Either the government or the Qatari group planning a resort along Carifesta Avenue must engage with the city on the necessary studies and applications before approval can be granted, Georgetown Mayor Alfred Mentore declared on Monday.
On Sunday afternoon, the foundation block for the US$300 million Georgetown Seafront Resort and Convention Centre was laid on Carifesta Avenue in a rapidly concluded process which was first revealed in December last year.
The Mayor told Stabroek News on Monday that he does not oppose the initiative by the Qatari company, Assets Group Inc but neither the government nor the company submitted a feasibility study or Environmental Impact Assessment on the project.
“I want to make it clear that we are not anti-developmental as it relates to the project, anything to do with the beautification of the city I will support it but several procedures have to be followed, no one from the government nor the Qatari company submitted a feasibility study nor environmental impact assessment to us, projects like those we have to know if it falls in alignment with the (building code), we have to know which persons residing along that area will be impacted, terrestrial and aquatic life etcetera, so all of these things must be considered”, the City Mayor asserted.
Mentore reminded that the facility will be constructed on what was identified as the Guyana National Service (GNS) and National Insurance Scheme (NIS) grounds, which were meant for educational, recreational and institutional purposes.
The lands were assigned by the estate of Quintin Hogg in 1887 to the city of Georgetown with the covenant that they be used for recreational purposes. This was later amended to allow educational institutions.
According to the Mayor for the project to be fully authorized on the lands which were bequeathed to the city council and not the state, applications must be submitted to institutions such as the Guyana Lands and Survey Commission, the Guyana Land Registry, the High Court etcetera.
“If none of these procedures were followed and we at the city council don’t even have copies of a document stating the intended purposes of the resort, then I don’t think how we could fully support a project that we are not knowledgeable about, as I said already we don’t oppose it but until the government follows the correct procedure then we can honestly say that we welcome the initiative”, he said.
Rules
“The Government must understand that that development is inclusive you cannot speak about national development and not consult the city council of Georgetown, rules are rules”, the Chief Citizen said.
On Monday, the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission released a statement saying that the Carifesta Avenue grounds earmarked for the Qatari resort are held by the state and not the Mayor and City Council.
In a statement, it said that its records show that Lots 1 and 2 of Plantation Thomas were held under Transport number 30 of 1863 by the Colony of British Guiana.
These have since been referred to as Government Lands after 1966. The GLSC said it issued leases on Colony Lands (CLL category) and continues to issue leases on Government Lands now the GLL category. The unique feature is that these lands are held under Transports as against State Lands which are not.
It said that Lot 2 was transferred to Hogg vide Transport in 1886. A portion of land consisting of 15 acres called Non Pareil Park along with two other portions called A and B comprising 18 and 10 areas respectively were later transferred by Hogg to the Mayor and Town Council of Georgetown vide Transport Number 337 of 1887.
“The area basically covered under this Transport extended from Camp (Road) to Vlissingen Road in an East west Direction and the area immediately south of Queen’s College’s southern boundary, to Cummings Canal in a North South Direction. This block of land was save and except Lot C previously held by J.V. Caetano and which was acquired for the construction of Irving Street, the residual being fenced into the Guyana Public Service premises now.
“The area retained by Government covered the entire area to the North of the grounds on the Northern side of Woolford Avenue from Camp (Road) to Vlissingen Road up to the Sea wall (basically from Queen’s College to the sea wall)”, it asserted.
On Monday, the Mayor also referenced the swift erection of a green galvanized sheeting fence on the GNS and NIS grounds and a depiction of what the hotel and convention centre will look like once built.
He said in a civil society where municipal laws are to be respected no citizen can erect a fence or any structure on public spaces without the consent of the city council and the government is not exempt from this municipal stricture.
Break down
“If I ask my City Engineer to go right now and break down the fence you will hear that the mayor is anti-developmental and doesn’t want the city to progress, but my point is rules are rules, the government cannot just do whatever it pleases”, Mentore declared.
While noting that litigation is his last resort, the Chief Citizen said on Monday at the Guyana Energy Conference and Exposition at the Guyana Marriott Hotel that he met with President Irfaan Ali and engaged in brief discussions on the matter.
He said when the issue was raised President Ali vowed that the government would hold further discussions with the Mayor and City Council on the project.
Mentore also expressed disappointment at the fact that he and other representatives of the city council were not invited to the ground-breaking ceremony of the Georgetown Seafront Resort and Convention Centre. At least one PPP/C city councillor was present.
The Mayor said he is holding the Head of the State to his word as it relates to meaningful consultations on the proposed state-of-the-art facility.
“The President and I had brief conversations on the project at the energy expo and conference. His words were that he knows that we will support. I told him we cannot support something that we don’t know of, and on that note, he promised to do so, and I will hold him to his word on that”, Mentore related.
President of Power International Holding, Ramez Al-Khayyat on Sunday told Stabroek News that Assets Group was the sole investor in the landmark Georgetown Seafront Convention Centre.
He said that due to the conducive business climate here, Assets Group was motivated to invest in a project which would be beneficial to citizens.
During his remarks at the groundbreaking ceremony, the businessman said that what will emerge is a five-star development with a unique design and outstanding facilities which will have a total of 76,000 square metres of built-up area.
“This development will offer 260 hotel rooms and suites, 150 service apartments for long stay and premium villas, a members club, retail units which will offer international food and beverages and high luxury fashion brands,” he stated.
Al-Khayyat said that the project is also expected to accommodate a state-of-the-art health club and will contribute significantly to Guyana’s tourism sector.
