Free rooms for all Bahamians .. once a year dis we tings still

Salt, oil, aragonite, Atlantis, Bah Mar, sand , sun. And sea. Lobster fish conch and Bahamians still poor? Gimme a breakfast

> Mountains can be moved

if them mountains can be moved, so can the plp.

Was Jerome Fitzgerald at the opening?

yes, and refused questions

'More Than A Dream Come True' --- Not for Sarkis Izmirlian after the PLP and the Chinese pushed him out. Now Perry Christie is taking full credit for the opening. A fake opening at that!

I can't wait for May 10th!

Where were all the tourists staying there tonight. Did say that it was open. That means real business, with real guests.

Oh, was this just a sham for the elections?

"an increase of 19 per cent over our 2015 record of arrivals and signalling in the marketplace the revitalisation of the Bahamas tourism brand."

There is growing pushback aimed at an escalating and uncontrollable crime rate in the Bahamas.

Did Christie factor in the evidence that the global tourism industry has already started to eliminate the Bahamas from their tourism destinations? Seems they agree with clients who say why spend all that money just to be victimized by criminals and told by the police that "this never happens in the Bahamas."

This will not go well for the tourism industry in the Bahamas. It's a dangerous place for Bahamians and tourists alike. Bahamians are stuck with a broken system and no apparently way out - unless the appeal to the world to look closer at how crime is treated like a normal fixture in the islands. Something stinks in the politics and finance of keeping people safe and secure.

A 19% increase of cruise lines taking guest to their private islands

What a pile of bullshit! We the Bahamian taxpayers arepaying for this sham opening. Dont they understand that you need paying guests to be "open". Vomit and crew will have the run of bahamar until election.

Was there on Friday night, I expected more than it was.
At least a few people have been employed which the country needs.
Atlantis has way more to offer.

Every time this man opens his mouth.... nothing but nonsense comes out.
This sham opening is nothing more than a pretense and a political stunt to give the impression that Christie and his government have done something worthwhile when we all know that isn't the case. It's an election stunt that will backfire in the upcoming weeks simply because it insults the intelligence of the Bahamian public.

Mr. Christie.... Bahamar is NOT open, and this unconventional platform that you are trying to create in an effort to score political points will blow up in your face.

If that so called Education Minister tried to get his snout in the financial trough how many others have tried or have special financial interests.

So now that they are open, I visited their website and tried to make reservations for some friends, who will be visiting in June. Site is still not accepting reservations. I guess "open" requires some interpretation, which is beyond my feeble capabilities.

It seems they are accepting bookings from 29th May onward? Did you go as far as giving credit card information?

Still can not make a reservation on Hyatt.com . Only guests last night must have been politicians and their girl friends . . . .

This FAKE opening is our VAT being pissed away, as they say !

Perhaps those who have found employment may have a different view.

Cheap shoddy PLP electioneering garbage move. Only brainless fools would believe them!

Like birdiestrachan?

Exactly who I was thinking about with taht remark

"Hong Kong-based Chow Tai Fook Enterprises (CTFE) ultimately acquired the property and said it would invest about $200 million to get the project's first phase ready for the general public." Please explain why I would spend $200 million for a property I do not own yet? Will this amount be deducted from the purchase price? What if I don't decide to purchase it after all, will I get a refund? From whom?

There is a lot more to this story. I am willing to bet that it was "given" to someone, operated by someone to create a Potemkin Village effect for the election. Can hardly wait for the real story to come out after the PLP loses the election.

The first step for the new government, is to lock up Perry Christie and the PLP cabinet ministers in Fox Hill for at least 25 years. Jerome and Shame Gibson can carry the SLOP buckets.

We have put in every penny recently to get this 'opened'. THAT's where the VAT money gone!

The government reportedly spent $30 million for the opening weekend ............ SMDH

I feel sorry for the Bahamian workers who are the on-going pawns in this unfortunate saga ...... I trust that the FNM will sort this quagmire out, find a reputable operator other than the Chinese (who have NO interest in growing our tourism industry), and get these Bahamar workers off the Treasury pay-roll ................. Who is this white man fronting for CFTE anyway????????

