The Tribune

By SANCHESKA DORSETT

Tribune Staff Reporter

sdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE Atlantis Paradise Island sustained "little damage" during the passage of Hurricane Matthew according to resort executives, but the electricity, elevators and water in the Beach Towers have been "temporarily knocked out" due to generator failure.

Addressing a crowd of more than 2,000 visitors and residents who were evacuated from their rooms to temporary shelters in the Imperial Ballroom on Thursday afternoon, Howard Karawan, President and Managing Director of Atlantis, assured guests that after spending nearly 24 hours in confined quarters, people staying in the Royal Towers, Coral Towers and The Reef should be able to return to the rooms at 6pm.

However, Mr Karawan said for the hundreds of persons staying at the Beach Towers, including those who were evacuated from the Harborside Resort, it will take a few hours for the generator to be repaired. He also said a glass window at the entrance to the Beach Tower shattered at the beginning of the storm but was in the process of being repaired.

“The hotel did fairly well. There is quite a bit of debris that will take some time to clean up and some damage, but nothing major that we saw. There are some issues in the towers. The Beach Tower, we lost some glass in the front shortly after we cleared everyone out. Currently Beach towers has no power and it has no water. Bahamas Power and Light has gone out some time ago,” he said.

“We have generator power but our generator went out some time ago. We will send people out to fix the generator to get water and power back to the Beach Tower. I can not send them out in this weather, it is too dangerous right now. They are meeting now and the intention is to go out about 4pm when we are down to a reasonable level tropical storm and winds. We will send the engineering team out to that generator.

"It is expected to take a couple of hours to repair that generator. All I can tell you is that we will do as best as we can, as quickly as we can. So the Beach Tower will not be open until later this evening but I can not give you an exact time because everything is out including the elevator, light and water pumps. I wish I had better news on the Beach Tower but just trying to be straightforward.”

Mr Karawan also said that no one will be charged for Wednesday and Thursday and all meals on those days will be free of charge. He thanked the 700 staff that stayed behind to assist with the evacuation and ensuring all the guests were safe and comfortable.

He also urged guests not to open their sliding doors or attempt to venture outside when they return to their rooms.