Nassau, Bahamas - The following is a statement by the Prime Minister of The Bahamas, the Rt. Hon. Perry Christie:
I note the statement that has been given
today by Mr. Sarkis Izmirlian that he and the Baha Mar group remain
committed to the pursuit of an early and definitive settlement of their
outstanding differences with the lender and general contractor to the
Baha Mar resort.
The Government continues to be available
to all the parties to, assist in the mediation and resolution of their
differences. In doing so, however, the Government will not be taking
anyone's side. Instead the government will at all times continue to
optimize its value as a mediator between the parties so as to ensure
that the interests of Bahamian workers and indeed the interests of the
nation as a whole are accorded primacy at all times.
The Government has taken note of certain
legal initiatives that have been taken by Baha Mar in the courts of the
United States to secure creditor protection. The Attorney-General is
presently reviewing these initiatives and their implications in
conjunction with the Government's U.S and UK attorneys. Until this
review has been completed it would obviously not be appropriate to make
any further comment on this aspect of the matter.
The Government remains hopeful that with
the continued exertion of good faith efforts by all concerned, the Baha
Mar Resort will not only open soon but will fulfill its promise as an
important new dimension in Bahamian`` and regional tourism and one that
will represent a major contributor to Bahamian employment.