Although Baha Mar has filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy, Prime Minister Perry Christie said last night that he remains hopeful that the resort will open soon and be a major contributor to Bahamian employment.

“The government remains hopeful that with the continued exertion of good faith efforts by all concerned, the Baha Mar resort will not only open soon but will fulfill its promise as an important new dimension in Bahamian and regional tourism and one that will represent a major contributor to Bahamian employment,” Christie said in a statement.

In a statement yesterday, Baha Mar said it filed for bankruptcy “so that it can complete construction and successfully open the resort”.

Baha Mar’s opening has been delayed three times.

“The government has taken note of certain legal initiatives that have been taken by Baha Mar in the courts of the United States to secure creditor protection,” Christie said in his statement.

“The attorney general is presently reviewing these initiatives and their implications in conjunction with the government’s U.S. and U.K. attorneys.

“Until this review has been completed it would obviously not be appropriate to make any further comment on this aspect of the matter.”

Hundreds of employees at the resort were sent home yesterday, but according to a letter Baha Mar CEO Sarkis Izmirlian sent the workers they will still be paid.

Christie said two weeks ago that he had received good news about Baha Mar.

He said yesterday the government remains committed to assisting the resort.

“The government continues to be available to all the parties to assist in the mediation and resolution of their differences,” he said.

“In doing so, however, the government will not be taking anyone’s side.

“Instead the government will at all times continue to optimize its value as a mediator between the parties so as to ensure that the interests of Bahamian workers and indeed the interests of the nation as a whole are accorded primacy at all times.”

Christie recently told reporters that Baha Mar’s successful opening remains his “single greatest obligation” in terms of daily governance.

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