The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation’s (BCCEC) chairman has called for the $3.5 billion Baha Mar project to be given some “latitude” over the failure to have the development fully open and completed by March 27.

Gowon Bowe told Tribune Business that the development should be given the breathing space necessary to be successful, and not be condemned for missing dates.

In January, it was announced that the Baha Mar Casino & Hotel, the Rosewood at Baha Mar, and SLS Lux at Baha Mar would start hosting “paid guests” on March 27.

A statement from the property said the Grand Hyatt would open “shortly thereafter”. This came more than six months after Baha Mar officials announced that its grand opening would be delayed to “late Spring 2015” instead of the original December 2014 timeline.

Mr Bowe told Tribune Business: “The focus should be on them getting it open correctly. I think there has been lot of fanfare around the date and whether them missing a date or hitting a target was going to be a detriment or be some catastrophic failure.

“At the end of the day I think they had an aggressive opening plan, and it was positive for them to move towards it. I think what is more important is for them to get it open at the quality and level they wish, so there is no guest disappointment and no reputational risk as it relates to the quality of the destination.”

Mr Bowe added: “I think we should give them some latitude. They didn’t meet March 27, so what? If there are financial consequences because they had covenants or they had certain commitments that they had made to the investors, then that is an internal matter, but as it relates to the wider economy, we are looking to them for the economic return.

“It’s much better that they get it right and it is a success rather than it be rushed. It was going to be a jolt to the economy and still will be, whether it is in the early part of the year or latter part of this year.

“I think we need to give them the breathing space to be successful; let’s not condemn them for missing a day. We need to focus on them having gotten everything necessary to be successful.”