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PM surprised at Izmirlian bid to make contact

Prime Minister Perry Christie

Prime Minister Perry Christie

As of Tuesday, February 2, 2016

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Perry Christie said yesterday he was surprised to know Baha Mar developer Sarkis Izmirlian has been seeking to meet him concerning getting the $3.5 billion resort completed and opened.

Mr Izmirlian told The Tribune on Sunday that he had not heard from Mr Christie since last summer, even though he has submitted proposals geared toward opening the resort and putting “Bahamians back to work”.

“I will have to call Mr Izmirlian,” Mr Christie told reporters at his office yesterday where he also reiterated his optimism that the resort is close to opening, although he provided no new details about when this might happen.

“I was unaware that Mr Izmirlian was trying to see me. I didn’t know that until I saw (Baha Mar’s former president Thomas Dunlap) on Friday night. He didn’t tell me (Mr Izmirlian) was trying to see me. He told me they had reignited their interest. I was surprised to read in the papers this morning that they’ve been trying to reach me. Clearly I’m unaware of that and the officials in the ministry are unaware of that.”

The disengagement between the two has been a “natural sort of development,” Mr Christie said, one where the developer “took the position that he no longer was talking (to the provisional liquidators) as the matter was before the courts.

“Receiver managers were appointed to join the provisional liquidators and for a time Baha Mar was on side and then the provisional liquidators and the receiver managers continue to take certain positions where as we all know the staff was reduced significantly and it is where we are now.

“And so for me it is of great interest to see that Mr Izmirlian is interested and I most certainly would endeavour to communicate with him to see what that means because, as you would appreciate, it has nothing to do with the government in terms of this matter which is in the hands of the provisional liquidators and the receiver managers and the bank so really the government as a stakeholder would have an interest in being able to facilitate the resumption of construction to the point where completion.

“And, of course, you know we are hosting the Inter-Development Bank in March and we would want the convention facilities completed for that so as to be able to host successfully the conference. These are matters we are very active in pursuing.”

Mr Christie dismissed criticism from FNM members who argue that his optimism has been misplaced.

“They are the opposition and that is their right to do that,” he said. “The Prime Minister of the Bahamas must make a determination as to whether he can speak with optimism and hope. The Prime Minister would know how close we are and what else must take place before we can say we are at the point where construction will resume.”

As he pursues a resolution involving Chinese stakeholders, Mr Christie reiterated his commitment to ensuring that at least 70 per cent of the workers who will work on the Baha Mar site are Bahamians.

“I would expect that the construction site to reflect the agreement … a Bahamian to Chinese ration of 70 to 30,” he said. “I expect that a lot of dynamic activity is to be taking place with respect to Baha Mar. I have indicated to the Bahamian public I’m very hopeful, very optimistic that we are close to some form of resolution. I don’t want to go beyond that even though I’m in constant dialogue with the relevant parties.”

Comments

B_I_D___ 8 years, 9 months ago

Jacka$$

SP 8 years, 9 months ago

Show some respect!....Sir Jacka$$ is more fitting.

GrassRoot 8 years, 9 months ago

PGC has always been a great communicator - talking to himself - in front of the mirror. Maybe he needs hearing devices to pick up some of the noises around him.

B_I_D___ 8 years, 9 months ago

Clearly his permanent secretary or other staff that are meant to relay messages to him should be fired forthwith.

proudloudandfnm 8 years, 9 months ago

LOL Perry could lie now... muddos!!

BoopaDoop 8 years, 9 months ago

Someone is lying. Since Mr. Izmirlian has been forthright straight through, I would say that Mr. Christie is true to form with his nonsense.

sheeprunner12 8 years, 9 months ago

Perry thinks that making flippant jokes about serious matters will cause them to go away

Sickened 8 years, 9 months ago

Those 'minor' strokes he's had are clearly adding up to complete memory loss and an overall failure to comprehend.

shortpants 8 years, 9 months ago

Perry and Minnis in bed together

B_I_D___ 8 years, 9 months ago

Who's the giver and who's the receiver?

GrassRoot 8 years, 9 months ago

lets hope that will not result in offspring.

MonkeeDoo 8 years, 9 months ago

Lord love a duck.

realfreethinker 8 years, 9 months ago

What a time. " The prime minister " this " the prime minister that" what an a..hole he always refer to himself in the third party. I am so sick and tired of this human being. Why don't he just go away,and allow our country to breathe

cmiller 8 years, 9 months ago

Stupid liar

birdiestrachan 8 years, 9 months ago

Why not just wait and see, before calling Mr: Christie name. if the time comes and passes then you will all be justified in calling him anything you wish. it makes sense. TRY IT..

GrassRoot 8 years, 9 months ago

not sure what you mean? are you afraid we wake him up, when calling his name?

Godson 8 years, 9 months ago

MUDDO... you'll know I had to clean human feces to pay my way through university? Well I did!! But if I had to clean up after all of the above comments... I myself will be in 'd_ _ p Shi_. You'll please give me a break... clean up just a little. Thanks.

That said, have you all registered yet to vote in the next general election? If not, GET POLITICAL and be part of the positive change - register now and encourage others to do so as well.

'GET POLITICAL', as apart from 'GETTING into the POLITICS'. By registering and GETTING POLITICAL, you are empowered to make a choice; with politics, the choice is already made for you and don't necessarily have to be a positive choice.

'GETTING POLITICAL' does not mean that you are an adherent and follower of any 'party'. It is a statement that you deiced to retain the power of choice to yourself.

LET'S GET POLITICAL campaign encourages and promotes your empowerment. EMPOWER YOURSELF!!! REGISTER TODAY!!!

Godson "Nicodemus' Johnson

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