Prime Minister Perry Christie
By AVA TURNQUEST
Tribune Staff Reporter
aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
THE $1 million donation by Albany developers to the Urban Renewal Foundation had no impact on their joint venture bid to acquire South Ocean resort, according to Prime Minister Perry Christie.
The decision over who would be selected as the preferred bidder to acquire the neighbouring property was expected to be made yesterday, Mr Christie told attendants at the Albany cheque presentation on Monday.
News of the donation sparked concern over conflict of interest by several persons in the business community yesterday; however, in his remarks on Monday Mr Christie maintained that the donation would have had no bearing on the outcome of deliberations.
Speaking on Monday, he added: “Regardless to the outcome of that (South Ocean), who wins that process, we know that whatever happens out here will have to necessarily be consistent with ensuring it does not devalue this development (Albany).
“But the point is that it is about to happen right around the corner as well. A new development that will take place creating more employment, and creating a greater kind of mix for the people of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.”
Tribune Business revealed last month that Albany developers had partnered in a joint venture bid to acquire the South Ocean resort property.
At that time, Southern Cross Developments, which is managing the bid process for the resort’s owners, the Canadian Commercial Workers Industry Pension Plan (CCWIPP), confirmed that the South Ocean race had been narrowed down “to a select handful of credible groups”.
The Albany donation will go to fund several UR projects, including the Urban Renewal Band, Urban Sporting League, and The Girls and Boys Club of The Bahamas.
On Monday, co-chair of The Urban Renewal Commission, Algernon Allen, said the donation was both symbolic and substantial.
“It recognises,” he said, “the symbiotic relationship which is a new reality of our country, mainly that it is necessary, for any substantial investment in The Bahamas to have an investor and the country embrace each other.
“It also is exceptional in that it is the largest single donation made to the immediate social good of our country and, of course, it is very generous. It is symbolic of a new norm that must necessarily mandate that we develop a more socially sensitive society.
“We cannot avoid it, because if we avoid it, it will gobble us up.”
Albany developers have also agreed to transfer a two acre parcel of land to the government for the establishment of a recreational park and communal area for the Adelaide Village community; and to develop a wild duck sanctuary on five acres of government-owned land in partnership with the Bahamas National Trust.
The transferred land is valued at $250,000, according to Mr Christie, who said the park project would be undertaken in conjunction with the Maillis family.
Comments
TalRussell 10 years, 1 month ago
PM and cabinet you'll need take really good fart. Like the Comrade Pirates who were a superstitious bunch, there exists a growing number of Bahamalander's much suspicious of what is behind every action this PLP government takes. While I’m sure there are good PLP’s in this cabinet and sitting up in people’s House and Senate, unfortunately they keep adjourning the House and Senate without standing up to identify themselves. I'm thinking we the people might do as the pirates would do and throw salt over this PLP Cabinet, House MP’s and Senators left shoulders, cause the pirates believed throwing salt over your shoulder was a way of keeping the devil at bay. If salt is all we got left to stop those responsible for so making so many bad and ill-conceived decisions, we could do to this PLP, as Blackbeard and Captain Cook did, by sprinkling salt on their shoulders, then turns these PLP’s around three times, make them spit and fart to expel the stupidly gas out them who is acting stranger by the day.
CANDACESCOTT 10 years, 1 month ago
LOL...TalRussell you have me crying...this is too funny.
sheeprunner12 10 years, 1 month ago
20 bad boys on a dead man's chest (PGC)........................ yo ho ho and extra hotel
newcitizen 10 years, 1 month ago
The level of corruption in our government is out of control. It's not even hidden, it's out in public, in plain view to see, with only simple denials by those benefiting from it.
Yet we hold no one accountable. Bahamaland is being run into the ground to line the pockets of the people we are to lazy to hold accountable. This country will never be more than a third world banana republic until we hold ourselves to a higher standard.
PastorTroy 10 years, 1 month ago
((($1m Gift DID Affect South Ocean Decision'))) The Bahamian Majority, is and has been getting urinated on and told is blessed rain from above since "independence". Seriously, look at our public education system, it absolutely sucks! well, that depends on who's looking. A heavily indoctrinated, uneducated, uninformed people is a gold mine to politicians and religious zealots. However, today, when I look at crime in the Bahamas, am not that disappointed like many others, I expected it, it's call cause and effect. People, especially the world renown and ever disenfranchised young black men are angry! They are fighting and killing each other and some innocents, but what we need is no more of the same! We need new YOUNG leaders who understand young people, risk takers, people who think outside the box, with a fond love of COUNTRY FIRST. but many of them are either in foreign countries or just frustrated! We (young Bahamians) are frustrated and have become collateral damage because of our Government and "Religious Leaders" parasitic & incestuous relationship fueled by greed and ideology! WE HAVE NO MORE FIREWALL!! We have a new, smarter generation of Bahamians who don't need the public education system to gain "knowledge" about "gettin money" legally or illegally! We live in an information age, I don't need to have contacts or have the required subjects to learn about or obtaining my individual objective. When obvious blatant corruption, back room deals and the same surnames who control the government and money from July 10th 1973, what does that say about our Bahamaland?
PastorTroy 10 years, 1 month ago
Cont'd. That theory of trickle down economics even though it's generally B.S, the talk do not even exist in The Bahamas, to "fool" the masses "religious leaders" are being used to pacify the poor, while making "boatloads" of money hands over fist! Where is the "firewall" to protect the masses and hold our leaders accountable? cronyism is running rampant in our Bahamaland while meritocracy is on life support! Sadly, many "Religious leaders" have become an effective mouthpiece for political parties whose agenda should always be approached with caution. My fellow Bahamians, we need to march on Bay street the economic hub of the Bahamas and let the world know how your government treat you! Staying "over the hill" stressin' will not make it any better! Am sure you know that faith without works is dead by now! Though in my 40's I still consider myself as a young person, and I too are concerned even though am living miles away in another country. Trust me, it's not by choice, when you have spent so much money on educating yourself, and you do not have the correct surname or "hook up", when you do get motivated and pound the pavement only to be stonewalled by someone who is threatened by your accomplishment, it is downright frustrating to many Bahamians living abroad. We need a movement! Like the Arab Spring and other "springs" around the world, we as young people and the future of our nation need to educate one another, organize go to rawson square and DEMAND change! If you are sitting around waiting every 5 years to get a stale loaf of bread or stale crumbs to "give away" your vote? You deserve what you have! CORRUPTION!!
Honestman 10 years, 1 month ago
THE $1 million donation by Albany developers to the Urban Renewal Foundation had no impact on their joint venture bid to acquire South Ocean resort, according to Prime Minister Perry Christie.
Of course it didn't - what an outrageous suggestion!!!! The timing was purely coincidental.
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