THE opening of Baha Mar has been delayed from this Friday to “early May” due to ongoing construction work at the $3.5 billion property, officials from the mega-resort confirmed in a statement last night.
In its statement, the resort also criticised the performance of the lead contractor, revealing that work at the property had not met Baha Mar’s “standards of excellence” and was not acceptable. Baha Mar also said it had relied on statements from its construction manager and lead contractor when it previously announced a March 27 opening date.
When contacted for comment, Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe said while industry stakeholders are anxious to “wow the world” with the new resort, the high expectations of the property must not be compromised.
The announcement of this newest delay comes days after an official from the property said the resort would begin a phased opening this week.
Last Friday, Robert Sands, Baha Mar’s senior vice-president of government and external affairs, said only one hotel, the Baha Mar hotel and casino’s core amenities, entertainment and recreation areas would open to guests.
He also said that public spaces at the mega-resort’s three other hotels – SLS LUX, Rosewood and Grand Hyatt – also would be open on March 27 and that those hotel rooms would “come online shortly after”.
But last night the resort confirmed what many observers have openly speculated for some time, that construction at the massive luxury property would not be done in time for a March opening.
“In setting our opening date for March 27, we relied in good faith on the representations of the resort’s construction manager and lead contractor,” the statement released by Baha Mar last night said. “Last Friday, based on this party’s repeated assurances, Baha Mar announced that it would begin a paced opening beginning March 27 and culminating in its grand opening scheduled for early May.
“Subsequently, it has become clear that the contractor has not completed the work with an attention to detail consistent with Baha Mar standards of excellence. Anything less than a world-class facility and best-in-class guest experience is not acceptable to us.
“As a result, Baha Mar will not begin its paced opening on March 27. Baha Mar expects to celebrate its grand opening the first week of May 2015, as planned.”
Meanwhile, Mr Wilchcombe told The Tribune that “whatever Baha Mar must do to ensure that its objectives and that the expectations of the wider world are met must not be compromised.”
He added: “We all have high expectations and support every effort and decisions that must be made to create a first class, high-end, attractive and exciting resort. No doubt all parties are anxious and eager to wow the country and the world. I believe that several more weeks will be worth the wait.”
The government has long touted Baha Mar’s opening as a key component of the country’s economic rebound. The resort is expected to create 5,000 permanent jobs.
When contacted for comment last night, Minister of State for Finance Michael Halkitis said that the delay would not affect the government’s revenue targets, something that had been suggested by the Free National Movement.
“We have not included any revenue from Baha Mar in our targets,” Mr Halkitis told The Tribune.
On Sunday, FNM Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest said the significance of the Baha Mar delay reflects the need to diversify the economy.
“It shows that our country’s dependency on tourism as a primary source of revenue needs to be diversified. While tourism still has tremendous potential, it all shows we have to diversify into more than just a room and bed destination. We need to find additional ways to secure income from this type of activity.”
Baha Mar was initially expected to open last December but that date was delayed.
In January, the resort said it would open its doors to paying customers in March.
READ MORE: Baha Mar's contractor relations hit new low
Comments
duppyVAT 9 years, 1 month ago
Thats the consequence of political influence and meddling now .......... this is going to be a white elephant in our country because of its cloak of secrecy and sheer unsustainable mass based on a questionable Chinese tourist base.
asiseeit 9 years, 1 month ago
It makes sense to delay. Hopefully it will not take to long for them to get it right. While I would love for Bah Mar to be the economic engine the government has said it will be, I highly doubt it will be. On the job front in this country there is little hope. The politicians are to busy fighting over the meager scraps and looking out for derelict crony's to manage the country in a meaningful and progressive manner. When little men lead a little country you just can not expect much!
Cobalt 9 years, 1 month ago
How in the world can Bahamar boost the economy when the country is in a mess??? Don't you remember that Atlantis had to layoff hundreds of workers??? Don't you realize that our power company can't deliver consistent electricity??? Don't you realize that hundreds of guest recently returned abroad only to tell others about the black-out and their negative experience in the Bahamas??? Don't you realize that the United States Department of Justice is admonishing their citizens not to visit the Bahamas??? Do you realize that the Bahamas is now ranked in the top 10 for violence towards Northern Americans and Europeans, next to counties in the Middle East??? These are horrible statistics that don't fair well for the Bahamas. While our government likes to exercise amnesia and sweep these types of issues under the rug.... the US Embassy does not.
If you had the opportunity to travel frequently.... you would realize that the Bahamas is no longer an attractive tourism market. It's filthy, crime-ridden, and overly priced. For months out of the year I work in North America. And let me tell you..... the reports and feed back I get regarding the Bahamas is not good. If Bahamians are thinking that Bahamar is going to be the economic cash-cow that the Bahamas desperately needs..... they are grossly mistaken.
