A lease has been issued to the Qatar Assets Group Inc. for the development of the US$300 million Georgetown Seafront Resort and Convention Centre on the controversial lands at Carifesta Avenue.
The lands in question encompass the Guyana National Service (GNS) and National Insurance Scheme (NIS) sports grounds, which the City Council claims as municipal property. However, the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC) maintains that the lands are state-owned.
The lease was confirmed by Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh yesterday. In a written response to APNU+AFC Member of Parliament David Patterson, Singh also clarified that no concessional agreements were signed between the government and Qatar Assets Group or its subsidiaries for the use of the grounds. He also stated that the developer has submitted an application for environmental clearance to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).