Qatari Hotel should not be built in Thomas Lands

Apr 18, 2026 Letters

Dear Editor,

As far as I have read, that area in Georgetown called Thomas Lands was bequeathed with the sole intention that the place be used for education and sports.

That is why Thomas Lands might have the most sports fields per capita than any other place in the world. There are also several schools as well.

Having said this, I humbly ask Mayor Alfred Mentore and the Georgetown City Council (no matter what their affiliation) to do the right thing and stop the Qatari Hotel project.

Likewise, I ask the Guyana government to lay off Thomas Lands.

Guyana is a huge country so the Qataris can be gifted another parcel of land to build their luxury hotel someplace else.

I have a sinking feeling that if the Qataris succeed with their hotel venture, they will cordon off that area of the seawall and create their own man-made beach for their guests.

I seem to recall that, one upon a time, the beaches in Barbados were owned and/or controlled by the hotels and locals were not allowed on the beaches near those premises. The locals could not even take a short cut along the beaches, they had to walk around on the public roads.

It was when the great politician, Mr. Errol Barrow, was elected as Prime Minister of Barbados in the 1960’s that he nationalised the beaches thereby anyone can have access to the beaches of their own country.

If we remember, prior to the Cuban revolution led by Fidel Castro and Ernesto “Che” Guevara, Cuba was referred to as America’s playground. Local Cuban women were treated as chattels by these foreigners.

There is a scene about this in the movie “The Godfather – Part 2”.

Do we want to become the playground of the rich and famous?

When will our politicians stand up and do the right thing?

Sham Rahman Mohammed

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Letters, Sham Rahman Mohammed, Thomas Lands

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