The Tribune

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Chief Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

SEEKING to increase pressure on the government to release all documents related to the Baha Mar negotiations, the Free National Movement yesterday announced it is collecting signatures for an online petition to demonstrate the level of public “disgust” over the sealed deal.

FNM Chairman Sidney Collie urged Bahamians to endorse the petition, reiterating the party’s stance that Prime Minister Perry Christie was duty-bound to make the agreement public.

“Bahamians are shocked and dismayed that the Christie-led government requested that the deal this government made with the Chinese be sealed by the courts of The Bahamas,” he said in a statement yesterday.

However Mr Christie has said that the court documents were sealed at the request of the Export-Import Bank of China (CEXIM).

“This petition gives the people a tangible way to voice their disgust at how the prime minister shrouded his secret deal with the Chinese, unwilling to allow the people to review the contents and see for themselves what has been decided about their future,” Mr Collie added.

“Bahamians if you are concerned about your future, the future of your children and grandchildren, the Free National Movement urges you to sign this petition.”

Mr Christie announced that a deal had been reached between the government and CEXIM to remobilise the stalled resort during a nationally televised press conference last month. However, he did not provide any clarity on a definitive buyer or sale price, or details on how unsecured creditors will be paid.

The FNM has railed against the secrecy surrounding the deal, citing mounting public distrust in the Christie-led government amid speculation over the concessions given by the government.

The online petition states: “We request that Prime Minister Perry Christie immediately unseal all the documents related to the secret Baha Mar deal he made with the Chinese. We have lost faith in the prime minister and cannot just trust him to tell us what is in the deal. We are concerned about our future and just want to know what the government gave away to the Chinese in this deal.”

Mr Christie has repeatedly defended the move to keep the court documents sealed. Last week he maintained that such a process was standard and that global businesses cannot be expected to conduct their “sensitive negotiations” in the media.

On the controversial issue of concessions, he said China Construction America (CCA) will be given the same concessions by his government that were given under the Hotel Encouragement Act by the former Ingraham administration.

Yesterday, Mr Collie said: “At every turn the Christie-led PLP government has proven itself to be the worst government in our history. Once again, they have demonstrated that they cannot be trusted because they have shielded from Bahamians – the very people they represent, the details of the secret deal they struck with the Chinese.”

“Until the prime minister releases these documents,” he added, “the FNM will continue to be the voice of the people and demand accountability from this government.”

Persons can sign the petition at www.ourcauseourvoice.com/unseal-the-documents.