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City Mayor to write Qatari investors about dispute over Carifesta Avenue lands
Kaieteur News- City Mayor Alfred Mentore has announced a decision taken by the Georgetown Council to write to the Qatari Investors informing them of the dispute over the land that was promised to them for a seafront hotel development by the Irfaan Ali Government.
Mayor of Georgetown, Alfred Mentore
Mentore made this announcement on Tuesday at a statutory meeting of the Georgetown councillors. “The decision was taken that I would write the Qataris on behalf of the Council informing them of the ongoing dispute over the Carifesta Avenue and Thomas property. The objective is to let them know where the Council stands on the issue and that we are standing our ground as it relates to the ownership of the property,” Mentore said.
Last year, the dispute over the prime property located at Carifesta Avenue and Thomas Lands, Georgetown erupted after it was announced that the Government of Guyana had allocated it to Qatari investors to construct a US$300M seafront hotel. Mayor Mentore has since written to President Irfaan Ali about the dispute over ownership. Mentore had given the president seven days to respond failing which he said the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) would have determined whether moving to the court is the best way to resolve the matter.
However so far, the ongoing dispute between the Georgetown council and central government over the ownership of the property has not yielded adequate response and no court case has been filed. In an invited comment with this newspaper following the meeting on Tuesday, the Mayor said that he believes writing to the Qataris is the next best thing, since he believes they would want to be in the know about such matters. “I have received the unanimous support from the council with regard to writing the Qatari as I believe it is imperative that they know the issue at hand and that there is a possibility that the project hangs in the balance,” he explained.
The Mayor and City Council has made it clear that the property was gifted to the City of Georgetown for recreational purposes by former plantation owners in 1887. The said land was being used by the National Insurance Scheme (NIS). During a previous statutory meeting, Mentore circulated a transport that purports to show Council’s ownership of the prime waterfront property to the over 30 councillors present at the meeting. He noted that the Council was kept in the dark as it relates to the plan to develop a hotel even though it holds a transport to the property. “I have spoken to my lawyers and have been advised. I am giving the President the courtesy of time to respond in writing or invite me to have a discussion in person. Based on what the response is, I will decide whether the matter goes before Council,” Mentore had vowed several months ago.
The Qatari Investors are expected to pay G$2B for the prime lands, the Guyana Office for Investment (GOINVEST) had disclosed last year. GOINVEST had signed a memorandum of Understanding with Assets Group, a subsidiary of Power International Holding (PIH) with an expected completion date of March 1st, 2026. The Hotel will house 260 rooms and suites, 150 serviced apartments which will include branded residences and premium villas.
(City Mayor to write Qatari investors about dispute over Carifesta Avenue lands)
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