By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Perry Christie said yesterday that he “fervently” hopes to soon see a resolution to a dispute that has delayed the Baha Mar project.
Following the morning session of the House of Assembly, Mr Christie said he was headed to a meeting to discuss the matter with relevant officials.
“I’m going to a meeting on it right now,” he said. “I told Mr (Robert) Sands this morning when they called me on the latest that I’ll come and see them.”
When asked if Baha Mar CEO Sarkis Izmirlian would be present at the meeting, Mr Christie said: “I don’t quite know who’s going to be there, but it’s going to be a meeting on (the issues).”
Asked if he expected a resolution soon, he said: “Soon I hope. I hope, I fervently hope.”
This all comes after Mr Christie said last Wednesday that he was advised the night before that the disputing parties were “very close to a settlement.”
He said the developer – the Izmirlian family – wishes to finalise a precise date for the project’s completion while the contractor China Construction America (CCA) wants instalment payments.
Tribune Business revealed exclusively last month how China Construction had “slowed down” its work rate on the Baha Mar project due to a dispute with the developer over how much it should have been paid in February.
Mr Christie said he acted as mediator in the dispute, adding that he has emphasised to the relevant parties that the project is very important to the progress of the country.
Asked about the current status of discussions, Baha Mar Vice President of External Affairs Robert Sands yesterday said talks are continuing.
The resort’s reported struggles have given life to wide ranging speculation about what is affecting the project.
Mr Christie last week denied that a shortage of funds is the reason for the impasse between the developer and contractor.
Meanwhile, hundreds of employees of the resort have reportedly been reassigned from the jobs for which they were hired and asked to perform different activities both within the resort and around the island, including clean up.
The resort was first expected to open in December 2014 however that date was delayed until March 27, when a soft opening was scheduled. Days before that planned opening, the resort said the development would open in early May due to ongoing construction work.
In a statement, Baha Mar also criticised the performance of the lead contractor, revealing that work at the property had not met “standards of excellence” and was not acceptable.
Baha Mar added that it had relied on statements from its construction manager and lead contractor when it previously announced a March 27 opening date.
Since then a new opening date has not been provided.
Earlier this month, The Tribune visited Baha Mar’s website to find the earliest available date for booking accommodations was September 8.
The government has long touted Baha Mar’s opening as a key component of the country’s economic rebound. The resort is expected to create 5,000 permanent jobs.
Comments
banker 9 years, 5 months ago
The word "fervently" means that Christie is powerless, it doesn't look good, and all that is left is unfounded hope.
Tarzan 9 years, 5 months ago
Like this is something new? Respecting what major problem facing the Bahamas in the past three years has the government not proved itself "powerless"? Just asking.
Tarzan 9 years, 5 months ago
Please excuse the unintended pun, regarding the use of "powerless" in the context of the government's total failure to act respecting the BEC crisis that faces our nation.
Clamshell 9 years, 5 months ago
Mr. Christie is "fervently hoping" that this crisis does not interrupt any "incidental gratuities" that are supposed to flow, uninterruptedly, under the table.
FNM_Retards 9 years, 5 months ago
Christie moved you from the cash counter to cleaning the toilets?
duppyVAT 9 years, 5 months ago
Perry is powerless ................ that is no secret
Tommy77 9 years, 5 months ago
True.
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FNM_Retards 9 years, 5 months ago
STOP BEING A SLAVE
B_I_D___ 9 years, 5 months ago
Hoping...when he should be ensuring that a resolution is at hand...you just keep on hoping PGC...
TalRussell 9 years, 5 months ago
Comrades with hands clasped, PM needs pray fervently ask God, not to let his PLP Cabinet's destiny suffer for what his administration are doing to betray the trust of voters mistakenly passed on to them back in May of 2012. Some believe God being a real social democratic should be thinking, if there was only one set earthly political establishment creatures on any group of islands that deserve inflicting some serious political suffering come 2017, it has be this PLP cabinet.
And, all the people said....Amen!!
http://tribune242.com/users/photos/2015…
Emac 9 years, 5 months ago
Now if only this idiot that is erroneously referred to as a prime minister can be 'fervent' about putting Bahamians above his wicked colleagues, then at least there could be some glitter of hope for the people of the Bahamas!
duppyVAT 9 years, 5 months ago
I am tired of hearing Perry use these cute words ............... I want to hear him say "I retire!!!!!"
