Marriott contractor eyes August 2014 for hotel opening

Managers of the rapidly rising Georgetown Marriott at Kingston told President Donald Ramotar on Wednesday that they are aiming to complete the structure of the hotel by April month-end and the project would be ready for commissioning by August 2014.

President Ramotar was amazed at the rate of progress of construction since his last site visit three months ago, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported. The president toured the 10-storey facility in the company of Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Zhang Limin; Shanghai Construction Group (SCG) officials and their local counterparts, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh and Public Works Minister Robeson Benn.
The 197-room hotel, overlooking the breezy Atlantic Ocean, will boast a large ballroom, conference centre, a casino, entertainment complex, restaurant, concrete walkway, swimming pool, sport facilities, and all other amenities of a world-class hotel. The night club and casino are on the western end of the hotel, while the ballroom is on the eastern end.
There are about 60 rooms on each floor, with the presidential suite on the 10th and final floor. Note was taken of the unique safety features the Chinese have utilised in the construction process, which are common in mainland China, and supplement efforts at promoting speed and efficiency.
Deputy Project Manager Xu Jei was happy to report that there have been no accidents on the project. He said local suppliers of concrete blocks, lumber, sand, gravel, and cement have also been delivering on demand.
The use of Chinese labour to construct the hotel was the topic of much criticism and protest demonstrations that were largely influenced by a vengeful opposition political agenda to undermine the project. The Chinese ambassador had recently called on the media to be cautious of the type of media coverage that has been the norm on the project and Guyana/ China relations.
Great possibilities
During the visit to the site, the ambassador reiterated his call for caution and the willingness of SCG to answer queries the media may have, once permission is granted for such information to be divulged.
But with security, waste disposal and other services sourced locally and plans next year to contract qualified and professional local subcontractors for drainage and other necessities, the SGC is rebutting the notion that local labour is being negated.
The SCG’s deputy project manager told President Ramotar during talks Wednesday that the company is of the firm belief that the project has actually contributed to employment opportunities locally. The project had its genesis in December 2009 when a Letter of Intent was executed between Atlantic Hotel Inc and Marriott, and is important for Guyana’s economy, particularly the tourism sector, President Ramotar said.
“We have great possibilities for making the tourism sector a major contributor to the economy of our country, and you know that our government has been constantly focusing on broadening the base of our economy that was too narrowly dependent on a few products,” President Ramotar said.
In its pursuit to gain prominence in the tourism and hospitality sector, Guyana needs to acquire skills that can only be facilitated through training, President Ramotar stressed. He also used the occasion to laud the support of the Chinese government to the project and their fruitful relationship with Guyana over the last 40 years. (GINA)