Given the millions pumped into marketing, and the billions pumped into the construction and preparation of the resort village, the cost of the now twice-delayed opening of the $3.5 billion Baha Mar project has yet to be disclosed.
China Construction America (CCA) - the subsidiary of the state-owned China State Construction Engineering Company (CSCEC) that is building the mega resort - has missed the original December 2014 deadline, and has now missed the March 27 date as well.
Given that CCA is also the new owner of the British Colonial Hilton, and has proposed a $200 million expansion project for the hotel's environs to be completed "over the next 20 months" - according to Prime Minister Perry Christie - Guardian Business questioned the Minister of Tourism, Obie
Wilchcombe, about the government's level of concern about the company hitting that deadline as well.
"All projects are different and the proposed Hilton redevelopment project will be subjected to scrutiny and realistic time lines," Wilchcombe said.
Guardian Business also questioned Baha Mar whether it was confident of the new May 2015 date.
"We are working with our contractor, our brands and other partners toward our early May grand opening. We expect to have all of the hotels and most amenities opened at that time," a Baha Mar spokesman Robert Sands said.
Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe also claimed a level of confidence in the new date.
"None of us can doubt that the complexity of the development would certainly create challenges. Equally true is the quality of work of the construction company," Wilchcombe said. "In that context I am not alarmed, but I am aware that such delays generate concern in the marketplace. It will now mean an accelerated and intense campaign must be executed to ally concerns in the marketplace. I do concur with the developers that ensuring the highest quality of product trumps any short delay," the minister said.
Guardian Business has reported that CSCEC and China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) - state-owned Chinese companies that have as subsidiaries China Construction America (CCA), which is building Baha Mar, and China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), which is building the port in North Abaco - have before been banned by the World Bank Group from participating in any World Bank-funded projects for a number of years, due to fraudulent practices in connection with a road project in the Philippines. The specifics relate to the ability of the companies to bring projects in on the advertised schedule for the advertised price.
The CSCEC sanction was effective until January 2015, and the sanction against CCCC remains in effect until January 2017.
Baha Mar announced the delay late Tuesday evening, stating that it had "relied in good faith on the representations of the resort's construction manager and lead contractor" - and based its decision on "this party's repeated assurances" - in setting the March 27 date.
"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 Baha Mar. 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," the statement said.
Guardian Business asked what actions Baha Mar has taken to deal with those people who have booked rooms at the resorts.
"We are offering guests a variety of options to accommodate their trips, and are addressing each booking individually," Sands said. "We're focused on honoring all of our long-term commitments."
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