The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

OPPOSITION Leader Dr Hubert Minnis said he is “not surprised” at Baha Mar’s CEO Sarkis Izmirlian’s disappointment that the government has made promises it has not kept, because it is “the Christie way”.

Speaking to The Tribune, Dr Minnis said if Prime Minister Perry Christie can make promises to the Bahamian people and not deliver, it is not a “stretch” to think he can do the same thing to investors.

Dr Minnis’ comments came after Mr Izmirlian criticised the government for its “unfulfilled promises” and suggested the Christie administration seek “outside help” on crime prevention and education for the country to succeed.

However, in his comments to a Chamber of Commerce conclave at Baha Mar’s Melia resort, Mr Izmirlian expressed disappointment at “12 years of unfulfilled promises”, suggesting discontent with the previous Ingraham administration of which Dr Minnis was a part.

“The PLP went in with promises, they promised the Bahamian people everything and delivered nothing, so I am not surprised they promised investors and did not deliver,” Dr Minnis said.

“This is bad for The Bahamas and not a good message to send to potential investors. When people are investing millions or billions you should try your best to adhere to promises and commitments you made. When you sit down and negotiate, you negotiate in good faith and investors believe what you say. People are now seeing that you cannot trust this government but the good thing is, it isn’t long now and they will be gone soon.”

On Wednesday, Mr Izmirilian said: “All of us must be concerned about the unfulfilled promise of improvement in the reliable supply of power and the reduced costs of power, we all should be concerned about the gap in necessary education and training programmes that would allow workers to be better prepared for jobs, and we all should be concerned that growth incentive commitments are not viewed as reliable.”

Reduced electricity costs and a pledge to double the investment in education and training were among the pre-election campaign promises of the Progressive Liberal Party. The government has also promised to reform the Bahamas Electricity Corporation, as the utility provider struggles to provide steady power supply to New Providence.

However, this process has dragged on considerably with no final announcement from the prime minister despite an initial pledge to have contracts signed by the end of 2013.