects Indian, Brazilian and other foreign nationals far out-numbered Bahamian nationals on the work force.
When my Government first came to office in 1992 we determined not to continue this practice of the former Government. When, in 1993 we agreed terms for the commencement of a Five Phase redevelopment and Expansion of Resort Properties on Paradise Island by Sun International (now Kerzner International) we established that notwithstanding the demonstrable need for the engagement of large numbers of expatriate experts and labour for the timely completion of the project, the ratio of Bahamians to non-Bahamians on the construction site would not exceed 30% foreign to 70% Bahamian, increasing on the required Bahamian component above the 1954 statutory base of 25%.
It is noteworthy that this ratio obtained during Two Phases of construction of the Kerzner International resorts under FNM administrations and was continued when Members Opposite most recently formed the Government during the Third Phase expansion of Kerzner International on Paradise Island. (70% Bahamian : 30% Foreign)
Members Opposite at the same time however, did not require an adherence to this accepted ratio of Bahamian to foreign workers in the construction of the Bimini Bay Resort at North Bimini. As a result foreign workers, principally from Mexico, far exceeded the number of Bahamian nationals engaged on that construction site in the middle of the last decade.
The Bahamas Government now has for consideration the construction of the Baha Mar Resort in Cable Beach. The terms of the funding obtained by the developers of the Resort include a requirement that the overwhelming majority, if not virtually all of the workers to be engaged on the “Core Project”, over the life of the project, be foreign workers - some 8,150 persons.
It is projected that some 1,200 Bahamians will be engaged in the construction of the non-Core project that is, the new West Bay Street, the new Commercial Village and the initial site preparation for the Core Project. More specifically these projects include:
• Construction of a new West Bay Street/Corridor including utilities with a value of $75 million
• Construction of a new Commercial Village at Cable Beach and related “back of house” on Gladstone Road with a value of $30 million
• Construction of free standing buildings including the golf clubhouse and buildings around the beach and pool area and retail village with a value of $20 million
• Major earthwork, irrigation and landscaping related to the construction of the new Golf Course with a value of $10 million.
I have been advised that the principals of Baha Mar are in discussion with their Chinese partners and financiers with a view to additionally, engaging Bahamian contractors in a number of “trade packages” related to the Core Project to include general site clearing and preparatory work, masonry, dry wall, ceilings, painting, electrical, mechanical, site security, fencing, beach restoration, remediation, and landscaping having a total estimated value of $40 million.
It is further expected that many of these jobs will carry over to continued employment in the “trade packages” for the Core Project I mentioned. This we are informed is expected to result in the engagement of 3,300 Bahamians at the height of construction of the Core Project.
Honourable Members are aware that the basic justification for permitting the engagement of foreign workers in The Bahamas has been the transfer of technology and of skills. This occurred, very measurably, during each phase of the Kerzner International developments on Paradise Island and is occurring now, at the first phase in the expansion of the Lynden Pindling International Airport.
Based on the numbers, in the case of the Baha Mar Project it is proposed that 71% of the work force will be foreign and 29% Bahamian. This represents a complete reversal of conditions imposed upon Kerzner, for example.
What must be determined is whether this invaluable benefit of skills transfer and improved exposure to new technologies can or will occur in a project where contact between Bahamians and foreign experts is likely to be limited.
I also believe that the Government has an obligation to explain to the Bahamian people other requirements of The Bahamas unrelated to labour issues which arise from this project. Principally this will involve the transfer of Government-owned and Crown Lands to the developers. Because of the conditions precedent set by Baha Mar’s financiers – China Import Export Bank and the China Construction Company – these lands are required to be transferred in advance of the start of construction of the project.
As you are aware, the Cable Beach Hotel, now the Sheraton was transferred to Baha Mar in 2005.
The Crystal Palace Resort and Casino, now the Wyndham Crystal palace, was acquired on leased land by Baha Mar in 2005. That hotel, like the Nassau Beach Hotel, is constructed on leased Crown Land.
Approval for the Baha Mar Project requires the transfer of the following publicly-owned land:
Wyndham Hotel & Casino Land - 13.450 acres
Nassau Beach Land - 7.546 acres
Hobby Horse Hall parcel - 70.964 acres
Fidelity Bank - .866 acre
Cecil Wallace-Whitfield Centre - 2.259 acres
Cable Beach Police Station - 1.377 acres
Old West Bay Street - 11.228 acres
New Corridor #7 - 1.610 acres Plus an additional parcel of .783 acre
Gladstone Road back of House - 50.00 acres
Prospect Ridge Parcel - 2.365 acres
Water and Sewerage Corporation - 99.782 acres Parcel
BEC Parcel - 2.570 acres
BEC Substation - .165 acres
TOTAL - 264.965 acres
It is the position of my Government that these lands will only be transferred for the expressed purpose of facilitating the development and that should the development not proceed the land must return to the Government.
