IT matters not that the PPP/C government desires that this country moves on; that it develops; that it moves from primitive to modern. It appears, at every turn, that there is resistance from the parliamentary opposition and commentators to any development project initiated by the Administration.

The parliamentary opposition has a pattern of propelling false information about the efforts of the government, hoping that they would gain political mileage, and perhaps discourage government from proceeding with its modernisation programme. Criticism is an assessment, review or observation. However, APNU and the AFC, at every opportunity, clutch at almost nothing in an attempt to discredit this Administration’s efforts. Over the past few months, the government has faced criticisms about the decision to invest in the construction of the state-of-the-art, world-class Marriott Hotel. The controversy at times was fuelled by random, negative, conflicting accusations. Arguments stated that the government is ill-prepared for such an undertaking; that it is withholding work from the Guyanese people; that the government has allowed a contentious construction company to construct the Marriott; and, that the investment model is questionable as the government intends to utilise public funds. Now, the latest criticism targets the character of the workforce at the Marriott. One can conclude that perhaps commentators and the parliamentary opposition have chosen to ignore the facts of the project, and its long-term benefits to fit their agenda. The opposition raised similar arguments against the construction of the Berbice bridge. The bridge was intended to reduce the lengthy period associated with river transport and also improve transportation to Guyana’s eastern neighbour, Suriname. Today, Guyanese are enjoying the use of the structure which has made it easier for people to commute everyday and has significantly reduced the time taken to travel to Berbice. In 2007, the construction of the National Stadium also caused a fuss. Again, opposition politicians raised baseless arguments against a development project and as usual, caused an uproar about government’s intentions. The National Stadium at Providence has been serving Guyana well. Events such as the World Cup Cricket, CARIFESTA, Mega Entertainment events, and national and other events have been staged there. Because it has an overall capacity of around 15,000 it became the facility of choice to host mega events. The opposition-led attempts to create distrust, frustration and discontent in the management of the state are a distraction from the real and significant merits of the Marriott project. Clearly, the outcry about the construction of the Berbice Bridge and the National Stadium was unsubstantiated, after all look at the successful outcomes of these projects to date. The PPP/C-led government, in no uncertain terms, reiterates that this public-private partnership Marriott project will transform the hospitality landscape. It will definitely promote tourism and position Guyana for future investment interests.