Stafford Burrowes founded and presided over one of Jamaica’s leading attractions, Dolphin Cove.

He did a fantastic job and took Dolphin Cove to other Caribbean Islands.

For years, Dolphin Cove in Ocho Rios brought in crowds with Stafford Burrowes improving the product and expanding the menagerie of animals.

Now comes the sad news that he will be stepping down as Chairman.

An issued release read: “Dolphin Cove Limited hereby announces that in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation of the company, a member holding not less than 51 per cent of the issued shares of the company, delivered notice under the Articles with respect to the termination of Mr. Stafford Burrowes as a board member of the company.”

On November 19, 2015, Burrowes sold the majority interest he held in the company to an entity affiliated to the Dolphin Company. He continued as Chairman of the Board until December 2, 2024.

Our Today understands that the board of the company will meet in the following days to appoint a new Chairman from the remaining directors.

Burrowes did a fantastic job with Dolphin Cove and demonstrated what is possible with Jamaican tourism attractions.

Back in 2016, he sold US$4.7 million worth of shares and that year netted a total of US$35 million from selling shares in the company he built.

When Dolphin Cove was listed on the Jamaican Stock Exchange in 2010, Burrowes’ 80 per cent of the shares went on to be valued at close to J$1 billion.

With his success, Burrowes acquired a 2 per cent stake in Dolphin Capital for a little over US$5.2 million.

Dolphin Cove went on to open operations in Negril.

At its height, Dolphin Cove’s Jamaican operations attracted over 250,000 visitors a year.

Earlier this year, Burrowes was looking to put up a hotel on the 22-acre property which houses Dolphin Cove, Montego Bay.

Dolphin Cove now has four marine parks in Jamaica.

For the first quarter of this year, Dolphin Cove posted revenues of US$5 million, generating an after tax profit of US$1.5 million.

Our Today’s CEO, Al Edwards said: “ I recall when Mr Burrowes and his wife Marilyn first opened Dolphin Cove, taking me on a tour of the facility in Ocho Rios. It is fantastic to see what they went on to achieve and it is a testament to Jamaican entrepreneurship. 

“Pan Caribbean handled the public offering with 80 million ordinary shares on offer at an invitation price of J$3 per share. Burrowes was looking to raise J$240 million. The offer was overwhelmingly oversubscribed. Donovan Perkins who then headed Pan Caribbean believed in Dolphin Cove and the Burrowes’ management team. He backed a winner.

“That first site, opposite Dunns River saw over 1000 visitors a day back in 2010.”

In an article I wrote that year, Burrowes explained his vision.

“We have always looked to the future and recognised that Jamaica’s tourism industry is growing. It has slowed down since the recession to some extent, but as Ed Bartlett has pointed out, it is poised to grow. The new cruise ship terminal in Hanover means additional business for us. Then there are planned additional hotel rooms with the second wave of Spanish hotels set to start construction soon. 

“We want to make our facility near Lucea, close to the Fiesta hotel, a world-class attraction park. Fiesta is now up to about 1,100 rooms with a further 800 suites coming on stream in the near future. This is good news for Dolphin Cove. Essentially we want to be in a position to deal with all the opportunities that are coming along. The incentive of not having to pay taxes for five years as a result of listing on the junior exchange was also a factor in us going this route.”