Rollins blasts fellow politicians for criticism of Baha Mar chief

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

FORT Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins said that Baha Mar CEO Sarkis Izmirlian is “completely justified” for criticising the government for unfulfilled promises and that politicians should refrain from speaking negatively about the hotelier in public.

During a recent interview with The Tribune, Dr Rollins said the government should be careful not to offend Mr Izmirlian and scare off other potential investors.

He also said any criticism of the resort or its CEO should be made “behind closed doors”.

“I am amazed when I hear members of the government ridiculing him. Almost belittling him in relation to the failure of that project to open when it was scheduled to open, as though Mr Izmirlian wants for that to be the case as though he doesn’t wish that it were open in December 2014 when it was expected to open,” Dr Rollins said on Wednesday.

“And what kind of messages does that send to other potential foreign investors who wonder whether governments have so little regard for the sacrifice made by these investors that they would publicly undermine the credibility of those investors at the first sight of trouble? Because you have to imagine right now that Mr Izmirlian is wondering whether he would still make that investment today knowing what he knows over these years of having gone through this process, would he still make that investment today?”

On Wednesday night, during an interview with state broadcaster ZNS, Prime Minister Perry Christie said he was “deeply concerned” about Baha Mar’s opening delays and expressed fear that there could be job losses if the resort does not open soon.

Baha Mar was initially expected to open last December but that date was delayed. In January, the resort said it would open its doors to paying customers on March 27. Three days before that date, hotel officials announced that the opening had been delayed again to early May due to ongoing construction work.

Despite assurances by that the $3.5bn luxury mega-resort would officially open soon, several pre-booked guests have claimed they were told that all reservations until August 31 have been cancelled.

The prime minister met with Mr Izmirlian on Monday to discuss the government’s concerns.

Dr Rollins, who spoke to The Tribune before the prime minister’s comments were broadcast, said just as the government is disappointed in Baha Mar for opening delays, resort executives also have the right to be disappointed in the government for years of failed promises.

“And if you have an electrical grid that is failing, you can’t blame the man for being frustrated that it is taking so long for the matter to be remedied or rectified. He would’ve expected to receive the kind of attention that comes along with a $3b investment to ensure that it has the kind of electrical supply that it can run seamlessly,” he said.

“Similarly I would imagine that he would’ve expected that a chronically burning dump that is repeatedly sending fumes that go over in the direction of Baha Mar, impairing the experience of those who are going to be asked to pay top dollars, naturally he would’ve expected that a proactive government would’ve sought to do something about it.

“I think these things should be done in private. You have these closed-door conversations. There is no need for the back and forth in the public where there are reports that the prime minister or the minister of labour and others are so critical of an investor simply because things have not gone as planned.”

Last month, while addressing a Chamber of Commerce summit at Baha Mar’s Melia resort, Mr Izmirlian said he is concerned about a “number of promises important to the future of the Bahamas” that have “not come to fruition,” specifically a reliable power supply and reduced cost of electricity.

Shortly after that, Labour Minister Shane Gibson told reporters that the Baha Mar CEO appeared “frustrated” by his “inability to deliver”.

Comments

Sickened says...

Too right Dr. Rollins. Again you speak for the people of The Bahamas. Keep up the good work and I will be voting for you as Prime Minister in 2017.

Posted 8 May 2015, 2:12 p.m. Suggest removal

birdiestrachan says...

Dr: Rollins is able to be in the news each and every day. But is will soon be over and what will he do then?

Posted 8 May 2015, 3:03 p.m. Suggest removal

Honestman says...

Rollins is going to be a lingering thorn in the side for the final two years of this mis-administration.

Posted 8 May 2015, 3:03 p.m. Suggest removal

MartGM says...

I wish Rollins would do more work in his constituency. It appears he can be the "champion" of everyone else but those in the Fort Charlotte area. There was a thriving after school program while Alfred Sears was the MP, but now, I see no signs of the program. The Urban Renewal office is always closed. There are no visible signs like road works, clean up campaigns, meetings to voice concerns...nothing is really happening in any part of that area.

Posted 8 May 2015, 3:19 p.m. Suggest removal

TheMadHatter says...

You cannot do things unless you are the cabinet minister responsible for a certain Ministry. You want after school programs? Rollins would have to be the Minister of Education or the Prime Minister. You want road works? He would have to be the Minister of Works or the Prime Minister. Etc. That's how it works. If people would put pressure through Party channels to make Rollins become Prime Minister (which could happen next week with a vote of no-confidence in the Party, and a letter to the Governor General) - then you could get some things done. Otherwise we gotta wait until 2017.

Posted 8 May 2015, 7:02 p.m. Suggest removal

TruthHurts says...

"And if you have an electrical grid that is failing, you can’t blame the man for being frustrated that it is taking so long for the matter to be remedied or rectified. He would’ve expected to receive the kind of attention that comes along with a $3b investment to ensure that it has the kind of electrical supply that it can run seamlessly,” he said."

I understand Mr. Rollins stance, and I agree with him. But this point in particular doesn't sit well with me in defending Mr. Izmirlian's case.. How is it that you can put sooooo much money into such a project and not know the previous history of the facilities that would be used to power such an enterprise??? The issues we have been facing with BEC is ongoing for many many years now so how is it that this was not a forethought by all parties attached to this venture?! The audacity of anyone to come across as if they were blindsided by the mess that now ensues? The monies that was pumped into the roads could've been pumped into BEC perhaps? Roads don't slow down progress.. take a look at Providenciales in Turks and Caicos! They have 5 star mega resorts and yet the roads are sh*t!! The High-end clientele that frequents those islands doesn't give a shit about the surrounding environment as long as the accommodations are up to par with what was being advertised by a Mega Resort such as this! Which unfortunately, in our (The Bahamas) case, can't deliver on their promises this early in the game. (TripAdvisor)

I give up!!! (Hands in the air!)

Posted 8 May 2015, 3:57 p.m. Suggest removal

TheMadHatter says...

And if Mr. Izmirlian had just given up after 3 months of not getting an overhaul of BEC then you would have called him a quitter or a sore loser.

He hang in through thick and thin hoping that something would be done by Govt. It is now past the due date, and so work has stopped.

That's how it works. Govt didn't deliver (surprise?) - so here's where we are.

Posted 8 May 2015, 7:05 p.m. Suggest removal

TruthHurts says...

@TheMadHatter

I see what you saying Hatter.. but I just don't understand why it wouldn't have made more sense to push for improvements of BEC ahead of building skyscrapers with not enough power to generate it?? This makes the most financial sense to me? And I for one cannot fault him for that..it makes sense that an investor looks out for his best interest as well!

Posted 8 May 2015, 9:05 p.m. Suggest removal

TheMadHatter says...

I think your viewpoint has a LOT of merit. He should have pushed a little harder a little sooner. Work progress could have slowed down 8 to 10 months ago even, to send a signal.

Heck, I would have even faked a few power outages with the help of a skilled electrician and just kept saying "We are looking into the cause of our breaker trips with haste. At the same time, we are concerned about the supply of power from B.E.C. once we are at full capacity."

A day or two work stoppage due to an unexplainable lack of power would have drawn attention to the cause. Perhaps even a few visits to the labour board by some employees (who you would pay under the table - but pretend not to pay) and they could make a big fuss about not being paid and it wasn't their fault that the power went off - boo hoo hoo. But keep them loyal by secretly paying them off the record.

There is more than one way to skin a cat - as they say.

You have to be creative to survive in this Pirate's Den we call the Bahamas.

**TheMadHatter**

Posted 8 May 2015, 9:20 p.m. Suggest removal

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