Dear Editor:
As Vice President of Public Affairs at Kerzner International, I have deliberately and completely stayed out of the recent public debate regarding the negotiations between the Bahamas Hotel Employers Association and the Bahamas Hotel Caterers and Allied Workers Union (BHC&AWU). There are times however, when the level of misinformation put forward warrants response. Pat Bain, President of the BHC&AWU most recent comments as it pertains to Kerzner Internationalﾒs contribution to the local community is a case in point.
Several weeks ago, Sol & Butch Kerzner, who are natives of South Africa, made a $3 million dollar contribution to a hospitality training school in that country. The country that as a result of their investments there made them the successful businessmen that they are today, which subsequently has benefited the Bahamas through the investments made here. Mr. Bainﾒs reaction to the announcement of the donation, was ﾓthat something was amiss in the attitude and thinking of some in our midst who have reaped the harvest of a $600 million dollar exemption only to turn around and give $3 million for a hospitality training school in South Africa, while giving a Bahamian charity in significant need a cheque for $50,000ﾔ.
Mr. Bainﾒs comments with respect to the $3million donation, was only one paragraph amongst many comments that were attributed to him, but it is this type of comment that lingers in the minds of those that might wish to make over simplified judgements and hence I forward my personal response.
First, we as Bahamians must come to grips with respect to what the term concession means. We seem to think that concession means that the government writes a cheque to an investor out of the public treasury to the detriment of the public coffers. This is not the case. Concessions are a globally practiced mechanism, by which jurisdictions attract investors, which results in a net gain to that jurisdiction. No concessions, no investor. No investor, no jobs. No jobs, no union members. No union members, no union dues, No union dues, no union executives. Enough said on that.
Second. As Vice President of Public Affairs at Kerzner International, it is one of my responsibilities to organize and to manage the companyﾒs community and social services programme. It is in this regard that I take issue with Mr. Bainﾒs comments. Since the Kerznerﾒs have come to the Bahamas, their contribution has been unmatched by any. It has become such an important component of the Kerzner presence in the Bahamas, that community service has been mandated as a part of the goals and objectives at every level of the organization.
So that there is no misconception what follows is a synopsis of the Kerzner Community Affairs programme over the past five years:
- Kerzner Community Services Awards ﾖ Over 60 charities have shared in over $650,000
- Peoples Park programmes ﾖ As of 2004 over $750,000 has been allocated to parks and the refurbishment of East Bay Street. Another $500,000 over the next three years have been allocated.
- Independence Fireworks – $525,000 over five years
- Hurricane Relief – $500,000
- Junkanoo – $400,000
- Bahamas Craft Centre – $2.5 million
- Governor Generalﾒs youth Awards – $200,000
- Sir Lynden Pindling Foundation/Legacy Ball – $75,000
- Charity Balls – $150,000
- Miscellaneous Donations – $250,000
- Bahamas National AIDS programme – $150,000, with a further commitment of $300,000 over the next two years.
It is worth noting that Mr. Bain suggested that the Kerzner group donated only $50,000 to the AIDS programme. As a matter of record, not only did Kerzner commit to $450,000 over three years, but initiated a partnership with other business entities to bring the commitment to $1 million over three years.
Madam Editor, the above totals some $6.5 million dollars, which does not include contributions made between 1994 and 1998. Nor does it include the $2million dollars earmarked for community projects outlined in the 2003 Heads of Agreement.
Speaking directly to Mr. Bainﾒs point about the $3million donation to the hospitality training school in South Africa, it is important for the general public to be aware of the fact that Kerzner International spends annually over $1.8 million on ﾓhospitality trainingﾔ at Atlantis and Ocean Club, including over $500,000 per year spent on Atlantis University that focuses on management training. In addition we have committed $250,000 to building a new kitchen at the Hotel Training School. Add that to the $800,000 Kerzner spent on Culinary training prior to phase two coming on stream, the overall community contribution has surpassed the $10 million dollar mark. This is of course aside from the hundreds of millions of dollars in salaries, supplier payments and indirect benefit to the Bahamian economy. Given the 40 million plus population of South Africa, the recent $3 million donation pales in comparison to the ongoing Kerzner community affairs commitment to this country of 300,000.
I can assure you, it is not the desire of my department to ﾓblow its own hornﾔ, but given Mr. Bainﾒs misinformed comments, I felt compelled to set the record straight. Can we do more? Of course we can and we will. However, to malign Kerznerﾒs corporate citizenry as a vehicle for the union agenda should not go unanswered. And so at the risk of bearing the brunt of the unionﾒs wrath, I do so and gladly. I for one, am proud of the what Kerzner does for the community and feel privileged to be the one charged with carrying out the task.
Sincerely yours,
Ed Fields
Vice-President
Public Affairs
Kerzner International
