* Marriott is excited about the Guyana project---read the comments from Marriott VP for the Caribbean:

 

"Marriott’s Vice President for the Caribbean, Andrew Houghton said Marriott Guyana, the 77^th such branded hotel, would create 250 new jobs. “Hospitality in Guyana is an industry which is in its early stages in terms tourism but in its mature stage in terms of business.

“We hope to, therefore, attract conventioneers and business people who would continue to move your country in the direction that the electorate decides,” he said. Guyanese vote for a new government of their choice on November 28."

 

 

RE: THE GOVT'S EQUITY STAKE

 

* Many foreign investors are comfortable with governemnt's taking a minority stake in projects they pursue in developing countries.

 

* The Guyana marriott will be a good investment for NICIL.

 

 

RE: CJIA

 

Read more:

 

...talks have started with several major airlines to ease international travel woes in an under-served and high-fare market.

 

“The idea is that once that’s ( new modern airport) completed, Guyana could become a significant hub for South America connecting the Caribbean,”

 

 

Guyana has secured a US$138 million loan from China at two percent interest over a 25 year period in contrast to commercial rates. Government expects that revenue from the expanded services at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport repay the loan.

 

 

The project would entail the filling of a ravine, the extension of the runway by another 3,500 feet, the availability of eight air-bridges and a duty-free area. “It will be a world-class airport for Guyana,”

 

===============

 

Listen up!

 

10% of the cost of the CJIA project will end up in the pockets of PPP politicians---but in the end the airport expansion will be good for Guyana.

 

 

RE: THE HYDRO PROJECT

 

If approved by the IDB---then it will be another plus for the Guyanese economy---energy independence is pivotal for Guyana's development----energy independence takes the country to another plateau----economically.

 

 

Rev

 

 

 

That boy TK fail to mention the flea bag status of the Princess and Pegasus hotels, not worthy of a 5 star. Maybe his vision of Guyana is second rate, that is why he is backing second rate hotel Pegasus. That is the problem with the AFC boys, they don't have a vision for Guyana, they are in hunker down mentality. 

 

TK is an academic and Moses and Ramjattan are lawyers---these folks have book sense but zero business sense.

 

The Marriott, the cjia expansion and the hydro, if sensibly planned and developed, will all be a boon for fast growing Guyana.

 

Rev

If only you had a tiny bit more book sense your projections vis a Romney victory would have been true. 

Were you one of the persons paid to make the negative comments on Princess and Pegasus? I stayed at Pegasus for one week and I noticed no such bugs. 

On the issue of the construction of a Marriot Hotel in Guyana TK is playing the role of a politician rather than that of an economist. He knows well that Guyana desperately needs investments in hotels of international standards to get the tourism sector moving. He is not dumb. He is just playing politics.

 

I have made my position quite clear. We know the motivation of you oligarchs is pure politics for this Marriott - that's why you guys are using the people's monies of US$13 mill. Why not let Marriott do the entire finance?

The Rev made the egregious mistake of allowing his emotions to cloud his judgment!

 

The Rev is human after all----hope he learns from his mistakes.lol

 

Rev

Why would a reputable international company like the Marriot get involved with a deal that's corrupt?

On the Marriott:

The name alone does not guarantee a 5 star rating. It is the maintenance of the property and quality of staff service. As an international traveller, I have come to realize that the willingness of hotel staff is what makes the hotel a 5 star rating.

 

Excellent food with uncourteous service, dirty house keeping and unmaintained property and grounds takes away from the star rating. That is the challenge for the Marriott in Guyana-the mere DOAN CARE ATTITUDES of Guyanese workers will strip its ratings. Expected,would be a frequent turn over of employees-detrimental to service.

 

On the Pegasus:

It is not that Mr. Badal not spending money to update his property. He spends it alright but quality of contract workmanship is astrocious(sp). New buildings take way to long to complete and looks shabby when completed and quickly goes to dilapidation. His grounds people have no clue of horticulture.

 

The Mariott name will ensure that quality is maintained of the property. It is going to be a high cost-foreign contract work and workers. The operating costs are going to be high and very high. Eventually, the hotel will no longer be a Mariott. Its Guyanese stake holders will manage it and its casino into decension as the Princess Hotel stands today.

 

On the new Airport:

Guyana is not a possible stop over for any travellers. The airport is too far away from the hotels. It is not a hub for Africa. Most Africans head to Europe or North America. Guyanese are not large in numbers overseas for several flights arriving daily. Flights from GT to Toronto are never completely filled-airlines will not loose money.

 

On the Peoples Money:

So far, it appears that only non-productive projects has favors.

The government should put some of that money into Alternative energy development in Guyana-creating some jobs but developing a technology that is most needed to better the quality of life of its citizens. Its Hydro project is too far down the road and its solar programme in mickey mouse in nature.

