The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

DNA Leader Branville McCartney yesterday urged the government to play a “more active and collaborative role” in ensuring the success of the Baha Mar mega-resort, adding that any further delays could have negative implications for the country’s reputation and workforce.

In a statement yesterday, Mr McCartney said the opening of the mega-resort is “a dream” that many Bahamians bought into as he expressed concern for the thousands who have “been left twisting in the wind” as they await the resort’s highly anticipated opening. He said while the DNA recognises Baha Mar’s efforts to keep its employees on the payroll, the fact that it has not yet opened its doors raises the question of whether the situation will gradually become “untenable.”

Mr McCartney said yesterday: “The opening of the highly touted Baha Mar resort had been billed as one of the greatest economic drivers in our country’s recent history. Armed with impressive designs, and grandiose plans for tourism promotion and growth, improved employment projects and millions in China secured funding, the company’s principals, supported by the government of the Bahamas, began to build the dream.

“It was a dream which thousands of Bahamians bought into, and for a time, it appeared that the dream of Baha Mar would become the reality. Over the past year and a half however, the once clear vision of economic prosperity promised by that development has faded into nothing more than a mirage.”

He added that the government must take a more active role in ensuring the property’s success.

“For the sake of the country, its reputation and its workforce, the DNA urges the government to work closely together to move the project forward. The dream of Baha Mar must not be allowed to die. Rather, we must all work collectively to make that dream a reality.”

Baha Mar is nearly six months behind its initial December 2014 opening date and has missed a March 27 soft opening. The property was finally expected to open in early May, but issues with the resort’s main contractor have led to continued delays.

In a statement earlier this year, Baha Mar criticised the performance of lead contractor China State Construction, revealing that work at the property had not met the expected “standards of excellence” and was, therefore, not acceptable. Baha Mar added that it had relied on statements from its construction manager and lead contractor when it had earlier announced a March 27 opening date.

Baha Mar CEO Sarkis Izmirlian has repeatedly flown to China for discussions about the project. The China Export-Import Bank is one of the main financiers of the resort.

Baha Mar is expected to employ some 5,000 persons when it has opened. In the meantime, around 1,000 employees already working at the resort have been reassigned to areas outside of the positions for which they were hired – such as clean up and security watch.

On Sunday, Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner told The Tribune that she does not believe Prime Minister Perry Christie and his Cabinet have done all they can to ensure that the mega-resort opens as soon as possible.