Dear Editor,
I am delighted to see the long trumpeted Guyana Marriott Hotel fructify this week. It provides many opportunities and not a few dangers for Guyana.
On the positive side, Marriott Hotels are in 70 countries worldwide, including Barbados, Jamaica and Haiti. The Marriott is an international prestige brand, so the new hotel will bring publicity to Guyana and should boost the tourist industry which needs pump priming. Up to a thousand Guyanese will get employment, directly (hotel staff at all levels) and indirectly (individual farmers and food companies). The door is open for development.
There are precedents. When the new stadium was opened at Providence, the cynics (including me – Mair Culpa) and politicians said it would be a white elephant, but it is now the pride of Guyana, hosting sporting, musical and other events weekly.
Given the levels of cynicism in Guyana, no doubt the same will be said about the Marriott.
But tell that to the hundreds of Guyanese who will get jobs and put food on the table for their families, because of the Marriott!
The government, having largely financed this exciting new project, now has to make it work for the country in the medium and long term well beyond the May 11 General Election.
Guyana has missed too many opportunity boats in the past.
Yours faithfully,
John ‘Bill Cotton/Reform’ Mair
