Revealing that he is one of more than 1,000 Baha Mar creditors, President of Sunburst Paints Leslie Miller said his company is “holding on as best it could” until the resort’s dispute is resolved. Though Miller did not want to reveal the figure that Baha Mar owes Sunburst Paints, The Nassau Guardian understands that it is just under $20,000.

“We’ll survive,” said Miller, who was contacted for comment. “I’ve been open for nearly 40 years. Baha Mar won’t be the one to close us down.”

Miller said Baha Mar is Sunburst Paints’ biggest corporate partner. He said he does not intend to go after the company, given the relationship that they have, adding that Baha Mar’s business is vital.

The creditors are awaiting payment from Baha Mar, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the United States on June 29.

Miller, who is the member of Parliament for Tall Pines, encouraged other creditors to hold firm until they can receive payment. He noted that his business is a “small fry” on the list of businesses that are owed. Among the list of creditors are CCA Bahamas Ltd., which holds the lion’s share of the outstanding claims against Baha Mar, with a hefty claim of $72,635,100.

Bahamas Electricity Corporation follows with a $19.5 million claim, while construction firm Yates-Osprey is owed $5,281,681. Other Bahamian firms cited in the top creditor list include: TBI Caribbean Co. Ltd. ($2,353,638); Cable Bahamas ($1,435,631); Cable Beach Resort Association ($1,219,372) and Island Site Development ($1,153,050).

Miller said he is confident that Baha Mar’s issues will be resolved soon.

“No one anticipated that they were going to run out of money, but it happened,” he said.

“Just hold fast that this thing would work itself out.

“These things happen in business. All of us just have to hold our collective breaths.

“I’m sure that he’s [Baha Mar CEO Sarkis Izmirlian] going to work it out.”

The government, Baha Mar and their Chinese partners have recently agreed to enter in “good faith negotiations” in a bid to get the project back on track. Those talks started in Beijing yesterday and were scheduled to continue today. Baha Mar reportedly needs $300 million to complete the project at Cable Beach. Miller said he has confidence in the prime minister to get the job done.

“He isn’t taking [any] prisoners,” Miller said. “He knows what is at stake and his future hangs in the balance. The ball is in his court and I have full confidence in him.”

Christie said last Wednesday that he is very “optimistic” that Baha Mar is headed to completion and things “are going to be dead good in the country very soon”.

“I am very optimistic that [Baha Mar CEO Sarkis Izmirlian] recognizes that the best way to deal with this now is to go back to the position we were in two weeks ago, where the deal had been brokered,” said Christie.

Admitting that he is the “eternal optimist”, Christie said he still hopes for a November completion of the resort.