The Government is still reviewing the operations and financial stability of the Marriott Hotel with a view to determining its future role with the entity.
The Government Infor-mation Agency (GINA) said that this was disclosed by Minister of Tourism Cathy Hughes.
“At this point in time, the government is in the process of having a couple of individuals look at the Marriott, its operations and how it is performing financially, so that we can get a sense of what the government will want to do eventually with the hotel,” Hughes said during an interview at the National Communications Network.
In the months since it has been in office, the government has been mostly silent on what it will do with the intended five star hotel even though pressed by the media.
GINA said Hughes noted that the concerns of the government, while in opposition, was that certain projects should best be left to private investors. “We didn’t feel that taxpayers’ money should pay for the construction of a hotel, that is the job of the private sector. We felt that hotels are ventures that the private sectors are involved in, so that was the main concern,” she explained.
Hughes further stated that the government’s concerns regarding the Marriott should not be misunderstood. “I don’t want people to think that we (government) didn’t think that it was important to have a hotel that raised the bar and standards in the industry,” Hughes said.
GINA added that Hughes, who sees the US$58 million venture as a boost to the country’s hotel and accommodation sector, stated that it is a beautiful hotel, with high standards, and a model for other hotels to strive to achieve and one that is owned by the Government of Guyana.
According to the minister, she had conversations with the Manager of the Marriott and she was told that the hotel is getting a lot of business, hosting various functions and other events.
“Whether the government will make a final decision on whether it is something it would want to sell to a potential investor, whether local or international, or whether we would want to hold on to the Marriott, we are not sure as yet,” Hughes pointed out.
