Mayor of Georgetown, Alfred Mentore, has confirmed that no meeting has yet taken place between the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) and Qatar Assets Group regarding the disputed Carifesta Avenue lands.
Speaking to Sta-broek News on Tues-day, Mentore attributed the delay to scheduling conflicts and expressed uncertainty about whether the meeting will proceed.
The land, which has been the subject of controversy, was addressed in Parliament on Monday. In a written response to Opposition MP David Patterson, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, confirmed that the Carifesta Avenue lands have been leased to Qatar Assets Group. Singh clarified that no concessional agreements were signed between the government and Qatar Assets Group or its subsidiaries. He further disclosed that the developer has applied for environmental clearance from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
When asked if he was aware of these developments, Mentore stated that he had only recently been informed of what was revealed in Parliament.
The dispute over the ownership of the land dates back to June when the M&CC attempted to host a statutory meeting to facilitate a presentation by Qatar Assets Group. At the time, Mentore asserted that the council held title to the land, but this claim was disputed by the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC).
In September, Mentore called for urgent discussions with the government and Qatar Assets Group to clarify the project’s direction. However, no meeting has since occurred.
Asked by Stabroek News about the council’s future involvement in the matter, Mentore requested more time to assess the situation and determine how the M&CC and the government will proceed.
On August 28th this year, the Hilton hotel group in a press release heralded the signing of the dual brand Hilton Georgetown and DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Georgetown, as the company’s first hotels in Guyana and intended for Carifesta Avenue.
Operated by an affiliate of the Qatar-based Assets Group and managed by Hilton, the properties’ combined 411 rooms will form part of an oceanfront, mixed-use business and entertainment complex in the capital.
“We believe in investing in Guyana, a country poised for significant growth and a promising future in tourism and hospitality,” said Moutaz Al Khayyat, chairman, Assets Group. “Our choice to debut in this emerging market reflects our commitment to investing in high-potential destinations and our confidence in Guyana’s trajectory. These properties are meticulously designed to offer a diversity of high-end experiences.”