The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

THE government and Canadian officials will open discussions this week in the hopes of resolving certain commercial disputes over property purchased in Exuma.

While Canada’s State Foreign Affairs Minister Diane Ablonczy did not go into specifics, it is believed that she and Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis will discuss the complex Oceania Heights matter.

The announcement was made at a press conference to officially welcome Mrs Ablonczy to the Bahamas following talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell, which it was said would strengthen ties between both nations.

“We are very pleased,” she said, “that the Deputy Prime Minister has taken the lead with resolving certain commercial disputes here involving the purchase of property. Sometimes (it is good with) commercial disputes if on the official level we stay out of them. But sometimes they do take elected representatives stepping in to bring things to (a) conclusion.

“These are very complex situations (and) there are a lot of actors involved. A lot (of) ‘he said’ ‘she said’ (and) then you hear the other side. It involves citizens from various countries as well.

“The Minister and I just want to make sure that there is a strong perception that there has been fairness in the process for us to resolve this in a fair and transparent manner.

“We are all agreed on what needs to be done and there maybe ways in which Canada can support the process as well.”

Last year, The Tribune broke the news that investors had complained to the Canadian government that their queries regarding a more than $52 million real estate investment had fallen on deaf ears with Bahamian officials.

The matter was brought to Canada’s attention through a letter penned by Christopher and Jane Bain, home owners at the Oceania Heights project.  They told Mrs Ablonczy that the Bahamas government had even gone as far as refusing to take their calls.

Not long after, Mr Mitchell vowed that he would respond to the concerns.