An artist's impression of The Pointe development. The Pointe is owned by China Construction America, a subsidiary of China State Construction and Engineering Company.
By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
ST ANNE’S MP Hubert Chipman yesterday questioned whether the Christie administration was aware of the number of work permits it issued to foreigner labourers currently employed at The Pointe, as he blasted the government for failing to believe in Bahamians as they have continuously declared.
Speaking to The Tribune yesterday, Mr Chipman said it appeared that the majority of the workers on the Bay Street property were Chinese nationals.
He said given the fact that the development is still in its early phases, the government must explain why they appear not to have faith in Bahamians who are more than capable of carrying out work at The Pointe.
The FNM MP added that he was disappointed that the government seemed not to have sufficient control over the China Construction America (CCA) led development.
This comes after the Department of Immigration revealed last week that it was investigating operations at The Pointe. Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell has said there is a claim that there are too many non-Bahamian workers at the site. The Department of Labour has been asked to probe the ratio of Bahamian workers to foreign workers at the development, Mr Mitchell has said.
Mr Chipman said: “At the outset when they were talking about The Pointe we had been assured that the majority of the work would have been done by Bahamians who did this kind of work before and were well experienced with this sort of thing.
“Yet we see the minister of immigration appears to not even know how many permits were granted. If history has taught us anything there needs to be more of a hands on approach when it comes to CCA in terms of the missed deadlines it had with Baha Mar.”
CCA was Baha Mar’s general contractor.
“I am not pointing any fingers, but I would think the government would be more vigilant with this,” Mr Chipman added. “It is time for this administration to do its job and protect Bahamians jobs. When you pass The Pointe the most you see are Chinese workers. This is a development that is coming out of the ground. I would think Bahamians can do that. We need to see their promises of Bahamians first manifested.”
He further criticised Mr Mitchell over his response to a warning from the United States Embassy in Nassau about alleged sexual assaults linked to the water sports industry.
Last week, Mr Mitchell contacted the Guardian Radio talk show “Connected” and said the US has a “sometimes aggressive and intrusive” foreign policy and suggested officials work behind the scenes on issues of importance.
“The argument that this matter should have been dealt with behind closed doors has already been roundly rejected by a public weary of the lack of transparency by the PLP on issues of crime and violence,” Mr Chipman said.
“It is precisely these kinds of matters in which both the Bahamian public and the American travelling public have a serious and immediate interest. It is clear that the US issued an advisory not to punish Jet Ski operators but to protect their citizens from an unacceptably high risk of violent crime, especially rape and armed robbery. The consequential loss of business by the lawful operators is deeply unfortunate and regrettable.
“Yet it is the lack of vigorous action to regulate Jet Ski operators by this government that has caused this state of affairs, something both the foreign minister and the Minister of Transport and Aviation Glenys Hanna Martin have missed completely.”
The Jet Ski controversy gained attention recently after police said an American woman on Cabbage Beach was allegedly raped by a man operating a Jet Ski on January 2. A suspect has since been arraigned in connection with this allegation.
In December 2015, police arrested a Jet Ski operator in connection with an alleged sexual assault of a female visitor.
That incident also happened at Cabbage Beach.
Comments
sealice 8 years, 3 months ago
so what Fred and hand held were really saying was the US sent a spy / spook / cia agent down here to rape a US citizen because they aren't happy with the way we govern our watersports? that's a good one guys....
Honestman 8 years, 3 months ago
The cabinet knows exactly how many work permits it has issued to Chinese workers at the Pointe - it's just not telling the public. Wonder why?
B_I_D___ 8 years, 3 months ago
Well...we know there is at least one Bahamian that's working on the project that has a very quick rubber stamp action...
ThisIsOurs 8 years, 3 months ago
Every time I see this design.... why did they think this is what we needed? We want our culture in our country.
TruePeople 8 years, 3 months ago
The Chinese own our gov't. The laws that apply to everyone else do not apply to them apparently.
As for the design.... it is absolutely terrible.
Publius 8 years, 3 months ago
Is this a serious question?
