By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

WHILE uncertainty lingers over the opening date of Baha Mar, several employees expressed gratitude to executives of the $3.5bn project for allowing them to keep their jobs despite being reassigned to an inner city cleanup initiative with Urban Renewal 2.0.

Baha Mar’s Director of Community Relations Matthew Aubry told reporters that the mega-resort’s aim, through its “Believe in the Nation Campaign”, is to continue philanthropic efforts for years to come. He said the emphasis would be placed on inner-city communities where there is a need for cleanup and restoration.

Mr Aubry said while there were no additional incentives for carrying out the community work, employees were generally excited to give back to the community.

The cleanup began at the old City Market site on Market Street yesterday with around 60 workers picking up garbage and debris from the area. This is one of more than two-dozen areas that the Baha Mar team has worked in.

“The Believe in the Nation (Campaign) really is the launching of our volunteer efforts going forward,” Mr Aubry said. “So a big part of our corporate values are giving back (and) being good corporate citizens. We want to make sure that each of our citizens at this point has a chance to experience what that is to give back in communities. Our goal going forward as a corporation is to continue our volunteering and our philanthropic efforts as long as we are around.

“The great thing about working for the Believe Foundation is what we do is very positive. So staff, when we talk to them about these kinds of opportunities, have been by and large positive.”

Casino Supervisor Keith Newry said he supported Baha Mar and its efforts. Mr Newry said he was confident that the resort would soon open.

He said: “The initial feeling was you know you have to support it because it something that you have to do. This is a new opportunity for me in terms of a new job and new career, however I understand that it is not ready right now. So what they did was they gave a choice: you can work your 40 hours and I will pay you the salary that I agreed to pay you or you can take time off or find something to do.

“Most of us opted to stay and support the company and try to push the project along to try and get it to finish.”

Kenniel McPhee, who was originally hired as a concierge manager at the Rosewood hotel, said he remained inspired to be a part of the team. Asked how he viewed the opening delays, he told The Tribune he saw it as an opportunity to perfect his skills. He was hired six months ago.

“This is so inspiring because this is actually a place where we live,” he said. “It is not like we live in a different area away from all of this. This is actually our community. So us coming out, helping and taking time off from work shows that we are all about the hospitality. We are all about having fun. Most importantly we are all about community building.

“You might say Baha Mar is delayed, but the way that I look at it and the way that I have shared with my team is that this gives us time to actually perfect our skills.”

Another worker, Gariesa Armbrister, said she was grateful to still have a job.

She said: “I feel like if (Baha Mar) needs time, it needs time. I feel like it is okay for us to be out here because many people don’t have a job and we could be sent home, but we weren’t. Otherwise they are finding other things for us to do until the time comes. So I am glad that we are working instead of not working and being home.”

While there have been some employees who have opted not to take part in the volunteering, Mr Aubry said they continue to carry out their daily jobs at Baha Mar.

So far 750 employees have gone out and volunteered for a total of 300 service hours since April 27. The work is scheduled to continue throughout July.

A team of Baha Mar employees is also expected to paint the homes of senior citizens in the area tomorrow.

Baha Mar is five months behind its December 2014 opening date and has missed a March 27 soft opening. The property was expected to open earlier this month, but issues with the resort’s main contractor have contributed to ongoing delays.