By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

DURING his budget communication yesterday Prime Minister Perry Christie said Baha Mar’s developer is nearing the end of talks with its general contractor on the completion of the project and the announcement of the resort’s opening date.

It was the third time in the last month that Mr Christie has said the relevant parties are near an imminent resolution to a controversy that has brought the $3.5 billion project to an impasse.

“This single phase development is the largest of its kind in this hemisphere (and) has already hired 2,000 new employees and will ramp up further, increasing to 5,000 when fully operational,” Mr Christie said. “I remain fully engaged with the developer, general contractor, the Chinese government and the hotel operators in bringing this project to a successful conclusion at the earliest possible time.”

Baha Mar’s opening has been hailed as a key component of the country’s economic rebound, with officials saying earlier this year that they expect the resort to help reduce the country’s 15.7 per cent unemployment rate.

Mr Christie, nonetheless, gave a passing reference to the project during his nearly three hour-long presentation, devoting just three sentences to it.

Regarding the nature of the dispute that has slowed down construction at the resort, Mr Christie has said that the developer – the Izmirlian family – wishes to finalise a precise date for the project’s completion while the contractor China Construction America (CCA) wants instalment payments.

Mr Christie previously said he has acted as mediator in the dispute, adding that he has emphasised to the relevant parties that the project is very important to the progress of the country.

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 continuing delays.