President Ali announces plan to build world class museum at D’Urban Park

Jun 28, 2025 News

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…as King’s Hotel unveils spanking new edifice

Kaieteur News – At the corner of Waterloo and Quamina Streets, Georgetown stands a spanking new nine-storey edifice that exudes luxury, excellence and comfort.

The new building dubbed Jewelz by King’s Hotel opened its doors officially on Friday during a simple ceremony and cocktail reception attended by the several dignitaries including President Irfaan Ali who announced plans to bolster Guyana’s hospitality sector with world class museum at D’Urban Park.

“To support this[hotel] investment very soon you will see an ad in the newspaper for a new world class museum, it already identified for an area that most of you believe is an eye sore close to my office… We are going to put that magnificent new museum to celebrate who we are and the city will soon be linked to the new Silica City,” President Ali stated.

Meanwhile, in his address to the gathering at the opening ceremony, the Head-of-State lauded the hotel as a powerful testament of one family’s belief in nationhood.  The hotel has been described as a remarkable new addition to Guyana’s hospitality and tourism landscape.  

Jewelz by King’s Hotel is a modern building with a sleek design that boasts over 60 rooms. The landmark property which once housed the operations of the Waterchris Hotel is poised to enhance the tourism and hospitality industry.

The President said proprietor of Kings Jewellery World, Looknauth Persaud and his family have shown true patriotism by investing their time, resources, and talent in Guyana.

“This family without oil and gas contributed significantly to the development of Guyana, but more importantly to the positioning of Guyana when we were little known on the world stage; we were still known for King’s Jewellery. When we were little known; every cricketer still wanted a King’s Cricket Band and that tells you something deeper than what you see here today. That tells you about a group of people who are thinkers, innovators, builders, and that is what I want us to applaud today,” President said.

He emphasized therefore that Jewelz by King’s Hotel should be viewed as not just a family achievement but an accomplishment for Guyana.

“If we try to narrow this as at his family achievement, we will be doing an immense disservice to the sacrifices, time and investment of this family; they did it for the advancement and development of this country,” the Head-of-State asserted.

Proprietor of the King’s Hotel chain, Looknauth Persaud expressed excitement at the prospect of the new facility.

He said, “This chapter in King’s Hotel history makes a significant milestone in our community, team and hospitality industry. We are thrilled to have you here at this momentous occasion.”

Reflecting on his entrepreneurial journey from goldsmith to jeweller and now hotelier, Mr. Persaud told the gathering that this new accomplishment is a testament of his family’s enduring dedication to showcase Guyanese ingenuity and excellence.

“As a jeweller, I am proud to say that we have led this country from the time, we opened our very first branch and that we have continued to grow with many successes. We have five gemologists within our [jewellery] store. I don’t think anywhere in the world, they have five certified gemologists in house,” Persaud said.

The Guyanese businessman said that Jewelz, the newest addition to the King’s Hotel chain holds many memories for him.

“This is where the Waterchris Hotel once stood, I, like many of you, attended many dinners, luncheons and meetings here,” Persaud reflected as he declared his new hotel will serve as a place where memories will be made, experiences will unfold where guest will feel welcomed and pampered in luxury and comfort.

According to him, the new establishment is already receiving a number of accommodation requests from various associations.

“I can already see the future of this hotel being a great place.”

The businessman lauded the efforts of his children Harrinand Persaud and Renata Persaud who served as visionaries in bringing the hotel project to life.

Managing Director of Jewelz by King’s Hotel, Renata Persaud said that her family ventured into the project as a direct response to a request for more accommodation by President Irfaan Ali in 2020.

Since then, she said that her family has worked relentlessly on creating a space which showcased the detail, excellence, luxury, and comfort that King’s brand is known for.

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• Durban Park, Guyana Museum, Jewelz by King’s Hotel, President Irfaan Ali

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