The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

REWRITING the Baha Mar narrative has become somewhat of a sport in our political climate – where undeserving individuals seek to claim ownership or responsibility for where Baha Mar is today. At the opening of the SLS Baha Mar on Friday evening, Prime Minister Minnis was beaming at his inheritance, while Opposition Leader Brave Davis was green with envy. Davis’ request for the prime minister to apologize for his previous sentiments on Baha Mar and Prime Minister Minnis’ most recent shift in tone are both equally laughable.

Prime Minister Minnis, no stranger to swimming through his own vomit, gleamed as he addressed an audience at the ceremony. From the crowd, a vaunting Davis looked on, proud of the PLP’s accomplishments. Both men could not be more disillusioned, as any credit taken on any of their parts is unearned in the context they wish to receive it – particularly in the case of Davis and his colleague, Bradley Roberts, whom released another characteristically nonsensical statement regarding Baha Mar and the previous government’s handling of same.

It is seriously disappointing that members of the previous administration still seek to brainwash the populace on Baha Mar. While it is good that the resort is trudging along toward its full opening and creating excitement about the property, it cannot be forgotten that the PLP was responsible for torpedoing Baha Mar into the wreckage that it became for a year and a half. After wrestling it from the grasp of the project’s developer, Bahamian politicians want to assume responsibility for the project’s opening, but would have nothing to do with the reputational damage that they would be equally, if not more, responsible for.

Perhaps, none should acknowledge more than Prime Minister Minnis, that Chow Tai Fook’s ‘sweetheart deal’ which was signed by the previous administration has been precursory to its rocky start. Coming out of the gates borrowing upwards of $700m, the previous administration’s decision to stonewall Sarkis Izmirlian whose offer to purchase his brainchild was far more attractive than any other bid that was on the table. Not only was Izmirlian willing to pay all taxes associated with the purchase, but he also intended to finish the resort’s construction with a solely Bahamian workforce. This would have stimulated major cash injections into the struggling Bahamian economy. Yet, we are now facing real scary prospects with the group that once supported Izmirlian uttering that “the cupboards are bare”.

However, it was the previous administration’s bitterness that led to it plunging any hopes for a deal that would have provided majority benefits to the country. That along with the conflicts of interest and revelations of solicitation involving former cabinet members completely sullied the Christie Administration’s dealings with Baha Mar.

It is outrageous that Bradley Roberts or Brave Davis would now be coming out of the woodwork seeking a pat on the back. For what? What have any of you done? Aside from a few thousand jobs, what can you speak to when talking up what you did to ‘save’ Baha Mar that wasn’t already set in motion by Izmirlian? The previous government’s interference with the Chapter 11 filings led to the dismissal of over 2,000 employees and massive economic setbacks that have garnered us ‘junk status’ among investors. We were plummeted further into debt with complete negation to what may have been a holistically better deal for the resort.

To now praise SBE, when they are only property managers, and the President of Baha Mar without paying homage to the previous executive team that did all the heavy lifting – Sarkis Izmirlian, Tom Dunlap, Denise Godreau et. al - was tasteless by all involved. There would be no Baha Mar, if it weren’t for the brilliant minds that laid the foundational bricks and created the brand and design concept that captivates all who see today.

Similarly, we must also be careful when we praise the government or Baha Mar’s new management team for the 3,400 jobs that Bahamians hold because we can easily dismiss how much of that talent was sourced by Izmirlian. From those who stayed onboard from Izmirlian’s team, to those who were reengaged, there is no Baha Mar without Sarkis Izmirlian.

It is shameful that those who seek to benefit politically still choose to ignore the facts and exploit the resort. Perhaps, it is understandable that the previous government would do anything to cover its tracks after giving away hundreds of millions of dollars in tax concessions that remain sealed in a secret deal. However, for the prime minister, who was once so tough on Baha Mar issues in campaign mode, we still are in the dark as it relates to the Baha Mar deal, and based on his child-like excitement at the SLS opening, it seems that will continue to be the case.

MARTIN ROLLE

Nassau,

November 20, 2017.