Environmental Management Consultants (EMC) has been appointed by the New York-based developers Adam Development/Urbahn Associates Inc. to conduct an environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) for the construction of a US$52 million hotel and casino complex in Kingston.
The main partner of the Ogle-based EMC, Shyam Nokta told Stabroek News that the consultancy was in discussions with the developers to get the scoping exercise and other tasks underway.
The life of the project is expected to be 30 years covering 2010 to 2040 and it expects an annual turnover of US$11 million per year over the first ten years of operation.
Questions have been raised as to how there is no information from the government on who the developers are yet they are being permitted to go ahead and commission the impact assessment. Questions have also been raised about whether Adams has built such structures before. The company has not responded to requests from Stabroek News for information.
The EMC is to mobilise a team of specialists to carry out the necessary environmental and social baseline studies, assess the potential impact of the project and recommend mitigation and management options.
The ESIA is being done in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act No. 11, 1996, under which an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is required before any decision to approve or reject the proposed project is undertaken.
The developers, Adam Development/Urbahn Associates also known as ADUA, from a merger of two companies out of New York, have come together for the construction of the hotel and casino complex. It is a registered company under the laws of Guyana, the project document says. ADUA has applied to the Environmental Protec-tion Agency (EPA) for environmental authorisation to undertake the construction and operation of the hotel and casino.
Pipelines
ADUA has already begun the groundwork for the hotel complex having started work on the diversion of sewage pipelines from the area to another location. The quality of the work done in the laying of the pipelines is currently being questioned by local engineers. The work was executed entirely by expertise brought in by the company. The project engineer had told Stabroek News that the work was more mechanised than labour intensive.
Stabroek News understands that ADUA, which took over the contract for the laying of the pipelines from Courtney Benn Contracting Services Ltd, had been granted an environmental impact assessment waiver because of the necessity of the project.
Even though ADUA has not yet been granted permission to construct the facilities until the ESIA is granted, the company has nevertheless demolished some structures in the area including the former building that housed the Government Food and Drug Analyst Department and the obsolete Luckhoo swimming pool and has levelled the area in anticipation of starting construction by mid-year.
President Bharrat Jagdeo has said that only on the turning of the sod for the construction of the hotel the details would be revealed. He has said that due to confidentiality agreements and until there was financial closure, the details of the project could not be revealed.
The ESIA, which would be conducted by a multi-disciplinary team of experts, will comprise three components – environmental baseline studies, impact identification and assessment and preparing an environmental management plan.
The project ‘Georgetown Marriott – Hotel, Casino and Entertainment Complex’ is expected to serve as the hub for the major eco-tourism launch and promotion currently planned by the Guyana Government and would be managed by the Marriott International, a major US hotel and management and operation company, which the project document says has secured the hotel operations contract related to the property.
Marriott brand
The office with responsibility for international development of Marriott Inter-national Inc. however last week told Stabroek News that nothing has been confirmed with regard to the Marriott International Inc. operating the hotel and casino complex in Guyana.
One observer told this newspaper that the developers are using the Marriott name “to clear the way” for the project to gain acceptance whether or not the Marriott Hotels accept the contract to manage the facilities. Once they get the gambling licence, the EISA approved and the building completed the brand will become unnecessary.
The proposed development covers 6.27 acres of land located in northwest Kingston contiguous to the Atlantic Ocean and the Demerara River next to Le Meridien Pegasus and Battery Road and the Seawall.
The total building area of the hotel, casino and entertainment complex excluding parking is about 185,000 square feet and would cater for a ten-storey building.
The hotel portion of the complex would be about 135,000 square feet consisting of 160 rooms while the casino and entertainment portion would cover 50,000 square feet and be located on three levels.
Among the amenities would be 160 rooms with four suites; hotel, food and beverage outlets; four meeting rooms; recreation facilities including outdoor swimming pool with bar, lounge, mini-stage and exercise room; and facilities for the business traveller.
The casino and entertainment complex will consist of two gaming floors, speciality restaurant, night club and parking.
