The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

THE Free National Movement yesterday called on Labour Minister Shane Gibson to table a 2012 arbitration report relating to the controversial Holiday Industrial Builders International (HIBI) contract.

Yesterday in the House of Assembly, Central Grand Bahama MP Neko Grant, laid on the table questions regarding the HIBI matter. Mr Grant served as Minister of Works under the previous Hubert Ingraham-lead government. HIBI and the Bahamas Mortgage Corporation (BMC) began arbitration in October 2011.

Earlier this month, the public spotlight was directed at HIBI after it went public that the contractor, despite being terminated under the previous Ingraham administration, was awarded a $20m contract to construct a new Ministry of National Security building.

“At the next sitting at the House of Assembly,” Mr Grant said, “I propose to ask the Minister of Labour the following question as it relates to the arbitration of Holiday Industrial Builders International Limited and the Bahamas Mortgage Corporation.

“Would the Minister kindly lay on the table of this House a copy of the arbitration report number 2001/arp/00102 dated the 3rd of August 2012.”

Last week, Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said HIBI was thoroughly investigated and declared “competent” by the Ministry of Works.

He further accused the media of scandalising the decision to award HIBI the recent contract for the new building which is expected to be a replica of the Attorney General’s complex on John F Kennedy Drive.

Mr Davis noted that HIBI’s first contract for the construction of the Attorney General’s building in 2008 was wrongfully terminated. That contract, he revealed was valued at “around $14m”. The figure contradicts previous reports that stated the original contract cost was $5.9m.

HIBI’s attorney Kelphene Cunningham has gone on record to defend her client’s position in the dispute saying the termination of the contract by the FNM was “purely for political expediency”.

The legal team challenged the termination and were successful in arbitrating the matter, according to Ms Cunningham, who said the total sum of money paid to HIBI upon completion of arbitration was “just shy of $700,000”.

She said: “It was determined that the contract was terminated without cause. We won, all of the materials in storage were returned to the government and we got our money. And that is the end of the matter.”

Mr Gibson had promised to table more details about HIBI and the BMC. However, he has yet to do so.