City Mayor Alfred Mentore during a statutory meeting yesterday, addressed the planned building of a hotel by a Qatari inves-tor on the National Insurance Scheme and Guyana National Service grounds, located on Cari-festa Avenue, Thomas Lands.
He stated that the lands are meant for educational, recreational and institutional purposes.
“I have read some news items and articles speaking towards who has ownership and who has authority and dominion over those properties I have commissioned a research and I have asked certain persons to be able to provide the necessary information so that when that information comes we will maybe be able to have a statutory meeting and treat with that particular item”, he said.
He stated that the commercial venture that is being looked at currently has to involve the City Council.
Back in December 2023 this newspaper reported that a company out of Qatar had expressed interest in building a boardwalk along the seawall area, north of Carifesta Avenue with works set to begin this year. During his announcement last year, Presi-dent Irfaan Ali said, “We’ll see the Urban Renewal Plan which involves building of the massive hotel, conference and entertainment facility along Carifesta, commencing next year. These are investments from a Qatari Group. A massive facility that will commence next year,”
Last week, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo stated that the president had dealt with this in great detail before “The Presi-dent dealt with this. This is some of the lands there along Carifesta Avenue; the GNS Complex [ground] and stuff.” He added that he does not believe that the St Stanislaus ground will be included.
When President Ali announced the Qatari hotel project, there was uncertainty regarding its exact location due to limited space available in the area. The decision to allocate these two grounds for the hotel has sparked concerns about the reduction of recreational space.
Mentore stated that depending on the findings of their investigation, the council will determine its course of action on the issue. They anticipate engaging in meaningful discussions once they receive the relevant information.
“We know those properties were granted to us (the city) by the Hogg family and the naming it of Thomas Lands, I would have seen transports which shows that it is in the name of the Mayor and City Council”.
He added that until information proves otherwise, the matter will be dealt with at the level of the council.
