The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

DEMOCRATIC National Alliance Deputy Leader Chris Mortimer yesterday suggested that a faction within the Free National Movement was focused on derailing progress at Baha Mar for personal gain as he condemned FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis for his “callous” statement over the resort’s sale.

Mr Mortimer contended that the recent pledge made by Dr Minnis indicated that members of the FNM are operating solely to redirect Baha Mar to a particular group, and claimed that the FNM’s inclusion of persons once closely aligned with former Baha Mar owner Sarkis Izmirlian, have morphed the party’s political ideals into special interest.

Three former executives at Baha Mar now stand as candidates for the FNM in the upcoming general elections: former Baha Mar Director, Dionisio D’Aguilar, for Freetown; former Baha Mar VP of Security, Marvin Dames, for Mount Moriah; and Baha Mar Leadership Development Institute Executive Director, Jefferey Lloyd, for South Beach.

“The reality is that we cannot be pulling against the country,” he said, “we need the country to work, we need Bahamians working...the reality isn’t so much about Baha Mar, reality is that as leaders we have to understand that our words go well beyond a particular event.”

Mr Mortimer continued: “Anybody who is looking at this country as an investor or anybody, as Bahamians (we should) want to make sure that the persons that we entrust with the authority should be using it to the benefit of the Bahamian people.

“The fact of the matter is, I thought the remarks were callous, were not forward thinking and regrettable that someone who leads a party would be able to espouse such views and he should have apologised for it a long time ago, I don’t know what he is waiting for.”

On Sunday, in a statement posted to his Facebook page, Dr Minnis said his party would “engage and execute a real sale of Baha Mar to a qualified and respectable purchaser who believes in Bahamians; a purchaser who will utilise only Bahamian labour to complete the resort, and will put Bahamians back to work with real jobs as quickly as possible.”

The next day, Dr Minnis added that if the Baha Mar deal does not stand up to public scrutiny, his party reserves the right “to not approve any sale that is not in the best interest of the Bahamian people.”

The remark attracted extensive criticism from members of the governing Progressive Liberal Party, industry observers and economic pundits; all of whom speculated over the series of moves that would permit Dr Minnis to execute such a feat, given that the resort is a private entity.

Offering his take on the situation, Mr Mortimer yesterday said that he is of the view that Dr Minnis didn’t consider his words prior to offering them up in a public forum.

He further stressed that as leader of one of the nation’s prominent political organisations, Dr Minnis should have “thought through the ramifications” of his assertions.

Mr Mortimer said: “(Special interest) is what is on the minds of everybody in this country. Every single person, you just go into any street, any barber shop, go and talk to anybody and that is what is the concern on the minds of Bahamians; interest are being promoted within that party.”

Despite the criticism levelled at Dr Minnis, however, a source with intimate knowledge of Baha Mar in an interview with The Tribune on Sunday welcomes the Killarney MPs position on the property.

The source, who did not want to be named, called Dr Minnis’ pledge a “game changer for the property” that if followed through, would likely start a “bidding war where the Chinese would no doubt be out”.

The insider added that Baha Mar developer Sarkis Izmirlian would “be able to beat any bidder”.

Mr Mortimer spoke during a news conference at the party’s East Street south headquarters, called to mark the endorsement of the party by Pastor Jeremiah Duncombe and the ‘Gatekeepers’ organisation.

Reverend Duncombe, leader of the organisation, said the DNA stood as the best opportunity to “help save this country from total moral and economic collapse”.

After “days, weeks, and months of much intense prayer”, Reverend Duncombe said he “unequivocally endorse Branville McCartney as the individual, to form the next government of The Bahamas, following the upcoming general election.”

He added: “I endorse the leadership team of the Democratic National Alliance (DNA), in support of this objective.”

Reverend Duncombe also called on other independent candidates and small political organisations to join the DNA and its leadership team.

Last July, Reverend Duncombe along with Bahamas Public Services Union President John Pinder, former Senator John Bostwick and several other persons, launched what was then referred to as the People’s Movement.

Subsequent to this action, several members of the group opted to join the United Democratic Party (UDP) - leaving behind Reverend Duncombe and his team.

The DNA yesterday didn’t state what role Duncombe would play in the party moving forward, only expressing gratitude for his endorsement of their party and its ideals.