Prime Minister Perry Christie yesterday said the developers behind the proposed Four Seasons resort project at Cotton Bay had asked the Government to “open up on work permits”, so the development could maintain the brand’s standards.
Acknowledging that governments often have to make such concessions to secure foreign direct investment (FDI), Mr Christie told the third Eleuthera Business Outlook conference that Four Seasons had suffered a ”bad experience” with labour standards at Exuma’s Emerald Bay property.
“The Four Seasons had a bad experience in Exuma in terms of labour,” he said. “They then said that if we are going to manage a Four Seasons in Eleuthera, and we are going to maintain the standards of the Four Seasons, we need you to open up on work permits. If you want us these are the conditions you are going to have to accept.”
Mr Christie did not disclose the number of work permits that Four Seasons and the project’s developer, Colombian billionaire Dr Luis Carlos Sarmiento, are seeking.
He added: “Governments are faced with such realities and have to make decisions. They have to make decisions to the degree to which trained labour and levels of sophistication are necessary and available, because they also found that when they were in Exuma some of the people [workers] came, stayed one week and said: ‘I don’t like it. I miss my mommy. I’m going home.’ There is a tremendous difficulty culturally in getting people to adjust in moving. We have to make compromises.”
A Heads of Agreement (HOA) was signed last week for the construction of the Four Seasons resort in South Eleuthera. The first phase of the 1,500-acre project is expected to feature the $100 million development of a five star, 115-room hotel and private residential subdivision with 40 lots, a renovated 18-hole Robert Trent Jones designed golf course, spa and recreational facilities, several restaurants and bars, a commercial shopping centre and employee housing situated on 320 acres.
When completed, the development will include investment an additional residential subdivisions, 200 villas and other amenities. Construction is expected to create 200 direct jobs, while there will be 300 permanent jobs. Ground is expected to be broken on the project by the end of 2015.
Comments
Well_mudda_take_sic 9 years, 7 months ago
Here we see Christie readily admitting that his government's failure to provide Bahamians with a better than D- education in our public school system has once again resulted in the need to let a foreign investor, this time The Four Seasons, bring in as many foreign staff as they wish for their higher paying jobs. There are simply no jobs available for the poor dumb Bahamian voters that Christie and Ingraham have created by the failed social and economic policies applied over decades to our public education system. Yep, the foreigners get the higher paying jobs while the dumb Bahamian voters get a turkey or T-shirt come general election time. Ouch!
TheMadHatter 9 years, 7 months ago
True Dat
Cobalt 9 years, 7 months ago
I agree to a certain extent.
But at the same time.... we can't place the lack of education and occupational skills solely on the government or school system. The underlying problem is that the majority of Bahamians don't value an education. Foreign students (especially Haitians) come to the Bahamas and take advantage of our educational system. Many of them are usually head-boy or head-girl..... acquire scholastic achievements..... and move on to become productive citizens.
I challenge you to talk with any educator, and they will assure you that most of our Bahamian boys and girls in the public school system have little interest in academics. Many of them are coming from broken homes where values, hardwork and honesty are absent. An education system can only fasilitate the values taught at home. A teacher cannot force an individual to learn. They can only teach the student and point the student in the right direction. But its ultimately up to the pupil to enhance his/her knowledge.
Furthermore..... this is twentieth century. Education is any and everywhere. Its basically at everyone's finger tips. If someone wishes to educate himself, it's as easy as picking up a book and studying. Parents are the ones who must take a more proactive role in helping to educate their children. Jamaican and Haitian parents are doing it. Why aren't we???
Don't get me wrong..... the government does deserve some blame...... but not all. The Bahamian government has failed to keep our educated, bright minds in the Bahamas! They have failed at creating advanced employment opportunities for our educated citizens. As a result, many of them have taken their talents globally; while the Bahamas (in need of their skills) suffers the loss.
But it is ultimately up to the people of the Bahamas to change the Bahamas. Pointing fingers and blaming the government won't do any of us any good.
TheMadHatter 9 years, 7 months ago
That is because the CHURCH teaches Bahamians to multiply - even though they don't know their times-tables.
killemwitdakno 9 years, 7 months ago
The presentation is arcane. With the wealth of this island , every class could have had iPads by now.
SaltyConchy 9 years, 7 months ago
Time for Bahamians to get off their collective apathetic backsides and prove they are capable of doing any job. Stop being lazy expecting jobs to land in your lap where you quit working as soon as you are granted one. Stop this D average mentality and show some interest in actually working, then perhaps less foreigners would be needed!
Alltoomuch 9 years, 7 months ago
And so Bahamas for Bahamians is just an empty promise, like so many others!
White_Massa 9 years, 7 months ago
THE WHITE MASSA HAS SPOKEN AND THE PLP AND FNM HAS TOLD YOU WHAT YOU BAHAMIANS ARE WORTH - YOU ARE WORTH NOTHING ACCORDING TO THE PLP AND FNM. RISE UP SLAVES. YOU CAN BE FREE TOO.
killemwitdakno 9 years, 7 months ago
So no Bahamians will relocate for the jobs? By the time 100 permit holders make kids that's costing more than Four Seasons will make government in taxes. Besides, there's a large group of new permit holders with residency since the immigration policy available here already.
duppyVAT 9 years, 7 months ago
What does the Prime Minister mean by Four Seasons having a "bad experience" with labour in Exuma??? ............ Is that why Four Seasons high tailed out of Exuma?????? What about the Filipinos, Mexican, Indians and Chinese who have been brought here to build Atlantis, Bahamar, Bimini and GB hotels???????/ Are they superior products because of these mostly unskilled foreigners who have to work with and under Bahamian sub-contractors??????
This is just Perry being brow-beaten again ....................... we have many skilled Bahamians both in and out of this country who can build a $100 million tourist development
ohdrap4 9 years, 7 months ago
And, speaking of foreign investment hotels, where is that one in Cat island which was going to be a Plantation Themepark with the natives dressed as slaves?
killemwitdakno 9 years, 6 months ago
Themepark in Cat Island sounds nice
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