The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

The Attorney General has affirmed the Minnis administration's commitment to aiding Baha Mar's full opening, while agreeing that commercially sensitive documents relating to the $4.2 billion project should remain sealed for the time being.

Mr Bethel, while giving his contribution to the 2017/2018 budget debate in the Senate, noted that even though the Minnis administration disapproved of the way certain legal and other matters with respect to Baha Mar were handled, it would do everything it could to facilitate the mega resort's success.

"Even though we may disapprove of the way certain legal and others matters were handled in respect to Baha Mar, as a responsible government we will do everything to facilitate the completion, sale and opening of the resort to the full measure of its potential economic benefits can be released for the Bahamian people," said Mr Bethel.

The Supreme Court last week granted approval for the the disclosure and release of the heads of terms signed August 22, 2016, by the former government and the China EXIM Bank. Mr Bethel noted that the Minnis administration had taken issue with the secrecy surrounding the document.

"We are cognizant that there are other commercially sensitive documents which were sealed at the request of the private parties of the Baha Mar matter and which remain sealed pursuant to the court's order. After careful review and discussion with the other parties, we are of the view that those documents should remain sealed for the time being for the legal reasons which have been given by the judge," said Mr Bethel, noting that the documents remain sealed to preserve the integrity of the sale process which remains a commercially sensitive issue.