An official at the property said yesterday that the new opening date is now November 24.
Company officials blamed this latest delay on “circumstances beyond their control.”
The 470-acre, master-planned luxury residential and resort community located near Farmers Hill has faced numerous setbacks over the past year.
Exuma Member of Parliament Anthony Moss told the Bahama Journal yesterday that resort officials informed him that the property will not open on November 1 as planned.
Mr. Moss believes that the renovations to the Exuma International Airport might have contributed to the delay.
In preparation for the influx of visitors expected to descend on the island of Exuma when the resort opens, upgrades to the Exuma International Airport began on October 1.
Cavalier Construction Company will carry out repairs that are expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Mr. Moss said the delay will not affect Exumians in any major way.
“People are well advised in advance as to what is happening with Emerald Bay,” he said. “We were expecting it because living here in Exuma you can see what is going on and we were advised of the delays so its not going to cause a problem.”
Mr. Moss added that great things are happening on the island because of the resort.
The first set back of Emerald Bay occurred in March when the completion date was pushed back to July. The opening was then pushed to October and soon after it was announced that the resort would not open until November 1.
Many Exumians anticipated this latest delay because they say many of the island’s transportation facilities were not upgraded.
A local businessman on the island of Exuma said he never believed that the resort would have opened as was scheduled.
“There are too many things that have been promised for the resort’s opening that has not yet started to be put in place,” said Derek Smith, who is also a local government official. “November is [almost] here and most of the preparations that should have been in place for the resort have not even begun to be worked on.”
Four Seasons Resort Great Exuma at Emerald Bay offers 183 guest rooms and suites, designed for spacious comfort and privacy; the rooms include secluded terraces with scenic views of Emerald Bay.
Government officials have said that the opening of the resort in Exuma would provide enormous benefits for residents there.
By Yvette Rolle-Major, The Bahama Journal
