Gov’t. silent on land deal with Sun and Sands Hotel

After a flamboyant launch in early July which marked the promise of a multimillion dollar investment into Guyana’s

Minister of Housing , Irfaan Ali

hotel Industry by an India-based company, the entity seems unable to start construction as it boasted to do in that very month. There seems to be several bugbears to the commencement of construction but the main one revealed to Kaieteur News was that the company is currently unable to honour its payment arrangement with “certain stakeholders” in the government.
Sun and Sand Group of Companies headed by Rajesh “Lucky” Satija is hoping to construct a US$54M luxury hotel at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara.
But even though it plans to start construction of the multimillion dollar five-star hotel, it is quite eager to venture into Guyana’s gold and diamond sector.
Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Irfaan Ali, who was present at the launch as were a number of persons from the local business world, had assured the Director of the Sun and Sand Hotel, Bhushan Chandna, that the government is going to work with them to ensure the success of the venture.
Chandna had extended heartfelt thanks to the government for its promise of support. However, when Ali was contacted yesterday by this publication to comment on the company’s failure to honour its payment arrangement with the government he said, “I can’t speak on that. That is an arrangement between the company and the government.”
At the launch of the Hotel, Chandna had told this publication that Brain Tiwarie of BK International was the local contractor for the Hotel. While the price of the land is still unknown, Tiwarie had said that it was part of the US$54M deal. When asked yesterday as to why construction has not started, Tiwarie said, “The people for the hotel are coming in next week Tuesday or Wednesday and when they come you can direct your questions to them. I can’t say why construction has not started. I too am waiting on them to come to know.”
Several calls were made to Chandna’s Guyana and India telephone numbers but there was no response. Chandna had told reporters that he is working in more than 19 countries but that he comes to Guyana every month for 15 days. This publication made several attempts to conduct an interview with Chandna but those was never realized. He had scheduled an interview for a particular day but his assistant later informed Kaieteur News that he was ill and would not be able to do the interview. He has not accepted any other invitation for an interview since.
The India-based company which is into housing, real estate, manufacturing metals, mining, hotels and casinos in various parts of the world, was also quietly handed two prospecting licences last year.

Local contractor for Sun and Sands Hotel, Brian Tiwarie, manager of BK International

BK International, one of Guyana’s biggest construction companies, transferred the two licenses to Sun and Sands which allows for the exploration of gold and other minerals.
BK International was later retained as the local contractor for the multi-million dollar hotel at Turkeyen.
Prior to revelations of the transfer of the licenses, Chandna, had told this publication that the company “did not” have a prospecting license at the moment but had applied.
The construction of the Sun and Sand Hotel will include many modern conveniences and amenities including a casino and restaurants. When completed, the 290,000 square feet hotel will also house a commercial block and club house of approximately 45,000 sq. ft. which is being touted to provide direct benefits to Guyanese through the provision of several hundred jobs.