CEO of Atlantic Hotels Inc Winston Brassington stated that it is a condition of the contract with Shanghai Construction Group – the contractor building the Marriott Hotel – that the labour be from China at least in the first instance and called for the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) to look at the bigger picture.
Brassington was quoted as saying by the Government Information Agency (GINA) that the use of a mostly Chinese labour force to construct the multi-million dollar Marriott Hotel was just one of several conditionalities necessary for the facility’s efficient and speedy construction. He said that the construction company said they could lower their contract cost provided they provided their own labour.
Brassington said that the criticisms by the GTUC about the project’s use of Chinese labour should be put into perspective. He noted that next to the Marriott site, is the Pegasus Hotel, which he said has refused to accede to demands for a workers’ union to represent the staff.
“The more glaring example is where Mr. [Robert] Badal owner of the Pegasus has more or less busted the union; I don’t see the GTUC coming out on that issue,” he added.
Brassington said that despite being put to public tender, only two companies submitted bids for the hotel’s construction. “This was after 23 firms initially indicated their interest and seven were shortlisted,” he said.
He said too that said that Shanghai Construction Group’s initial bid, the lower of the two bidding companies, was US$65M, “but they were able to lower the cost to US$51M with the condition that they are able to control who they employ on the site.”
According to GINA, Shanghai Construction Group said that they had examined the level of skills available for the project as well as the levels of productivity. Brassington added that while the company was asked to employ locals, it was obvious that if the construction of the flagship hotel was to be completed within the specified time, they must have the flexibility of the inputs.
“Despite this, the construction company had to comply with the local laws and norms,” GINA quotes Brassington as saying.
Brassington said that the project will eventually employ over 200 Guyanese “once it opens its doors next year, and these will be the permanent workers.” He noted that the Chinese workers on the site are temporary and will leave once construction is completed.
“The progress has been rapid and given the type of construction, it may be a record of sorts in the field,” GINA quotes Brassington as saying.
He said the issue of productivity and communication would be a cause for concern, stating additionally that the lack of specialised skill needed for the tasks needs to be recognised.
The hotel, when completed will boast 197 rooms, a large ballroom, conference centre, a casino, nightclub, restaurant, a concrete walkway and all other amenities of a world-class hotel.
