The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

DEPUTY Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis yesterday criticised Baha Mar executives saying they have not been co-operative in the continuing dispute over more than $19m for the construction of the West Bay Street diversion and Corridor-7 road projects.

He told Members of Parliament that Baha Mar officials have not been forthcoming with very specific information requests and have not attended agreed meetings.

Baha Mar’s Senior Vice-President of Administration and External Affairs Robert Sandy Sands denied the claims yesterday.

Mr Davis, who also has the Ministry of Works in his portfolio, added that challenges with the project were compounded because key elements were removed from the Heads of Agreement during its renegotiation under the previous Ingraham administration.

Mr Davis said an outstanding claim by Baha Mar for an additional $19.7m remains in dispute. “As the government acts for and on behalf of the people of The Bahamas, we must be firm in our belief that we have received value for money, that the money was spent for works that fall within the scope of the agreement,” he said.

“Two reasons can be given for the protracted road to settlement of this issue. The first is that Baha Mar has not been co-operative in this process. There is no doubt that a greater amount of due diligence is required for settlement of the accounting. 

“This includes independent verification of monies paid to contractors for works directly related to the roadworks. Baha Mar, though, has not been forthcoming with very specific information requests and have not attended agreed meetings. 

“The second reason is the fact that the articles that provided for the testing of sums at industry standard in the original heads of agreement of 2006 were removed when the Heads was renegotiated. 

“Given this result, it can only be concluded that this was a poorly-negotiated deal for Bahamians, but we commit to ensuring that we get full and justifiable value for any monies that are to be paid once they fall within the agreed scope of works.”

Mr Davis has told The Tribune that the government is not trying to renege on its side of the bargain.

Mr Sands said: “We have entered into the 2011 heads of agreement in good faith and the terms are quite clear. It is not a matter of interpretation. We have worked diligently and have co-operated with the government. 

“We just wish and want to resolve this matter so we can work on introducing Baha Mar to the world come March 27. This is a $3.5 billion investment that will take The Bahamas’ tourism product to the next level and work to the economic benefit of the country and all Bahamians.”