DNA leader Branville McCartney.
By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
DEMOCRATIC National Alliance Leader Branville McCartney blasted Prime Minister Perry Christie over his “false disappointment” response to the Baha Mar redundancies in a statement on Friday.
Mr McCartney claimed that as a seasoned attorney, the nation’s chief was well aware that Baha Mar's employees would likely be terminated, adding that Mr Christie's statement lacked any clear indication of the way forward or what the affected workers should expect from the government.
On Thursday, the joint provisional liquidators, Bahamas-based KRyS Global and UK-based AlixPartners, said the 2,000 layoffs were due to the financial insolvency of the $3.5 billion resort project that has been stalled since June 29.
Mr McCartney said after months of meddling in the affairs of the developer, Mr Christie’s intimate involvement with this matter has not served the best interest of the property or its employees and by extension the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.
“For a second time in the life of the Baha Mar development, the government of the Bahamas led by Prime Minister Perry Christie has again been blindsided by the actions of those in charge of that property,” Mr McCartney said in a statement on Friday. “Sadly, the termination of more than 2,000 Bahamians is only further exacerbated by the government’s lackluster response to the announcement.
“Prime Minister Christie expressed disappointment at the action taken by the Joint Provisional Liquidators appointed to oversee the day to day affairs at the stalled development. It is however important to note, that it was this government which pushed for the appointment of provisional liquidators in the first place.
“It was also this Christie administration that instituted a winding up petition against the Baha Mar Development. As a seasoned attorney himself, PM Christie is intimately aware of how the process – which often includes the termination of employees – works. It is therefore disingenuous of this government to feign ignorance or false disappointment at this decision.”
He continued: “In fact, I dare say that the Prime Minister’s disappointment pales in comparison to the disappointment felt by those thousands of workers who, after having their futures hang in the balance for months, must now pick up the pieces of their lives and begin again.”
Mr McCartney said Mr Christie missed the opportunity on Thursday to demonstrate real leadership ability.
“Notably absent from the Prime Minister’s statement was any mention of the way forward. As the nation’s chief, this was a prime opportunity for the Prime Minister to demonstrate real leadership ability, put forward a concrete plan of action, and a message of hope for those discouraged workers.
“Instead, his statement read as much of the same empty rhetoric which he has repeated since June. His insistance that the government continues to make the ‘strongest possible representation to the joint provisional liquidators’ offers no real comfort to Baha Mar’s former employees who feel betrayed and abandoned.”
He added that the government has failed to not just encourage employment but also entrepreneurship.
“Instead, unemployment figures continue to rise as does the country’s misery index. Now is not the time for empty promises or a game of wait and see. Now is the time for real leadership, a departure from the things we have already done in favour of a new direction. The Bahamas won’t get better by chance, it will only get better by change,” Mr McCartney said.
Comments
TalRussell 8 years, 6 months ago
Comrade Bran has been wrong on every other point he has rushed to the media to raise and here again, he of all people must know the strict limitations on interference in private matters that are placed on a democratically elected prime minster - something he is neither an elected party leader, nor elected for the Bamboo Town Constituency. Bran must realize this is too important an issue to be running his mouth with nonsense.
Even "His Eminence" Ortland H. Jr, has talked more sense than Bran and that other one, can talk nonsense for 2-hours non-stop.
Bahamian_in_London 8 years, 6 months ago
So Tal...
"he of all people must know the strict limitations on interference in private matters that are placed on a democratically elected prime minster"
I don't remember you making the same statement when PM Christie placed a winding up order on Baha Mar. If he had no limitation on that, he is not limited in any other purpose.
TalRussell 8 years, 6 months ago
Comrade Bahamian-in-London either you didn't fully familiarize yourself as to what brought the PM to the stage he had no other choice but to react in the way he did, or you misunderstand why he was forced into reacting legally as he did.
Is Baha Mar in a total mess, absolutely but bankruptcies seldom paint a rosy picture. I only fault the PM, for agreeing to bankroll the payroll of Baha Mar's workers to sit at home and await the call the developer's citizens to return to the Cable Beach Beach Nation. There never was a real nation at Cable Beach.
MonkeeDoo 8 years, 6 months ago
Unfortunately Bran, you have no voice in this country so you should stick with mixing medicine.
Economist 8 years, 6 months ago
Bran, like everyone else, has the right to comment. His conclusions are correct. Any real accountant or lawyer will tell you this.
ObserverOfChaos 8 years, 6 months ago
This buffoon of a PM has stuck his big brown nose up an area he should never have ventured. The govt didn't get involved with Atlantis years ago....yet this time deem it necessary to meddle with the affairs of a private company...for what extend/purpose? Greed. Legacy. Self elevations. Stupidity. Ignorance. Absurdity! This whole country is going to the dogs and yet this absurd buffoon called a "PM" is an absolute embarrassment to everyone in the country. Is inept in making sound/long term decision for the growth of the country....yet he finds ways to spend monies we don't have. Award contracts to people that have no business getting them. Appoints inept people to leadership positions. Holds no one accountable for their missteps and bad decision.....