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 1 month ago
It does make sense. Especially with that fire, it was a bad omen. It disturbed me even more to learn they hadn't accounted for parking and were encourage employees to carpool. That's a serious oversight and highlights a bigger problem.
Cobalt 9 years, 1 month ago
So...... Hotel executives are placing the blame on the contractors in an effort to conceal their own incompetence and false promises???? This is PLP bungling at its best! This damn government can't see any project to full completion!! Not a damn ONE!!
As a matter of fact...... I was recently shocked to learn that after the grand-standing ceremony by Perry Christie and his cohorts, the critical care block at PMH is still not open!!! How the hell can you hold an opening ceremony for an entity that's not even open and operating???
This government constantly makes false promises and assurances and can't deliver on a fraction of their declarations!!! The FNM, with all their faults, within five years conducted MAJOR infrastructural projects such as the Bahamar Resort, the Airport, the Road-Works, the Critical Care Building, etc. All of these projects were near completion when the FNM was voted out of government!! Now....... some three years later, Perry Christie and his PLP can't finish or complete any of these projects left behind!!! If the FNM were still in power, these infrastructural designs would have been completed by now!!! Thank goodness the National Stadium, and Road-Project was finished before they got voted out of office, or else these projects would still be laying dormant right now!!!
This damn government is absolutely worthless!!! Seriously people..... what the hell has this government done since coming to power, besides talking and conducting nonsense? Perry tried to convince the Bahamian public the we own the majority of BTC, when clearly we don't!! And as we later found out, it was just a ploy to initiate political favors to PLP cronies like Leon Williams!! And if the Bahamas government still did own the majority of BTC, then that would mean that the government is responsible for the upcoming layoffs.... a practice that the PLP had criticized the FNM government for!!! So which is it?? This government is so full of shit until its not even funny anymore.
Now we have this Bahamar nonsense going on where another PLP cronie, Robert Sands, is making promises only to recant and rescind his assurances because they can't deliver!! 2017 can't come quickly enough!!
Well_mudda_take_sic 9 years, 1 month ago
Meanwhile, U.S., Canadian and Spanish airlines are having a hard time dealing with the enormous demand for airlift to Cuba. Perry "Vomit" Christie, Obie Wilchcombe and their side kicks have all once again demonstrated just how stupid and moronic they have become. Baha Mar does not stand a chance and even the Chinese financial backers now know it. The U.S. Government has smartly allowed the foolish Christie-led PLP administration to draw millions of Chinese investment dollars into our economy which will all go down the toilette as the U.S. reduces and relaxes long standing restrictions against Cuba. Our cock-eyed moronic government just can't see the writing on the wall.....just like the U.S. engineered the reduction in oil prices to punish both Russia and Iran....the U.S. is about to open up Cuba to tourism in order to crush a Chinese-friendly corrupt Christie-led PLP government for their transgressions! Poor Baha Mar never stood a chance as a result of both Christie and Ingraham lining their pockets with hard currency from Chinese controlled interests. The arse holes who have led our country since 1992 (whether PLP or FNM) never fully appreciated that the U.S. government has always had and still has its fingers on the pulse of just about every and anything going on in the Bahamas thanks to the likes of families like the Symonettes, Pinders, etc. in our society. It's simply a matter of U.S. national security interests which is why the U.S. National Security Agency continues to this day to record and keep a complete record of every electronic communication within and to and from the Bahamas. And Christie and Mitchell can't do a dam_n thing about it. LOL
Cobalt 9 years, 1 month ago
Wow! Sobering reminder! But wasn't the only reason that the FNM used the Chinese for Bahamar because they couldn't find another foreign investor who would invest billions of dollars in the project after the first investor failed to financially deliver? I don't think China was the first entity we attempted to use for the Bahamar project, were they? I thought we only solicited their help after the initial investors were unable to live up to their financial obligations. I'm pretty certain that that's what I read.
Furthermore..... why would the US criticize the Bahamas for doing business with China, when they are conducting business with them as well??? Doesn't America owe China trillions of dollars??? I'm honestly asking because I'm not sure. Can you enlighten me?
TigerB 9 years, 1 month ago
Excellent point both of you, but I want to piggy back on this Cuba thing. I just read yesterday that since the announcement that Obama made, tourism is now up 250%,these are the people who are trying to get there before the americans do. We are in for a rough ride once that Cuba thing takes off, Bahamar may be laying off people rather than hiring....
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 1 month ago
Yep, that's my fear, a lot our most talented people are heading to that resort, what happens in terms of employment if it fails? Our most productive are laid off
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 1 month ago
Good. Safety first. That fire must have been a bigger issue than they let on. Now they need to delay Junkanoo Carnival.
crabman 9 years, 1 month ago
did anyone really expect this to open on time? did the contractors sign a completion bond which holds them responsible for a due date and if they miss that due date they are basically fined every day they are late or was it a bahamian completion bond that says if you keep putting money in my pocket you can complete it when ever you are ready. just a nation for sale (again)
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