Stick to the point TK. You wrote a load of CRAP above. I agree with REv, you are always going to come in last and want substandard development for Guyana. As mentioned by REv, Guyana is on the way to Moderisation(Something alien to you). He gave you lots of unnecessar credit by stating you have Book Sense. Take it and run along.

The opposition predicted so many dire things about the National Stadium. In the end all turned out to be false. They have very little credibility left.  Their take on the Marriot Hotel project is absurd and meant only to frustrate the gov't.

theere now . . .

Pavi bai...this is deep discussion for you. Please throw back in your basement and observe the discussion - the little that stick and don't race over your head. Good luck. 

Can you defend the CRAP you wrote???

If u consider mediocre to be progress, then perhaps those who know better should not compare what they actually see in Guyana to any in Australia, Britain, USA or Canada. What u have in Guyana for a Stadium is nothing in comparison to the one in St. Lucia.

    

 

Rev

 

But you must admit that the Guyana National Stadium is a huge improvement over Bourda cricket ground----2 hrs of rain and Bourda was rendered useless---now rains can fall for hours---and cricket still gets played.

 

Listen! The stadium was financed and built by the Indians; the Skeldon factory was financed and built by the Chinese; CJIA will be financed and built by the Chinese; and if the hydro ever gets developed---the Chinese will play a big part.

 

Now! Quality will always be an issue---the Indians are Chinese are not reknowned for quality work----they are not in the same league as the Germans, for example.

 

But at least you are seeing development in Guyana!

 

ARE YOU LONGING FOR THE DAYS WHEN GUYANA WAS DECREPIT AND BANKRUPT ?

 

Rev

Some do Bhai, some do. That is how they come as thy Savior and Rob you dry.

Pavi...that is one true statement you make there bai. That statement fits perfectly with the post-Jagan PPP. 

U c, I hope to c things built to last. I love Paris, its structure are over 1000 years old. Dem brahmins like the Tagores, Rammohun Roy and others also early  Americans just went to Paris to draw from the depth of its progress. Perhaps a flaw in me to want 2 c Guyana in grandeur rather than a backward third world place.

Brother Bob said it eloquently " Who Da cap fit, let dem wear it".

Simply your personal views which are not reflected by others.

Simply your personal views and examination.

A new year coming. Please stop being foolish.

 

In this world, there will always be differing view points. U behave like a stockker.

GOVERNMENT Monday evening reiterated its stand of being open to any level of public scrutiny as  regards any developmental project, and the Marriott Hotel project is no exception.

 

These remarks were made even as the one-seat majority opposition voted against public funds for the project, through a motion that was brought to the National Assembly by AFC member, Khemraj Ramjattan.
From the inception, the Marriot Hotel project has been a matter of great controversy for the opposition, notwithstanding the fact that it will create more than 250 jobs, generate income, and significantly boost Guyana’s capacity to become a high-end tourist destination.
Since the announcement of the project, the opposition’s reasons for not wanting it have varied from it not being economically viable, to insufficient information being made available, to the use of NICIL funds, which, Ramjattan insisted, ought to be deposited in the consolidated fund.
Despite these arguments, Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh holds strongly to the view that the opposition’s move to block this national project is clearly politically driven and has nothing to do with lack of transparency and openness, as they are claiming; noting that if they needed more information about the project, they would not have moved to block it altogether.

As for accusations that transactions with regard to the project are being done under a “cloak of secrecy” according to A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU’s) member, Carl Greenidge, Minister Singh reminded that large volumes of documentation on the project, including answers to questions that were asked by Ramjattan, were tabled in the House and  also distributed to the media.
However, there are certain confidentiality clauses that government is bound to at this stage of the project, and members of the opposition, many of whom are lawyers, including the mover of the motion himself, are aware that this is common practice in large business transactions.
Two market feasibility studies were conducted for the project, one by the Marriott Hotel Group, and one in 2010 by an independent American firm, which is being updated in 2012. There is also a draft Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) that is awaiting final issuance by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), pending the receipt of building permission.
These documents are confidential at this time; however, government is willing to have a closed-door presentation that will allow certain details of these documents to be made available under the condition of utmost confidentiality.
Responding to the aspersions that were cast by Greenidge on the integrity with which government has managed the privatisation process through NICIL, Minister Singh said, “The matter of accountability and transparency in privatisation transactions is a matter in which Mr. Greenidge has no moral authority.”
He told the House that former Auditor-General, Anand Goolsarran, is on public record as saying that Greenidge had refused him permission to

