Prime Minister Perry Christie yesterday defended his government's approval of the sale of the British Colonial Hilton to Chinese investors and blasted former Minister of Foreign Affairs Brent Symonette who said the sale should be cause for concern.
"Firstly, I'm surprised at Brent Symonette taking that position because if Brent Symonette is speaking about the Chinese, Brent Symonette's government gave the Chinese, in a letter of 1994 signed by the prime minister at the time, the right to veto every development of a nature of a port even outside of Freeport," Christie said when asked for comment.
"So even though there are persons wishing to put in a mega development, Hutchison Whampoa... was given the right to say if you're going to do that, you have to provide me with payment for it.
"So if he wants to talk about who has done what and concern for this country and the country's national interests, that is where he should start."
Christie spoke to reporters after addressing 300 maritime cadets at the Hilton yesterday.
Last week, China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) signed a contract to purchase the hotel and the vacant property to its west.
Also, as a part of the Baha Mar deal, the Export-Import Bank of China lent Baha Mar's principals $2.45 billion.
China State Construction Engineering Corporation is an equity partner with Baha Mar, and it is also the lead contractor for the resort.
The Chinese have also agreed to join in partnership with the government and other stakeholders along Bay Street to implement a plan for its redevelopment, extending from Arawak Cay to Potter's Cay.
Symonette said it is worrying that both the Hilton hotel and Baha Mar are in the hands of a single entity.
Shadow Minister of Finance Peter Turnquest and Free National Movement (FNM) Chairman Darron Cash also raised concerns about the sale of the Hilton. Speaking with The Tribune, Turnquest and Cash expressed concern over the Chinese's proposed redevelopment of Downtown Nassau.
But Christie said nothing can happen downtown without the input of the property owners.
"Any proposal to do with respect to Bay Street must necessarily involve the Symonette family, the Bethel family, the Carey family and the Klonaris family, [because] they have, in fact, invested in the area," he said.
"They have property in the area and anything we do will be predicated on their direct involvement in it. So that is out of the question."
The new luxury hotel to be built by the Chinese will create 250 construction jobs, 500 permanent jobs for Bahamians and an additional 500 jobs in the amenities and commercial components, according to Christie.
"When they buy this hotel, the intention is presumably for this hotel to be managed either by the Hilton or someone of their choosing," he said.
"That is the way of investment. What their (FNM) concern is I have no idea."

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