No one believes Izmirlian anymore and that is his real problem. He has alienated the Bahamian government, China State Construction and ExIm Bank of China. Now he will pay dearly for those mistakes, both literally and figuratively. Baha Mar has never been honest with anyone about anything. It has been a game of lies and deceit all along. And Izmirlian must be held fully accountable, along with his incompetent "management team." The government should order a forensic audit of the books as a starting point to figure out what went wrong and where the money went.

I used to think that you were an unbiased reporter. Not so certain anymore. Certainly your judgement is in askance with your support of Donald Trump. I am wondering what agenda you are pushing. Who is paying you?

My posts about Donald Trump are a JOKE and done for the amusement of my Facebook friends. That has nothing to do with my serious posts about Baha Mar. I have predicted ever since my Hotel News Now scoop in the U.S. that the March 27 opening was a scam that Izmirlian would be ousted. He has no support left anywhere that I can see... and he brought the ending on himself with very bad decision making, the worst of which was publicly embarrassing China, which is the ultimate no-no in terms of culture. They are just playing with him now until the end comes, which appears to be coming soon.

" The government should order a forensic audit of the books as a starting point to figure out what went wrong and where the money went."

this comment just caused your credibitly to get thrown out the window.

Really? So all the money vanishes and it turns out NO ONE has been paid in full, even the government for business licenses or gaming fees. And you're OK with that? The list of creditors in stunning in length and number. I believe that there is financial malfesance involved. I guess time will tell.

It's private money, in a private company. Is the government going to audit your personal finances to see what you spend your money on?

I would suggest that you are unfamiliar with the government of the Bahamas, and the intrinsic and endemic level of corruption, cronyism and kleptocracy within its entire rotten structure. It is incapable of any discrete, intelligent action of any worth at all. It cannot even hold a referendum to give women constitutional equality, even though it has been promised for years.

The Bahamian Government has alienated itself. It is always forgotten, that Izzy belongs to the most powerful trade union. The one of billionaires and gazillionnaires. What you do to one of them you do to all of them. We finally are on the level of Nicaragua and Venezuela, where the government can send in liquidators and seize your assets all day long. All we need now are a Bahamian version of the tonton macoutes. Then the reign of Scar (a/k/a PGC) is completed.

That's rather a blanket statement!

Are you saying that "no one believes" him; or, that none of the involved parties believes him?

I tend to believe him...

His "team" has misled the Bahamian government, ExIm Bank of China, China Construction, the three hotel brands, the U.S. and world media... to me that is "everyone." I can't think of anyone else that matters, except Izzy's father, who might be about to see the fortune he amassed go down the drain.

Drip. . .drip. . .drip. . .drip. . .drip. . .drip! I prefer to listen to a leaky forcet than any stuped political clap trap right up in now. . .SORRY!

JohnBuchanan, are you crazy? Do you think Baha Mar is owned by us, or by our government? It's a private company! Sure its big, sure it might create lots of jobs, but it's still a private company. You also can't be serious in expecting a private business owner to be honest with anyone can you? Do you think business guys tell only truths?They make their money by making things appear to cost a lot, and charging a lot, while doing work/ supplying goods / providing services as cheaply as possible, there is no honesty in that! Why should Izmirlian have to open his books, or tell the PM everything? Izmirlian does not owe thousands of Bahamians jobs! Nor does he owe the Bahamas and increase in GDP due to his own enterprises success, in fact, it is due to the governments excessive mismanagement of funds that creates this dire need to have the GDP of Izmirlians PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT. Look how much they have given us already, look how much this development has given us already, just in new roads and infrastructure. It's attitudes like yours, that of such entitlement that cause such damage to our reputation, and actions such as our government is taking now which will ultimately be our demise via fright of investing here by anyone in the future!

@Buchanan - You are clearly a hack. You are all over different websites slandering Izmirlian as though you have a personal vendetta against him and as though you are obsessed with him.

