At long last, the Baha Mar resort casino in the Bahamas has opened its doors, but not before one last scandal hit the press.

Friday saw the soft opening of the first phase of Baha Mar, two-and-a-half years after its originally scheduled opening and over six years since construction first began on the $4.2b resort, the largest gaming project ever attempted in the Caribbean.

Baha Mar’s website is now officially accepting reservations for rooms at its Grand Hyatt hotel, although it won’t actually be accepting paying guests until May 29. Until then, only invited VIPs, media members, travel agents and a few fortunate locals will be checking out Baha Mar’s rooms. Baha Mar’s casino, golf course, spa and five bars and restaurants are also open.

Various dignitaries, including Prime Minister Perry Christie, were on hand for Friday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony. Christie earned an early nod for understatement of the year by referring to Baha Mar’s “tumultuous” path to this date, and felt the need to add that the opening was “not a mirage.”