A supplemental agreement between the Christie administration and Kerzner International doubled the number of work permits the company could claim for Phase III of Atlantis — apparently a reward for expanding the project, Guardian Business has learned.

"With respect to the increased number of work permits requested," said Ed Fields, a spokesman for the Paradise Island developer, "the increase was in the main required in order to facilitate the addition of culinary avenues and the marine mammal facility.

"It is interesting to note however, that the specialized skills that were required in the marine mammal discipline has already benefited two Bahamians, who are now at our Dubai property."

The explanation may do little to keep critics of the last government from seizing on its decision to double the number of foreign workers it had initially allowed Kerzner for the new project. That agreement signed on May 3, 2004, moved it from 25 to 50 foreign workers.

Wording on the document means that at anytime if there were to be a surplus of qualified Bahamians to fill positions at Atlantis, Kerzner reserves the right to hire the agreed amount of foreign workers.

http://www.thenassauguardian.com/national_local/292657037173523.php

A supplemental agreement between the Christie administration and Kerzner International doubled the number of work permits the company could claim for Phase III of Atlantis — apparently a reward for expanding the project, Guardian Business has learned.
"With respect to the increased number of work permits requested," said Ed Fields, a spokesman for the Paradise Island developer, "the increase was in the main required in order to facilitate the addition of culinary avenues and the marine mammal facility.
"It is interesting to note however, that the specialized skills that were required in the marine mammal discipline has already benefited two Bahamians, who are now at our Dubai property."
The explanation may do little to keep critics of the last government from seizing on its decision to double the number of foreign workers it had initially allowed Kerzner for the new project. That agreement signed on May 3, 2004, moved it from 25 to 50 foreign workers.
Wording on the document means that at anytime if there were to be a surplus of qualified Bahamians to fill positions at Atlantis, Kerzner reserves the right to hire the agreed amount of foreign workers.
http://www.thenassauguardian.com/national_local/292657037173523.php

No surprise here.

Sad thing is that the Christie govt refused to table this agreement in parliament..and had the current govt not done so in parliament last Wednesday, we still would have been in the dark about what the government of the day back then agreed to in our name.

Wibe.