JohnBuchanan 9 years, 5 months ago
It is very sad to see that the Prime Minister has no idea what is actually going on at Baha Mar or how to proceed in finding a solution. And "fervently" hoping will not make any difference. He has clearly been lied to and misled by the Izmirlian regime -- including the notorious liar "Sandy" Sands -- but has not yet figured that out and acted accordingly. Very sad to see.
duppyVAT 9 years, 5 months ago
Even a damn foreigner has already figured out Sandy?????? ......... Boy he has really made a career out of bullshitting investors ................. SMDH
FNM_Retards 9 years, 5 months ago
We could spend years talking about your dumb azz president and all his fuckups.
FNM_Retards 9 years, 5 months ago
FNM and PLP say they believe in Bahamians
the list goes on.
Foreign companies are laughing all the way to the bank. They say the Bahamas is a country of IDIOTS that cant do anything themselves. Except ofcourse run around a field and clean hotel rooms.
A country of slaves. WTF??? Maybe its time to WAKE UP BAHAMAS.
STOP VOTING FOR FNM AND PLP AS THEY THINK YOU ARE DUMB STUPID ANIMALS. THEY THINK YOU ARE NOT WORTH SHIT COMPARED TO A FOREIGNER. THEY THINK THIS COUNTRY IS FULL OF TOTAL IDIOTS WITHOUT ENOUGH BRAINS TO DO THE MOST BASIC THINGS. VOTE FOR ANYTHING BUT FNM AND PLP, JUST SAY NO TO FNM AND PLP, TELL FNM AND PLP ABOUT THEY STINK BACKSIDE. TELL THEM YOU HAD ENOUGH. SHOW THEM YOU HAD ENOUGH.
Emac 9 years, 5 months ago
Absolutely!!!
Chucky 9 years, 5 months ago
Hey FNM_Retards, I get your point, and sentiment; though you have to admit, that so far, nobody from here has been able to properly manage the airport, BEC, the Dump, Road Traffic, CCTV, Solar Power, or political rallies, and a whole hose of other things. We are living in an near failed state!
A small handful of successful business men know how to "rape and pillage" this country, getting things done somewhat efficiently albeit; but aside from them (and they make us pay dearly), everything else is a near joke!
Basically we either turn everything that we want to work over to the "handful" of "successful" business men, who will rape and pillage us even more, we can bring in foreigners or we can live with the status quo.
What you say the best option is?
White_Massa 9 years, 5 months ago
THIS IS YOUR TYPICAL NEGRO SLAVE, THE WHITE MAN HAS HIM TRAINED WELL. HE FEELS HIS PLACE IS IN THE FIELD PICKING COTTON WITH THE OTHER SLAVES, THAT IS HOW THE FNM AND PLP HAVE BRED THIS POOR NEGRO. RISE UP NEGRO, YOU CAN BE FREE TOO.
themessenger 9 years, 5 months ago
Well put Chucky,the next best option would be for General Crazy aka FNM_Retards to crawl back into his sewer pipe from which, unfortunately, he has recently reemerged.
White_Massa 9 years, 5 months ago
THIS IS YOUR TYPICAL NEGRO SLAVE, THE WHITE MAN HAS HIM TRAINED WELL. HE FEELS HIS PLACE IS IN THE FIELD PICKING COTTON WITH THE OTHER SLAVES, THAT IS HOW THE FNM AND PLP HAVE BRED THIS POOR NEGRO. RISE UP NEGRO, YOU CAN BE FREE TOO.
themessenger 9 years, 5 months ago
White_Massa,FNM_Retards or whateva you is call ya self dese days, you is one a dem real ignorant Negros still pickin peas from sh..t. You right here runnin on bout da white man dis an dat when you bin gettin grine in erry hole you gat by black men for the last 40 years, Ignorant MF.
White_Massa 9 years, 5 months ago
OMG, ARE YOU SAYING THAT YOU AND YOUR FELLOW PLANTATION NEGROS ARE RAPING YOUR WHITE MASSAS IN THEIR EARS, MOUTHS, ANUS, AND BELLY BUTTONS? THAT IS TRULY SICKENING. WHEN I SAY RAISE UP I DID NOT MEAN YOUR DOGGY. THIS IS NO TIME TO BE A SISSY. REPENT FOR YOUR SISSYNESS.
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