Nassau, Bahamas – Dr. Minnis, Leader of the Free National Movement (FNM), issued the following statement on the Central Bank’s new report that blames our economic problems on the Baha Mar debacle:
“The Central Bank of The Bahamas confirmed what many of us already know – the continued failure of this Government to get Baha Mar open and operating is hurting our economy. Their report noted many economic failings, including a real GDP decrease of 1.7 percent, and placed the blame squarely on the Baha Mar debacle. It’s been over a year since Baha Mar went bankrupt yet in that time this Government has only offered up more empty rhetoric and a series of broken promises. None of which has put the 2,000 people who lost their jobs back to work, nor helped the Bahamian contractors that are owed tens of millions of dollars get what they are rightfully owed.”
“What we have now is the PLP engaged in desperate dealings with the Chinese that are clouded in secrecy. The PLP promised Baha Mar was going to lift our economy, that it would deliver 5,000 good paying jobs and help elevate our tourism industry. None of this happened, so why should Bahamians trust the PLP to negotiate a secret deal with the Chinese? What is this Government giving away? The Bahamian land, citizenship, taxes or what? The people have a right to know! Will Bahamians be employed to finish the construction? Will our Bahamian contractors get the money they are owed, or will the PLP sell Bahamians birth-right out to the Chinese? We don’t know the answers to these critical questions because the PLP is hiding the details of their negotiations from the people.’
“Instead of being the crown jewel of the Bahamian tourism industry, Baha Mar sits vacant and is testament to the continued failures of the Prime Minister and his PLP Government. No doubt with an election around the corner they are in a feverish rush to seal a secret deal to get it open. Yet what will they give away to do it? The Bahamian people are tired of the secret deals being made by the PLP and their continued empty rhetoric and broken promises. The FNM stands for transparency and accountability. We will work every day for the Bahamian people and work to create the jobs they so desperately need and deserve.”
