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VOLUME:115 No.26, DECEMBER 28TH, 2017
OBITS
THE PEOPLE’S PAPER:$1
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CL ASSIFIEDS TRADER: CARS, CARS, CARS - AND TECH!
INSIDE
Sarkis: I stopped $169m bogus bills By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
SARKIS Izmirlian is claiming Baha Mar’s main contractor would have cost him $169m in “grossly overvalued bids” had he not intervened in its procurement process. Baha Mar’s original developer, in his $2.25 billion damages claim against China Construction America (CCA) and its affiliates, alleged that the Chinese state-owned contractor “misused” and failed to properly control the $4.2 billion development’s tendering system. Mr Izmirlian, and his family’s BML Properties vehicle, are instead claiming that CCA used the project’s Tender Event Schedule (TES) to “improperly” advance its interests by submitting bids on Baha Mar work ‘packages’ that were “far higher” than the project’s budget and market rates. “In light of CCA’s failures, Baha Mar was forced to seek its own savings in
procurement,” Mr Izmirlian alleged. “Baha Mar had to intervene on certain packages as CCA’s initial recommendations or bids were grossly over-valued or proved to be uncompetitive. “If Baha Mar had not acted to protect its interests and those of BML Properties, CCA would have placed orders for works approximately $169m over the amount it should have paid.” CCA, as Baha Mar’s main contractor, was responsible for breaking the multibillion dollar project down into work “packages” that would then be awarded to sub-contractors. This meant CCA was responsible for determining the scope of each “work package”, pricing it, putting it out to tender, and then hiring the best bidder. Mr Izmirlian, though, alleged that the Chinese stateowned contractor sought to retain most of the work for itself so as to maximise profits. FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
ROOTS REIGN
THE government will investigate allegations regarding the standard of work at Baha Mar, Works Minister Desmond told The Tribune yesterday, following the resort’s original developer Sarkis Izmirlian’s massive law suit against China Construction America (CCA).
In the $2.25bn damages claim filed in the New York State Supreme Court on Sunday, not only does Mr Izmirlian accuse CCA of conducting “one of the largest construction-based frauds in this hemisphere,” he also claims Baha Mar was used as a “massive training exercise” for young and inexperienced workers among other serious allegations. SEE PAGE FIVE
A MAN was shot dead after two gunmen entered his home in Coconut Grove and opened fire yesterday afternoon, police said. Superintendent Shanta Knowles said the victim was at home at Sixth Street with relatives around 3pm when the two gunmen stormed inside, shot him about the body and fled the scene in a Honda. The man died at the scene. His killing brought the country’s murder count to 123 for the year, according to The Tribune’s records. On Tuesday, a man was shot dead at a party at Commonwealth Boulevard in Elizabeth Estates shortly before 1am. Police have identified him as 25-year-old Alex Rahming of Elizabeth Estates. Investigations into both incidents are ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 919, 911 or the Crime Stoppers hotline at 328-TIPS.
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
A MEMBER of the Roots group in action during the Boxing Day Junkanoo as they marched to victory. The group was yesterday named the overall winner of the event. See pages 2,3,11,12,13 and 14 for more Junkanoo coverage.
PRESS Secretary Anthony Newbold admitted yesterday the Minnis administration has hired people on contracts worth more than $100,000 per year. In July, during his national address, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis announced that as part of his government’s cost-cutting measures, there would “be no renewal of contracts for emoluments which exceed $100,000 per year.” This, Mr Newbold said in a statement to The Tribune yesterday, does not mean the new administration won’t hire people above such a threshold. SEE PAGE FIVE
AIDAN CARRON - LOVED AND LOST TOO SOON TWO-year-old Aidan Roger Dupuch Carron, son of Mr and Mrs Robert Dupuch Carron, died in Baltimore, Maryland, on Christmas Eve after losing his long battle with cancer. Aidan spent 515 days of his short life battling therapy-related Leukemia which was caused treating the lethal auto-immune disease he acquired from vaccinations given when he was six-months-old. Specialists at Miami Children’s Hospital and John Hopkins Childrens Hospital worked tirelessly with
Aidan and his family to try and beat this highly aggressive Leukemia On his second birthday, November 24, Aidan was discharged as an outpatient but sadly just a month later, at 8.24am on Christmas Eve he finally lost his battle for life. Death came quietly Sunday morning. Aidan’s parents – Robert and Elizabeth – each held his hands, his mother stroking his brow while his grandmother, Tribune publisher Eileen Carron held his feet in her hands, the Gregorian
chant playing quietly in the background. Aidan’s mother Elizabeth said: “Aidan was an amazing child who lit up our lives every day. He was so brave and an inspiration to everyone who came into contact with him through his ordeal. In the end the battle just proved too much. We will forever carry him in our hearts.” The family is still in Baltimore and a funeral date will be announced for later next week. • For the full obituary see today’s Obits section.
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MAN SHOT DEAD IN OWN HOME
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BANNISTER: WE WILL CHECK DEFECTS CLAIM By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
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