C'mon John Buchanan, relax no need be popping ya blood vessels cuz even News Editor Taneka, has knows "negotiations for a compromise - without hidden agendas," gives rise most laughable words ever attributed to have come right out mouth of da embattled in his own actions Izmirlian?
Taneka, you got's kinds sense humour, long absent off pages Tribune. Ever thought about moving up into chair of Shirley & Deveuax Streets - publisher?

The vultures are circling BAH MAR. The carcass is fat and ready for the taking.

You are nuts John, the government cant organize its own books, and you trust our government to be fair in a audit? Delusional comes to mind.

Sarkis could have done such a project anywhere in the world, and worked with governments that want investment and will do anything to help such a thing off the ground. Hell the STATE of Georgia invested $400,000,000 to get Kia to build a plant there to employ like 3200 people.

Our government is the government that says "we are the place, where else will you go". Strong arming investors is not the way to conduct business, and since this is business, why is the government involved? Where is Bacardi now due to our governments greed? Puerto Rico, so it turns out there is other places. I dont see Obama or Cameron meddling in this stuff... The government should issue permits, licences, etc and stay the hell out of it. The man isnt gonna screw us, he wants to make money, so why would he sabotage it.

The question you should ask, is why did he invest here, knowing full well how bloody crooked this country is? God knows how many hands are out for his money every day in government offices, no less these damn MPs.

He can't screw us because chapter 11 means he's locked into reorganizing.

all this government does is make Baha Mar impossible. not a good idea to start law suits. they all will go to Privy. I also wonder whether the court in Delaware will issue orders not to liquidate the assets. Effectively what the government is doing is it takes the substance of bahamar and gives it the CCA. The Bahamian contractors will get squat. The Bahamian contractors may get their money through the Chapter 11 but certainly not if the Bahamian government meddles with the private sector and private ownership.

Romrok right on the mark. Gov has no need to be in private business. they need to put that effort in finding carnival money

This could get messy because all the key decision makers in the PLP are lawyers. Lawyers don't take on cases base on whether they can win or lose but on the clients ability to pay.That clouded way of thinking handicaps most lawyer ability to rationally think cases through. My greatest concern is that the government don't have an end game. The urging by Mr. Gomez strikes me as bluffing.

Oh Lord - Carnival money still sleeping out ! Ya tink someone in da gubment is a tief ?

New Providence, Capital of the Bahamian Republic of China. You have been bought and the people never saw it coming. So sad for such a beautiful country filled with such beautiful people. China will now own 10% of your countries GDP. You are officially owned and your government is nothing but a puppet now

John, you are so profoundly correct it's scary and sad. I don't want to be a Chinese...I'd they infiltrate , which I believe is their goal, we won't be a sovereign nation anymore. I love my country and don't want foreign entities or governments dictating to or taking us over. This is serious.

I am from the U.S and I do not want our government owning your country. I love the Bahamas and am so afraid that things are changing and it will not be pleasant. Think Hong Kong. It is so very, very sad. You are your own country and your own people and to see this happening is sickening. The Chinese are telling your PM what to do and he is doing it. Bought and paid for.
State Constuction is

Strange bedfellows to begin with, as who in their right mind would get involved with ANY Government of any country, particularly the Bahamian or Chinese Governments!
No doubt seizure and resurrection of the Hotel Corp to run it has been discussed,
and we know how that will end.

http://tribune242.com/users/photos/2015…

The FNM sold this country to the Chinese. The PLP continues the great PAPA sellout. PLP and FNM supporters are all suckers.

The only "hidden agenda" my boy is "you gone" and no one got the heart to tell you, but even Daddy knows, as like your inheritance, it is simply "gone"!

You think China is staging fruitless meetings wit him so that he misses court ?

Christie and the whole lot of them are dirty and playing a dirty game and it would be a shame for bahamians to standby and watch christie and company screw this man over