audit privatisation transactions. When this was said, Greenidge rose on a point of order to make his rebuttal; however, the Speaker told him to keep that matter for a press conference.
Greenidge also said that there is no guarantee that the project will be endorsed by the Marriott Company. However, in June 2010, Marriott International Inc. had announced that the 160-room hotel is on track to receive LEAD certification from the United States Green Building Council, and is on track of being Marriott’s lead hotel in the Caribbean and Latin America.
It will operate under a management agreement with Atlantic Hotel Inc. (AHI), which is currently owned by the Government of Guyana, as part of a public/private partnership between government and private sector investors.
In November 2011, former President Bharrat Jagdeo turned the sod for the construction of the Marriott Hotel at Kingston, Georgetown. The civil works contract for the project was a subject for a public tender and the price was announced.
“It is not a secret how much the hotel will cost, it is not a secret tender, and it is not a secret when the advertisement was placed. We have all the records of every advertisement and every bid received,” Minister Singh emphasised.
Meanwhile, Minister of Tourism, Industry, and Commerce (ag), Irfaan Ali, said that the opposition is of the view that the project is an inevitable failure, but to date, has failed to show solid analysis as to why the project would not be economically viable.
He, too, shares the view that the prolonged blockade of this development is driven by self-interest and he called on Ramjattan to come clean and declare his personal and political interests with regard to this project.
Minister Ali said that the tourism sector will benefit greatly from this development, and made reference to other countries that spent billions of dollars to build infrastructure that will boost their tourism capacity.
He also informed of Guyana’s growing popularity as a prominent tourist destination. Since 2001 to 2011, arrivals to Guyana increased by 58 percent, from 99,317 to 156,910.
Responding to the argument that government, being an investor, will deny the taxpayers and the revenue base of Guyana, important duties, taxes and other concessions, Minister Ali  informed that any company investing in a hotel, 35 rooms and above, is entitled to certain incentives.
Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, questioned why Ramjattan chose to bring a motion to the House to challenge what he claims to be illegalities with regard to the Marriot project, when it is an established fact that motions do not have any binding force on government policies, instead of taking the matter to the courts.
“The reason why he cannot go and file a proceeding to challenge the illegality of which he speaks, in the court, is because it would not see the light of day in the court; the application will be rejected,” the AG said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds said that this project is a key investment for this country.
After several hours of debate, a division was called; resulting in 33 members voting for the motion and 31 against.
This project has an estimated capital cost of US$58. Funding will be in the form of debt and equity with government’s contribution being one-third of the funding.
The contract is being executed by Shanghai Construction Group (SCG). Completion and start of commercial operations of the hotel and entertainment complex is expected two years thereafter, that is, February 2014.

Oh...wow...that is one deep and profound sentence there DG. 

The name Mariott is thrown around alot. The hotel business in America operates as follows:

a name brand hotel decides on possible locations of their brand.

 

they advertise.

 

financially sound candidates answers the ads. 

 

a deal is made.

 

hotel constructed to the brand standards.

 

furnished to brand standards.

 

The name brand hotel do not own the building, it only permits the owners to operate with their name.

 

I think, this is what is going on Guyana. Clearly Mariott DO NOT HAVE THEIR MONEY IN THE PROJECT.

 

The Government should then publish the list of names of the financial backers and their stake. The peoples money is part of the financial package for this project. Therefore the names should be published.

 

Do the AFC have the names?

 

 

About ninety percent ( 90% ) of the population may have little or no impact with your publications.

 

About ten percent ( 10% ) may have some interest in what you publish.

Acting out of character is a sign of senile dementia. D_G do you recognize what the numbers mean that you posted above? If so, please explain their significance.

No caribbean country will ever agree to the beach and jungle strategy that TK is proposing.  Why would they want share their tourists with us.  Their job is to suck every dollar out of that tourist into their economy.  Why would they want to share that with us.

 

Haha...eat your heart out. People care enough to pay me to write. I sense a vex old fox? How is the sour grape?

You could be right. But do you think the government should use the people's money to subsidized a foreign brand hotel? To put that hotel into direct competition with local investors?

I have to agree with TK on this one. If ecotourism is the intention build the hotels near the jungle. Jamaica tourism doesn't have the hotels in Kingston and then bus the tourists to the beach. If occupancy rates are 50 percent. It's not a good investment of the public's money.

Idiocy is indeed your strongest suit.

 

Payment is immeterial; your effective readership is less than ten percent ( 10% ).

Keep up that there Development watch TK, this way, we a watch dem.

 

Actually, Development Watch should be called WE A WATCH (dem).

 

TK perhaps you should not waste your time with that senile old fox of a troll and his piffle.

You rass better make sure we know is who u rass talkin bout up deh..

 

Oi DG, i think I hear and I think I understood it to be somebody say something about...piffle...dat true?

Oi Cainsta.