The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

The news that our government has granted China Construction America, CCA, five hundred work permits for the Pointe Project could be the death knell of a construction industry in this country already on its knees.

A report released in January of this year, as reported by The Nassau Guardian, stated that “A quarter by quarter comparison of Department of Statistics numbers for the 3rd quarter of 2015 and that of Q3 2014 shows that there was over $100m less in permits issued in New Providence, with fewer permits issued, and at less aggregate value, across all metrics: private/residential, commercial/industrial and public.”

The Department also reported that the decrease in value of permits throughout The Bahamas between the 2nd and 3rd quarters of 2015 across all metrics was approximately 38 per cent or $70m.

Given that many Bahamians in the industry have been reduced to near penury as a result of the above, aided in no small part by the questionable business and building practices of CCA at Baha Mar, it is nothing short of criminal betrayal on the part of our government that they would ignore the plight of its own citizens and economy in favour of a foreign government owned entity.

IAN MABON

Nassau,

March 2, 2016.