The first phase of works to construct the 13-storey Pasha Global Hotel in Georgetown is officially underway.
The beginning of construction for the hotel that will have up to 500 rooms was marked with a sod- turning ceremony yesterday. The hotel is being constructed by Suriname’s Pasha Global and Blue Bridge Inc.
Lalit Sharma, Blue Bridge Inc project director, said the first phase – which is the construction of 150 rooms – should be completed by 2024 and its second phase – which will see the addition of 350 rooms – by the end of 2025. Sharma says the hotel will become the tallest building in Georgetown and will be able to accommodate 1000 persons at the same time.
The Pattensen, East Coast Demerara location where the Pasha hotel is being built was initially earmarked for the new Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) HQ but it was later assigned to Blue Bridge.
According to Sanket Balgi, Blue Bridge Assets Director, the cost of the hotel is estimated to be between US$40 and US$45 million. At least 800 jobs will become available once the hotel is completed and 1500 indirect jobs.
“We will need skilled people,” Balgi said as he encouraged persons to take advantage of the government’s GOAL scholarship programme that can see them attaining a degree in the hospitality sector.
Meanwhile, Peter Ramsaroop, the CEO of G-Invest noted that many persons are questioning why so many hotels are being built in the city, but said it was estimated that over 2000 new rooms are needed in the next three years. As it is now, he says, large delegations are unable to stay at the same hotel together and this needs to be addressed as it is government’s plan to have every sector in Guyana boom.
Similarly, Oneidge Walrond, the Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, noted that there is shortage of hotel rooms in the country.
In his remarks, President Irfaan Ali said that the investment will create a lot of the demand in the next two to three years. Ali disclosed that the government intends to train 6,000 Guyanese in the hospitality industry.
“So, when all these hotels are ready to open their doors in the next two to three years, we’ll have 6,000 persons ready to take up these jobs,” he said.
He says, the government intends to make Guyana a destination of choice for financial services.
He also disclosed that the government is actively pursuing an investor to develop a world class eco-resort. According to Ali, several investors have already expressed interest and the Minister of Tourism is assessing those.
“We want to launch Guyana as a powerhouse and to promote Guyana as a premier destination for wellness centres,” he said. He noted that the wellness sector is among the fastest growing in the world and Guyana will take advantage of this as the country has the natural capability to build a successful sector in this area.
In addition to that, there are plans to create is a 500-acre rainforest safari on the Linden/Soesdyke highway.
“This is no guess work. This is strategic thinking and planning. It is outside the realm of oil and gas. It is about positioning Guyana into new, transformative areas,” he said.
The Pasha Global Group, with its headquarter in Paramaribo, Suriname, was founded in 2003. Its website said that it is a dynamic casino investment company that is developing and operating Hotels & Casinos in various countries.
In addition to being part of existing casino management contracts, its website said that the Pasha Global Group is also aiming to raise capital funds for a carefully researched portfolio for investing in lucrative markets.
