‘Unpatriotic negativism’ hurting tourism sector- Minister Ali

TIMES INT'L

With a set 18 month completion time for the US$54M Sun & Sands Hotel, Acting Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Mr. Irfaan Ali, has noted that international recognition of Guyana’s tourism potential is overshadowed by “unpatriotic negativism.”

Minister Ali made this comment on Wednesday during the sod turning ceremony for the 290,000 square foot five-star luxury hotel to be constructed at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown. Present at the ceremony were President Donald Ramotar, Minister Ali, and Director of the Sun and Sand Group of Companies, Mr. Bhushan Chandra, as well as other notable public officials and members of the diplomatic corps.

Coming on the wings of Guyana’s recognition by renowned broadcast entities: the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Discovery Channel and the History Channel, Minister Ali noted that the country is presented with an opportune time for realising the importance of the tourism sector to the economy.

Responding to a published comment of an undisclosed private sector member, the minister asserted, “You cannot be patriotic or care about national development when you are not concerned about promoting Guyana in a positive light, [especially] when the only thing that resides on your mind is to have a negative headline every morning.”

Recognition of this fact, minister Ali mentioned, has seen Jamaica securing a vibrant tourism industry with the help of its media that clearly “understands the importance of safeguarding their country.”

In the case of Guyana, the Minister continued, “We sometimes shatter ourselves with the unpatriotic negativism [especially] from some sections of the media.” Ali underscored that there is an important role which the media play in ensuring that positive reflections are made to boost investor and business confidence.

The Tourism Minister stressed that there should be increased efforts of ensuring the defence of “transformational projects that are critical for the tourism sector,” he added, “[because] you would never hear a word … about this type of journalism that injures the sector more than anything else.”

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