Latest update December 11th, 2024 1:33 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

AN OBSCENE PROPOSAL

Jul 09, 2010 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

The verdict is in. The country’s two top hotels have been deemed to be inadequate for really pushing tourism in Guyana. Can you believe the things that come out of the mouths of politicians?
Just a few years ago, the Princess Hotel was seen as being absolutely necessary if Guyana was to host Cricket World Cup 2007.
We were told then that the then Buddy’s International Hotel was a top class facility.
Three years later, and with the government seemingly bent on pursuing a misguided joint venture in building another major hotel, we are being told that with all due respect, something better is required to boost tourism in Guyana.
It is a wonder that this was not recognized three years ago when at great risk, taxpayers’ funds were loaned to help complete Buddy’s International Hotel and another one aback of that building.
So we will have to now await the showpiece of the local hotel industry: the Marriott Hotel which will be constructed in Kingston, just a stone throw away from the Pegasus Hotel.
Princess Hotel is good enough to provide employment for over three thousand Guyanese, but is not good enough to be the flagship of the local tourism sector. That honour will no doubt be given to the new hotel, just as how a soon-to-be-financed airline will eventually become the official flag carrier of Guyana.
Guyana does not need a seven-star hotel. What does a one-star economy want with a seven-star hotel in a city that cannot even afford to pick up the rubbish?
Hotels do not bring tourists. In Dubai, there is a seven-star hotel and most of the tourists stay outside and admire it. It is very expensive inside.
If the authorities believe that simply building a seven -star hotel is going to bring tourists, it shows how little they know of the tourist industry.
The hotels are not the attractions. They are supposed to accommodate the tourists who come to see the attractions.
Guyana will, however, soon have the distinction of having a hotel which will be one of its main tourist attractions.
But just how many tourists it will attract is questionable, for the hotel industry is not making money at the moment.
When the Buddy’ s International Hotel was erected, it was seen as a good venture since we were told that Cricket World Cup would open Guyana to the rest of the world and thousands of visitors would henceforth come to Guyana.
The hotel soon found itself unable to even pay its light bill and was eventually sold to a foreign investor.
Occupancy rates in the hotel industry are also very poor and a great many questions are therefore going to be asked as to why another hotel is being built and even more so, why taxpayers’ funds have to be used to finance this hotel.
Why anyone would want to invest in a major hotel in Guyana is perplexing. And why would the government want to have a joint venture in this project after indicating a desire to divest the highly profitable shares it had in the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company?
It is totally unacceptable for the people of this country to be told that the proposed Marriott Hotel will be a joint venture between the government and private investors, and that sometime after the hotel is completed the government shares will be sold off so as to allow for a totally private sector entity.
So what is the purpose of the government’s investment? Why after investing in the hotel does the government plan to eventually sell-off the shares? Why have a joint venture in the first place? What is wrong with a fully-owned private sector facility if the plan is to dispose of the government’s interest at a later date?
The taxpayers of this country should indicate to the government that this is an obscene plan and they will not be party to it.
Taxpayers’ monies will be spent to help build the hotel. In the initial years, the hotel is not likely to make any money because of the heavy capital investment, but in later years when taxpayers ought to be seeing a return on their investment, we are told that the shares will be sold so that the hotel can be fully private. This cannot be right.

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | December, 2nd, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

 

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Government and GOA sponsors Guyana’s FIBA 3×3 team for AmeriCup in Puerto Rico

Government and GOA sponsors Guyana’s FIBA 3×3 team for...

Dec 11, 2024

-Team departs today Kaieteur Sports- Guyana’s basketball team departed today for San Juan, Puerto Rico, where they will compete in the Americas’ premier 3×3 basketball tournament, the...
Read More
King hits 82, Seales takes 4-22 as West Indies dominate Bangladesh in second ODI to secure series victory

King hits 82, Seales takes 4-22 as West Indies...

Dec 11, 2024

Should the West Indies cricket team play independently?

Should the West Indies cricket team play...

Dec 11, 2024

Fazim Abdool crowned best equipped senior lifter as 19 records shattered

Fazim Abdool crowned best equipped senior lifter...

Dec 11, 2024

Kevin Sinclair 81 not out spearheads Rose Hall Namilco Thunderbolt Flour into BCB/ Madray 20/20 semifinals  

Kevin Sinclair 81 not out spearheads Rose Hall...

Dec 11, 2024

Maggie’s Snackette joins growing list of sponsors

Maggie’s Snackette joins growing list of...

Dec 11, 2024

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]