SP 8 years, 6 months ago
........................................... Weapons Of Mass Destruction ...........................................
by SP
proudloudandfnm 8 years, 6 months ago
Tribune. It's extremely obvious now. Bran is done. No candidates, no party. Please stop giving this man a podium...
Cobalt 8 years, 6 months ago
But he's still speaking the truth! Is he not?
TalRussell 8 years, 6 months ago
Comrades I want to believe that even the most loyal red Tribune readers recognize the substantial ocean that exists between the Bran who has ruled over the Green party despite never being elected to the post for almost 4 years - and the man the Tribune wants you to believe you see. Do you agree him is no leader, much less PM potential material come the 2017 General?
Bran needs save his candidacy deposit money, even if he runs in the seat he has his weak leadership eyes much glued on - Montagu.
SP 8 years, 6 months ago
DNA is an option, however Branville's silence on corruption is highly suspicious, especially with all the blatant "mutual pillaging" apparent between the PLP and FNM.
If DNA would focus on corruption, the whole country would unquestionably support them. McCartneys silence on corruption could very well indicate that as a former Cabinet minister he too is compromised and unable to open his mouth regarding corruption.
If Bran' is compromised, he is of NO USE TO US!
Expecting the PLP and FNM under anybody's leadership to address corruption among themselves is totally ludicrous, impossible and will never happen.
Bahamas desperately needs a fresh start, with a whole new party, mandated firstly to investigate and root out 43 years of systemic corruption, committed to prosecuting ALL those found guilty, and returning any plundered wealth back to the peoples Treasury.
The country needs to clean house and set a new path in a totally different direction.
JohnDoe 8 years, 6 months ago
Where have you been! The fact that as a politician Bran is no different from the others have already been established in the dust-up with Edison Key. The problem with us Bahamian is that we are selective in what we accept as facts and then we disregard all other facts that appear to be inconvenient or inconsistent to our position or interest.
SP 8 years, 6 months ago
I am totally unaware of the mentioned "Bran vs dust-up with Edison Key" and would greatly appreciate being enlightened as many more would.
We are looking for a real solution to the two proven pirate political parties that has plundered and destroyed the country to the brink of fail state status, and have no interest in wasting time with another pirate.
AwayInSchool 8 years, 6 months ago
Their deputy chairman was saying in a video on Facebook the other day that they will investigate the deals of this government and haul persons committing illegal activities before the courts.
SP 8 years, 6 months ago
Underlings are allowed to say anything, the buck stops with the leader
After 43 years of PLP and FNM promises nobody could be stupid enough to listen to some deputy chairman.
Remember Damian Gomez just 4 weeks ago opened his mouth about wanting to deal with entrenched corruption and was immediately shut down and silenced. He haven't been seen or heard from again on anything!
The never ending stinking trail of hog-shit from Bradley Roberts mouth should convince everyone that these politicians will literally say and promise anything.
**McCartney needs to stand on his own two feet and publicly declare that if elected, an anti corruption mandate would be first on the agenda.
If he cannot do this, it unquestionably confirms he too has received illicit monies from dubious sources and is just as corrupt as the rest.**
AwayInSchool 8 years, 6 months ago
I get what you're saying, but McCartney has said the same too. Just wanted to bring some facts to the table, I too think he should base his campaign around it though to dispel any doubts
TalRussell 8 years, 6 months ago
Comrade Johndoe the answer to your question is Bahamalander's have been AWOL in being selective on who they send to the House of Assembly to represent us, yours truly included. We have to accept that while party politics will always be with us, it does not mean that our voices can only be heard by joining or starting a political party. To the contrary we can become more powerful when we distance ourselves from ALL poliicans. No Bran Papa, Minni, Loretta or Christie are going save anyone but themselves. it's just way party politics has and will always operate. Not to say that a Bran or Loretta does not start out with the best of intentions. Both appear on the surface to be good, decent and honest Comrades - never the less they are practicing politicians.
TruePeople 8 years, 5 months ago
This need to repost when youse defended PLP while they putting rope on ya neck
marrcus 8 years, 6 months ago
2012 election results - Bamboo Town Renward Wells PLP 1,940 39.18% Cassius Stuart FNM 1,661 33.54%
Branville McCartney DNA 1,022 20.64% Craig Butler IND 329 6.64%
Y'all see what Bran did? He split the FNM vote and Renward won. AND PLP will win again, and again, and again. If I was PLP running in Bamboo Town, or ANY other town, I would donate monies to the DNA campaign, cause a split vote is a vote for PLP. PLP forever...........get used to it.
AwayInSchool 8 years, 6 months ago
Ummm, you have it backwards. Everyone knows McCartney was a good rep ... if anything the FNM running Stuart split his vote.
marrcus 8 years, 5 months ago
I think its safe to say that one vote for DNA is one vote less for FNM. (or vice versa) Lets be honest, PLP are loyal to the end. Cold day in hell before they vote against party lines. IF you accept this premise, the numbers would reveal a much different outcome. 2012 election results (seats) PLP 29 FNM 9 DNA 0............IF DNA/FNM were a single ticket and you added their votes together, the result is much different. PLP 14 FNM/DNA 24. Numbers don't lie. IF Ralph Nader was not on the Ballot in Florida in 2000, Al Gore would have been president....what a different world this would be now. (I think we can all agree on this) Bottom line, 3 party politics are ripe with unintended consequences. Fresh blood, new ideas, transparency etc etc are all GREAT things, but the unintended result is the opposite of everything we seek. PLP forever. Get used to it.
