The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

The Government remains in negotiations with Baha Mar to resolve its share of the re-routed West Bay Street costs, having paid some $28 million thus far.

While giving no indication that a resolution was near, Deputy Prime Minister Philip Davis said both sides were still working to resolve the matter.

“We are still working on that. We expect a resolution at some point in time, but when I can’t say right now. We are still talking,” said the Minister of Works, when asked about the protracted negotiations with the Cable Beach developer.

Under the previous Ingraham administration, the Government agreed it would pay $48.1 million towards roadworks that were expected to cost around $90 million in total. It was also stipulated that the Government would pay 50 per cent of the cost if the work ended up costing less than $70 million.

Baha Mar officials claim the road re-routing cost $118 million, but the Government argued that this figure was worth only $58 million. It had agreed to reimburse Baha Mar for its portion once the casino tower hit the 100-foot mark, which occurred last February.

“I was optimistic we would have completed it before now. My optimism has dissipated, so we will hopefully have it done as soon as we can. I think we have paid about $28 million or thereabouts on account of what we think we owed, and we are trying to work out the balance if there is any,” said Mr Davis.