The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

BUSINESSES adversely affected by the New Providence Road works project say they have been “exploited” following the government’s compensation scheme that paid out more than $1.5 million.

While some proprietors received as much as $70,000 from the government in an attempt to compensate their losses, spokesman of the Coconut Grove Business League (CGBL) Etheric Bowe said yesterday that the disbursements equated a “slap in the face”.

According to a Ministry of Finance report obtained by The Tribune, $1,553,405.62 was disbursed to proprietors that submitted applications.

The compensation programme in its initial stages was said to have a total value of $15 million, but the report only details a budget of $3 million.

It was unclear whether the compensation, as listed in the report, included any non-cash incentives, such as discounted advertising and utilities, among other things, as initially indicated.

Mr Bowe also reminded the government of its pre-election 2012 promise to fully reimburse those affected. In March 2012, Mr Bowe claimed that then Opposition leader Perry Christie assured the CGBL that the businessmen would be paid if the PLP were elected.

“This government has done nothing but exploit business owners,” Mr Bowe said, “They were kicked when they were down and hurting, if you offered them $10 at that point they would have taken it.”

“This administration, before winning the 2012 election, had explicitly communicated that they would fully reimburse business owners, but they have not done a proper compensation to anybody.

“This government, nor the one before, has been fair. How is it fair for me to have built a business for generations and then the government comes along and destroys it?” he asked.

Mr Bowe was adamant that the CGBL was still sticking to its decision to take the matter to the Privy Council. Lawyer Maurice Glinton, who represents the group, said the process was well underway with a legal team now in the process of completing an application for final leave. He said leave was already obtained to go to the Privy Council.

“They have come in, made promises, and failed to act, we have no choice but to keep on track and continue heading to the Privy Council.”

Of 248 applicants, 229 of them were able to prove that their businesses had suffered severely because of roadwork carried out on major thoroughfares, including  Baillou Hill Road, Market Street, Robinson Road, Village Road, and Prince Charles Drive.

The Bahamas Development Bank approved $3 million as compensation for the road works and as of March 2013, $1,648,790 was approved for disbursement.

The report dated April 5, 2013 noted a remaining balance of $1,351,204. Of that sum, Finance officials recommended that $211,204 be put in a reserve fund for approved applicants that were still compiling loan document.

After June 30, 2013, unused amounts were to be transferred to a micro lending programme that would also be started from a $1 million allocation.

In addition, Faith Temple School was awarded an ex gratia payment of $140,000, the report said, for closing expenses and to assist with severance packages for teachers.