The Mayor of Georgetown, Alfred Mentore yesterday told a City Council meeting that he will formally write to Qatari investors, Assets Group, informing them of the ongoing land dispute over the site earmarked for the proposed US$300 million hotel along Carifesta Avenue.
At yesterday’s statutory meeting, Mentore sought the Council’s approval to send the letter, emphasising the need to directly engage the investors before taking legal action. The request was put to a vote, and by a majority decision the Council agreed that the Mayor—not the Town Clerk—should write to Assets Group.
Earlier this month, the Council had issued an ultimatum to the Government, demanding a response to its concerns over the land. Mentore had previously warned that failure to address the issue would result in legal action. However, at yesterday’s meeting, he revealed that based on legal advice, the investor should first be notified before court proceedings are initiated.
“Before we even proceed to Court, as a Council, we need to write to the other party that is getting involved in this transaction. Outside of government, the Qatar investors will need to be written to and made aware that the Council’s position still stands—that the dispute is still alive,” Mentore stated.
The Mayor expressed frustration over the lack of engagement from the Government, pointing out that despite multiple attempts to initiate discussions, no meaningful dialogue has occurred.
The City Council has long contended that the land, located at Lots 1 and 2 of Plantation Thomas Lands, was gifted to the Municipality in 1887 by former plantation owners for recreational purposes. In contrast, the Guyana Lands and Surveys Com-mission (GLSC) asserts that the land has been state property since 1966.
In February 2024, Mentore presented the 30-member Council with a copy of a Land Transport document from the National Archives, which he says confirms municipal ownership. Despite this, the Government maintains that the land belongs to the State and has proceeded with leasing it to Qatar’s Assets Group for hotel development.
Last November, in a written response to APNU+AFC Member of Parliament David Patter-son, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance and the Public Service, Dr. Ashni Singh, said that a lease had been issued to Assets Group. He clarified that no concessional agreements were signed between the Government and the investor and that the developer had applied for environmental clearance from the Environmental Protec-tion Agency.
In August 2024, Hilton Hotels announced that the site would house two of its brands—the Hilton Georgetown and the DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Georgetown—marking the company’s first properties in Guyana.
The project, dubbed the Georgetown Seafront Resort and Convention Centre, is expected to include a 260-room luxury hotel, 150 serviced apartments, and world-class conference facilities. The Government has promoted the initiative as a major boost to the tourism industry, emphasizing job creation and economic benefits.
However, despite a symbolic groundbreaking ceremony in February 2024, construction has yet to begin.
