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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
 The Democratic National Alliance is outraged at the continuing failure of our Prime Minister and his Government to protect the interest of Bahamians in this sham of a deal with the Chinese Import-Export Bank (EXIM) and their construction company, China Construction America (CCA).
In today’s Tribune, a notice appears from the Claims Committee, which alarmingly has no unsecured creditor representation, continues to walk back the bogus promises that we knew our Prime Minister was trying to sell to the Bahamian people.
First Prime Minister Christie told us on August 22nd that his Government had entered into and signed an agreement with the EXIM bank for remobilization, completion and the opening of Baha Mar with three main objectives, one being “to ensure that payment of claims to Bahamian creditors and contractors, who previously had little or no prospect of recovering anything from Baha Mar.”
Besides the fact he was omitting that it was his own Government who caused these workers and contractors to have “little or no prospect” of recovering anything from Baha Mar, the Prime Minister made us believe that he had secured some great victory on our behalf.
Well, according to today’s notice presumably from the Claims Committee, the language being used today looks like it has caught a case of ‘Christie ittus’.
Now they say that within the “overall plan” to remobilize the resort the Bank has made available “certain funds” to purchase and pay, “substantial part” or in full “certain unsecured creditors” in particular Bahamians creditors and Bahamian employees who were made redundant last year.
They also seek to justify this new move by seeking to hoodwink us with their claim that the Baha Mar companies were in provisional liquidation and have no funds from which to pay creditors! Of course the company is in provisional liquidation, the Government put it there! And in doing so, they are the ones responsible for the termination of every single employee from the resort! But in addition, the Baha Mar companies do have assets – the hard assets that could be put into full liquidation to pay the Bahamian creditors their money in full.
The Government is also fully aware, as is the entire country, that the project’s original developer Sarkis Izmirlian had put forward a proposal to pay every single Bahamian employee and creditor, regardless if they were contracted with CCA Bahamas or Baha Mar directly 100 cents on the dollar! So why is our Government seeking to take credit for a deal that has screwed over Bahamians in favor of the Chinese? Why have the Chinese creditors not taken a haircut in this matter? Why must Bahamians, in our own country continue to draw the short stick under this incompetent Government?!
Look Mr Prime Minister, if you are not up to the job, it is safer you do the Bahamian people a favor and step down from office, because your track record on Baha Mar is one of absolute failure.
You have failed to look out for the best interests of the workers, you have failed to protect the investment of the local contractors, you have failed to protect the country which should be experiencing the boost from this resort but instead we are being downgraded. Mr Christie, accept that your best days are far behind you, and for God’s sake man, go before you cause any more harm to this country that you claim you love. Because clearly you are either unable to stand up to the Chinese and protect Bahamians, or unwilling to do so. This country cannot afford to wait to find out which one it is.
Branville McCartney
DNA Leader
© Copyright 2016 by thebahamasweekly.com
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