Democratic National Alliance (DNA) Leader Branville McCartney yesterday implored the approximately 2,000 Baha Mar employees who were terminated yesterday to not lose hope or be discouraged though the "hour may be dark" and said there is an opportunity to begin anew. In a statement, McCartney, who is frequently critical of the government, directly addressed the former employees of the resort.

"To those terminated workers at Baha Mar, I pray you do not lose hope," McCartney said. "Though the hour may be dark, draw on your faith. Do not be discouraged.

"Today, we stand on the precipice of a new day; a brighter day, a brighter Bahamas illuminated by the hopes, dreams and ideas of generations to come. Hold fast to your faith. Do not give in to despair, for where there is hope there is life, and where there is life there is an opportunity to begin again."

McCartney encouraged the former employees to have faith in God and pointed out the resilience of the human spirit.

"The resilience of the human spirit is an unrivaled virtue," he said. "That resilience has forced [us] to evolve, has made us strong and has helped us survive. As Bahamians, our resilience is inextricably linked to our faith. The belief that a higher power remains in control even in the darkest of hours gives us hope. That audacious hope is perhaps the greatest gift our heavenly father has given us.

"Ann Frank once said, 'Where there is hope there is life.' Where there is life, there lies an opportunity to begin again."

In a letter to employees on Thursday, the joint provisional liquidators said following a review of the financial affairs of the companies it became clear that the companies could not meet all operating costs, including existing staff levels. The provisional liquidators gained approval from the Supreme Court to implement a redundancy plan due to the "perilous financial position on the companies".

Baha Mar CEO Sarkis Izmirlian expressed disappointed about the latest development. He also said that perhaps this is the time to "ponder the validity of decisions made to oppose Baha Mar's Chapter 11 filing and to push forward with the appointment of the provisional liquidators, setting Baha Mar on its current path".

Prime Minister Perry Christie also expressed disappointment with the redundancies. However, Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner charged that the redundancies are a "direct consequence" of the Christie administration's "reckless" interference in the Baha Mar dispute. Employees were observed collecting termination letters outside the resort on West Bay Street yesterday.

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