The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

An Opposition MP yesterday said it was “preposterous” that Prime Minister Perry Christie believes he should be applauded for his efforts on Baha Mar, when the Government’s actions had helped created the $3.5 billion development’s predicament.

Loretta Butler-Turner, in a statement, accused Mr Christie of continuing to sell false hopes on Baha Mar.

“He is once again calling for us to trust him, promising that we will ‘cheer with him’ when the resort finally opens its doors,” she said.

“The PLP and Mr Christie need to recognise that the opening of Baha Mar is not about their political needs and self-interests. The opening of the mega resort, the largest in the country’s history, is primarily about jobs for Bahamians and avoiding a potentially serious recession and the further downgrade of our credit rating.

“What is preposterous is that the Prime Minister actually believes he should be applauded for his efforts, while he makes no reference to his direct actions and responsibility in bringing the resort to its knees in the first place.”

Mrs Butler-Turner continued: “Mr Christie has let down the employees, and the many Bahamian businesses involved with Baha Mar. He has also dramatically undermined the potential for what this project should mean for our country.

“Now he has the audacity to take credit for some ‘pie-in-the-sky’ promised resolution.”

Mrs Butler-Turner said the Christie’s administration’s actions have done irreparable damage to the Bahamas’ reputation in the eyes of foreign investors.

“Instead of including the developer in certain discussions to help resolve the impasse at Baha Mar, the developer was repeatedly threatened by Government ministers,” she added.

“I urge the Government to do all in its power to get the resort open as quickly as possible in the interest of the many thousands of Bahamians seeking employment, amidst growing unemployment.”

Mr Christie told Parliament on Thursday: “I have chosen not to comment significantly on the details of the relationship between myself and Mr Izmirlian as it played out, because it is really not relevant to the overall consideration that Bahamian contractors have not been paid and over 2,000 Bahamian employees that were dismissed.”

Mr Christie has continued to express optimism over the resort’s opening, telling Parliament this week that those who scoff at his optimism over Baha Mar will come to join him in celebrating its success when its doors are opened.

Mr Christie expressed hopes that when work resumes on Baha Mar’s convention centre to have it completed for an upcoming Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) conference, the same construction team would remain on-site to complete work on the rest of the resort.