TalRussell 8 years, 6 months ago
Comrade Marcus isn't the real story to be told here and remembered going into the 2017 General is the one where Bran despite being at that time in his political career, was at his most highest peek in political popularity, along with holding the crown as the the reigning House member for the Bamboo Town constituency, could only muster 20.64% of the votes against an individual that was probably the weakest red party's 2012 candidate sought out by Papa Hubert himself. One of the many 2012 miscalculations by Papa himself. Some political misguided strategist Papa turned out be, once all the 2012 votes had been counted. By my saying how Papa ran his weakest candidate against Bran, I had to forge the lack of elect ability of between two other red party contenders - chairman Daron. and Carl B.
marrcus 8 years, 5 months ago
Carl Bethel (FNM) would have won Sea Breeze if he had Alfred Poitiers (DNA) 543 votes. Instead we have Hope Strachan (PLP) and so on and so on. There are 15 other constituencies that got turned over this way. Its a "numbers" game, and PLP are much better at it. Get used to it.
Well_mudda_take_sic 8 years, 6 months ago
Re-post: Just think how much Christie and his family have pocketed from allowing Communist Chinese to build their state owned development known as The Pointe within extremely close proximity to the U.S. Embassy in the Bahamas. While Red China is constructing The Point, they will build into it the very latest state-of-the-art intelligence gathering technologies in order to snoop in on just about any and every things that goes on at or passes through the U.S. Embassy in the Bahamas. Fred Mitchell apparently told Perry Christie sometime ago that the Bahamas needs to teach the U.S. a lesson or two, and Christie agreed this was the case. Seems the Christie-led PLP government is fed up with U.S. policies aimed at detroying or hurting both our tourism industry and our financial services sector, e.g. negative travel alerts by the U.S. Dept of State, downgrading of Bahamas credit ratings by U.S. controlled interests like S&P and Moody's, the unfavourable policies proposed by the U.S. controlled IMF, World Bank and IDB that only serve to increase our national debt, the recent blacklisting of our banking sector from Washington D.C., the imposition of FATCA by the IRS/U.S. Dept of State, etc., etc., etc. Christie and Mitchell both still believe they have little choice but to curry great favour with Red China so they no doubt had Allyson Maynard-Gibson and Baltron Bethel seal The Pointe deal with the appropriate government officials of Red China for the purpose of sticking a finger in the eye of the U.S. Government. The Obama administration and their lack luster dim witted Secretary of State, John Kerry, have yet to figure out the severity of what is going on down here in the Bahamas and the extent to which U.S. security interests are being terribly compromised by ongoing espionage attacks of Red China on the U.S. Embassy in the Bahamas. The U.S. is being subjected to ever increasing Chinese cyber-warfare from within Nassau (just across the street from the U.S. Embassy), just a mere 180 miles away from the coast of South Florida. Can you imagine how this is going to be played out by Republicans in the mainstream news media in the run up to the U.S. presidential election in November 2016. Wow! One really has to wonder who's dumber....Americans, particularly ones of the Democrat persuasion, or Bahamians, especially ones of the PLP persuasion!
TruePeople 8 years, 5 months ago
look like we need 007 come back and sort out some more tings. 'Gal, ise Bethel.... Jerome Bethel.... 007'
MonkeeDoo 8 years, 6 months ago
well_mudda: I think you are right on the money here. While I can understand a foreign government investing in an Embassy in any country, I find it very strange that a foreign government ( or FG Agency ) is going to invest in a Commercial Enterprise in another country. It is stranger yet, when that foreign government ( or FG Agency ) is a self declared COMMUNIST GOVERNMENT !!! Maybe the fish is fresh, but it sure STINKS to high Heaven.
TalRussell 8 years, 6 months ago
Talk about an true act of Hurricane Joaquin romance.
Comrades if PM Christie had been born a female and the way Minnis seems be falling for the PM, as the nation watches these two island hoping traveling companions - and had Minnis knocked up da PM, could their Love Child have turned out to be any more than just like da DNA's Bran.
I couldn't resist such a bloggers temptation.
B_I_D___ 8 years, 6 months ago
Has anybody heard any further info on the meddling with Ishmael Lightbourn?
SP 8 years, 5 months ago
.......... Guatemala elects comedian running on anti-corruption campaign ..........
http://news.yahoo.com/comedian-favore...">http://news.yahoo.com/comedian-favore...
CASE IN POINT:
"Former TV comedian who has never held office, swept to power in Guatemala's presidential election on Sunday after milking public anger over a corruption scandal that deepened distrust of the country's political establishment."
McCartney has a even much larger opportunity to mount and anti corruption campaign as Bahamians ALL AGREE the PLP and FNM are totally corrupt to the core.
WHAT IS BRAN WAITING FOR?
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