Opposition demands full details of “secret investors” during 2014 budget debate
Carl Greenidge
Winston Brassington
-‘If there isn’t any full disclosure, the scissors may not be the only weapon of struggle,’-Nagamootoo
The political opposition is demanding the details on the “secret investors” of the Marriott Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown. The opposition will also be demanding an update on the hotel viability during this year’s budget discussions. If this is not provided, Vice Chairman of the Alliance For Change (AFC), Mr. Moses Nagamootoo, has said that “the scissors may not be the only weapon of struggle.” In addition, the Financial point man, Carl Greenidge, of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has emphatically stated that during the budget discussions in March, the Marriott Hotel will come under intense scrutiny. Greenidge said that he wants the full story on the hotel which represents an assault on the local private sector with the assistance of taxpayers’ money. “The Minister will be asked to provide a detailed report on the funds spent up to this point, and who are these so-called secret investors. The building of hotels is not the business of government.” “There are a number of things which we need answered especially when one considers the unfavourable impact the hotel will have on our external indebtedness. This fiasco has also proven that taxpayers’ rights
Moses Nagamootoo
rank last after bondholders and equity investors.” In supporting the points laid by the Financial Spokesman of the APNU, Nagamootoo said, “We want full disclosure on not only on the investors of the hotel but also an update of the viability of this project. “While it is lauded as a sign of development the government may now wish to say how viable the Marriott hotel would be and this secrecy over who would be the final investor is not helpful to a project that depends on NICIL as the key player.” He added, “This government seems to be obsessed with secrecy. We have for example a lot of idle talks about job creation for young people but we have no disclosure as to how many young people are unemployed and the unemployment statistics still remain a secret. The last time we had a population survey was about nine or ten years ago. We understand one was done some time ago but the findings remain a secret. Therefore how do we go about responding to the needs of our people where there is a lack of information and it is characterized by secrecy.” The Member of Parliament said that he is not optimistic that it will be able to break down the wall erected by the “post Jagan” government which seeks to keep the Guyanese people uninformed. “So it is in this context that the call being made by Greenidge has to be seen as an attempt to arrest from the government information that will help the Parliament to plan properly and decide what the nation needs. “I would not like us to speculate on what the AFC is likely to do at budget time if we find that the government is not upfront on this issue but we would at the appropriate time decide what the necessary sanctions will be. But let me just say that if this is not done then the scissors may not be the only weapon of struggle.” While the construction of the hotel is still continuing, President Donald Ramotar had declared on Wednesday last at Tourism Stakeholders Reception that the International Hotel is scheduled for its opening in August.