GrassRoot 8 years, 3 months ago
unfortunately yes.
MonkeeDoo 8 years, 3 months ago
Publius: I think it is serious because I wouldn't trust any Chinaman to be honest and CCA has these people on the ground from Baha Mar and who can tell one Chinese from another. These guys never waited for the MOW approvals so you think they going to worry about permits when the people are already landed and only speak Mandarin. I think Fweddy should go down there and do a head count.
Publius 8 years, 3 months ago
Right, but that's not the question Chipman asked. He didnt ask if the government knows how many Chinese are actually down there, he asked if the government knows how many work permits the Cabinet approved. That's what I meant when I asked if Chipman was serious. Ofcourse the Cabinet knows how much work permits it approved. The question ought to have been how many were approved, and then how many people are actually there over and above what was approved.
TruePeople 8 years, 3 months ago
It's all rhetoric, what they say doesn't have to make sense, as long as it paints their 'opponents' (aka co-workers) in a bad light.
Well_mudda_take_sic 8 years, 3 months ago
The President of China Import-Export Bank has demanded of Christie that he instruct Fweddy Boy to tell the Bahamian people that less than a dozen work permits have been issued to Chinese nationals in connection with The Pointe project. Fweddy Boy will soon be communicating to us the work permit information the China Import-Export Bank wants us Bahamians to hear.
watcher 8 years, 3 months ago
Going into town early each morning, I get to see groups of these Coolies gathering in the grounds of their lodgings, and some days there are anywhere from twenty to thirty men. The true number of how many are employed must be staggering. And the Bahamians who are employed? They are the ones who hold up the traffic signs when the Chinamen cross the roads !! The Pointe thinks that our own men and women are only capable of being the school crossing guards for the Yellow Horde. Disgusting.
Publius 8 years, 3 months ago
That is because too many Bahamians, from the political class to all other classes, believe that such a thing is all we are worth, and that we should "be grateful the man give us one job"
Sickened 8 years, 3 months ago
You lie! I saw three Bahamians sweeping up some debris along the walking path as well. So we not only have Bahamians (2) doing menial jobs like cross walk attendant, but we also have Bahamians (3) specializing in Dust & Debris Removal.
Publius 8 years, 3 months ago
ha!
jackbnimble 8 years, 3 months ago
Well I passed last week and counted 5 (yes, 5) black men with hard hats on. Don't know if they Bahamian or foreign. Even if they there, they definitely in the minority.
marrcus 8 years, 3 months ago
by marrcus
marrcus 8 years, 3 months ago
PLP forever........ get used to it!
happyfly 8 years, 3 months ago
The Perry Chinese stronger Bahamas. Cable Beach has less hotel rooms open now than when the country went independent. That equals less hotel workers employed, less mortgage paid, less taxi fairs, less straw vendor sales, less everything. People out West are worse off than they ever were. Now the Perry Chinese have abandoned that mess and moved to the British Colonial. You people in downtown had better hang on to your bungies
TruePeople 8 years, 3 months ago
the whole country! Chinaman got the PM like a puppet on strings, doing is patented shuffle for all to see
stislez 8 years, 3 months ago
We come here to voice our opinions, but how much of us comming together to change things? Do y'all understand until us the people come together and stand up and fight, we will all continue to be slaves. We are a slave colony, Das our history, what make y'all think something change? We don't own anything, we don't manufacture nothing, no type major industrial industry, even our land ain't ours. We still being dictated to by everyone from USA to china. We ain't a people who invent nothing, we ain't a people who value proper education, if it wasn't for other countries we would be a third world country if we ain't already. Bahamians are a bunch or workers, is either construction or hotel industry, once we working for someone, most of the people content. Our so called leaders are the "house niggers", everyone else out here on the plantation getting whip. I don't understand us Jed, we complain an den go march lmfao!
Publius 8 years, 3 months ago
Right. Can you give us any information on the work you are doing that we might be able to support?
TruePeople 8 years, 3 months ago
If we does come together to try to control our destiny, watch the gov't brand us a gang members... o_0
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