Mr. Speaker,
I should also advise that a number of unresolved matters between Baha Mar and Scotia Bank relating to outstanding loans attached to the Baha Mar Project are being negotiated even now. It is expected that all outstanding matters will be resolved within the next two week period. Hence, it is proposed that we reserve our debate of the matter until these matters have been completed.
It would appear that the Wednesday 22nd or Thursday 23rd September may be an appropriate time for the debate.
THE RESOLUTION:
Mr. Speaker,
To be very explicit, so that the noise in the print and broadcast media to the effect that somebody is holding up this project can be put to rest – BahaMar cannot do the deal with the Chinese bank until it satisfies the ScotiaBank loan.
They are in discussions with ScotiaBank. The next meetings take place next week in Toronto. But there will be no deal unless Scotia’s loan is satisfied.
Secondly, there will be no deal unless the Government of The Bahamas and the Chinese Government exchange letters saying “we approve in The Bahamas’’, and we get from the Chinese Government at the same time in the next hand, “we approve here [China].”
They will go ‘hand go, hand come’ – at the same time and the same place.
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS the Government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas (hereinafter called ‘the Government’) and Baha Mar Development Company Ltd., a company incorporated under the laws of the said Commonwealth (hereinafter called ‘BDC’), entered into a Heads of Agreement, dated the 6th day of April 2005, to develop a major resort in the Cable Beach area of the Western District of New Providence, one of the Islands of the said Commonwealth (hereinafter called ‘the Agreement’);
AND WHEREAS the Government, BDC and Baha Mar Joint Venture Holdings Ltd., an international business company incorporated under the laws of the said Commonwealth, entered into a Supplemental Heads of Agreement dated the 31st day of January 2008 (hereinafter called ‘the Supplemental Agreement’);
AND WHEREAS neither project contemplated under either the Agreement or Supplemental Agreement has materialised;
AND WHEREAS Baha Mar Ltd. (hereinafter called ‘Baha Mar’) now proposes to undertake a project comprising six hotels with approximately 3,500 rooms and condominiums, an approximately 100,000 square foot casino, 200,000 square feet of convention facilities, a twenty acre beach and pool experience, an 18-hole golf course and a 60,000 square-foot retail village and additional residential products (together hereinafter called ‘the Project’);
AND WHEREAS one of the conditions precedent to the Government performing its obligations under the Agreement and Supplemental Agreement is that Baha Mar shall provide the Government with satisfactory evidence of funding;
AND WHEREAS Baha Mar’s primary source of funding for the project will be obtained from The Export-Import Bank of China, and the primary contractor in respect of the Project will be CCA (Bahamas), Ltd., a subsidiary of China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited;
AND WHEREAS The Export-Import Bank of China has agreed to make available to Baha Mar and or its subsidiaries a term loan facility in respect of the Project in an amount up to $2.45 billion;
AND WHEREAS a condition precedent for the disbursement of the loan facility by The Export-Import Bank of China is that Baha Mar must provide evidence to The Export-Import Bank of China of release of all Scotiabank existing security and financial indebtedness incurred by Baha Mar under or in relation to the Scotiabank existing facility;
AND WHEREAS completion of the Project on a highly accelerated schedule will necessitate substantial employment of non-Bahamian workers during construction;
AND WHEREAS Baha Mar has specified that the aggregate number of non-Bahamians required over the course of the construction phase is 8,150 with the peak number at any given time being 5,000 non-Bahamians as shown in Annex I;
AND WHEREAS CCA (Bahamas), Ltd., Baha Mar and its subcontractors will be required to cause all of the non-Bahamian workers on the Project to be repatriated from the Bahamas immediately following the completion of their respective work periods;
AND WHEREAS Baha Mar has indicated the job categories required for workers in the initial project phase and core project phase as shown in Annex II;
AND WHEREAS the Project, if undertaken as proposed, will have immense impact on the economy of The Bahamas creating approximately 3,000 construction jobs in addition to 7,000 new permanent jobs for Bahamians;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that this House supports the Project and the issuance of work permits for up to 8,150 non-Bahamian construction workers with the number at any given time being not more than 5,000.
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