The Tribune

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

Baha Mar’s receivers yesterday said there was “nothing at this stage” to indicate that Hurricane Matthew’s passage would delay the $3.5 billion project’s construction remobilisation and completion.

Raymond Winder, the Deloitte & Touche (Bahamas) managing partner, indicated to Tribune Business that the storm appeared only to have inflicted minor damage on the Cable Beach-based development as it roared past Nassau as a Category Three hurricane.

While unable to give “a definitive answer” as to whether Matthew had impacted moves to complete Baha Mar’s construction, Mr Winder said remobilisation was still “on schedule as far as I’m concerned”.

He added that the resort campus had benefited from its north New Providence coast location, as this had offered protection against Hurricane Matthew’s winds from the south, plus storm surges.

Emphasising that teams from Baha Mar and China Construction America (CCA), the project’s main contractor, were still carrying out post-Matthew assessments, Mr Winder said they were inspecting all the property’s rooms for water damage and other problems.

“I don’t think so, but I can’t give a definitive answer on that,” Mr Winder replied, when asked whether Matthew’s impact would delay both Baha Mar’s remobilisation and construction completion.

“I don’t know of anything at this stage that will delay the process. As far as I’m concerned, we’re on schedule to move forward, and we have well over 200 personnel on the ground.”

He described them as “regular CCA folks”, and added: “We’ve still got to engage sub-contractors and that kind of stuff.”

Mr Winder said Baha Mar had suffered damage to its landscaping, as Matthew’s winds took a toll on the property’s trees and vegetation, but implied that the resort properties had sustained no physical or structural damage.

The Melia Nassau Beach Resort, the only Baha Mar property currently open to paying guests, will remain operational post-Matthew, the Deloitte & Touche managing partner added.

When asked whether it might have to close for hurricane repairs, he replied: “No chance. As of now, we’re moving forward. It probably has some small damage, too, but nothing to cause us any major concerns. There is nothing that I am aware of that could cause us any concern.”