While “Hundreds of former Bahamian employees of Baha Mar have received the outstanding amounts due to them - unpaid salaries, severance pay," there are still 200+ former expatriate employees who are still waiting to be paid the amounts due to them. This action appears to be Government of Bahamas sanctioned discrimination. What is the value of a contract in the Bahamas; if you're not Bahamian apparently it's not worth anything. This practice is not only unfair, but unlawful. When will we be paid???

First of all, all people and the opposition parties need to get over themselves and let go this idea of a fake, illusion of an opening and as said by The PM above as "Mirage and misleading/misrepresentation" it is very common practice within the industry to have soft/preview openings. It's not a mirage and a lie of an opening if anybody can walk in off the street and eat at the restaurants, gamble in the Casino, play golf and go to the spa, as well as walk the pool decks down to the beach and have a lovely adult beverage at one of the many pool bars.........how is that a fake or mirage opening? Those that are checked in have the responsibility to leave constructive observations for both the physical property as well as for the training of the staff, basically they are all "Shoppers@ as they are called that go into establishment to review them and insure they are up to standards. Only difference is they are usually anonymous and report back to leadership on their findings. What would those nay Sayers and apparent "Hospitality Experts" do in way of an "Official full opening" without any real time/life training with interaction with customers, just not be open one day and the next show up and start checking in 1,800 rooms!!?? Since most would be at least double occupancy, your looking at least at 3,000 people, ya right, there is a recipe for customer service, success and business model.

Now, having said that, I think Mr Christie has gone way to far and is being self gratuitous by saying that "It's the most significant and impactful economic development event to ever occur in the country and the Caribbean region". If I were Atlantis not only would I feel insulted and take issue with that statement as clearly at its opening it was just as impactuful, if not more being the first, in regards to overall economic impact for the country. Further, it's extremely in bad blood saying this with all the good philanthropy and good will that Atlantis has had in the community. On top of this, the PM contradicts himself big time when he mentions in the same paragraph that it's the largest single phase opening.......this is comical and a talking point from the previous ownership and preopening marketing when it was to be single phase specifically meaning all is open at once! The PM and all other cronies have consistently called this a soft preview opening which will be in several phases with additional hotels F&B outlets, shops etc coming on board in later phases...........the very definition of a contradiction. This "Phased" opening is no different than Atlantis was (Another reason why the nay Sayers need to shut up because clearly this is a best practice with such a large development) so the PM is talking out of both sides of his mouth when it suits him to paint a prettier picture when convenient.

Why don't you go there today and let me know if you still think that the hotel is operating. No guests, no taxis waiting to take anybody anywhere. If it weren't for the FNM's (i.e. people with credit cards) the Friday night soft opening would have been empty as well. The doors may be open and the lights may be on... but there ain't nobody home.

You still can't book a room as a tourist on any online venue. Talk dat!

The concessions must be worth it to pull off that fake opening and hire 1500 without bookings. I believe it will be shock and awe when we really find out what concessions were given.

As I said before its a sham! Plain and simple.

Comrades! Those fancy blue ribbons has done brought so much Baha Mar fatigue to the natives, and it came at a price tag of over a Billion dollars to taxpayer's and the state.
But given the background the two main political contenders for PM come the May 10, 2017 General Election Day - will be the problem - cause regardless which party gets elected to govern - the WILL of the natives - will continued to be ignored.
Begs the question - are general elections really necessary when they are no more than opportunities for elite local influence peddlers and 'rich foreigner monies to be meddling in our local politics?

of course Fitzgerald won't answer questions, nor did the Prime Minister.

why did Lady Pindling not get a new dress for such an auspicious occasion?

She looks nice, dressed appropriately, very good for her age. Men have it too easy, all they have to do is change a tie, I'll bet you Christie wear that suit twice last week.