|
The leasing of more than six acres of lands at Kingston for the US$60M Marriott-branded hotel is above board, a government agency in charge of investments has said.According to a statement from the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL/Privatization Unit (PU), the lease rate is the same price of $1.00 per square foot (plus VAT) charged from tenants of the Eccles and Coldingen Industrial Estates, all being properties owned and managed by NICIL.An artist sketch of the US$60M Marriott Hotel in Kingston.Atlantic Holdings Inc (AHI),Chris Leroux Canada Jersey, a creation of NICIL is making an investment of US$60M for the development of the said property. (This) is one of the largest investments on any land in Georgetown, said the statement.A few days ago, Desmond Trotman, a Parliamentarian for the A Partnership For National Unity,Authentic NFL Jerseys Wholesale China, moved to the court to block the transfer of the land.“There has been no secrecy or sinister motive behind the lease agreement for the 6.886 acres of land upon which the Marriott is being built. In June 2012, NICIL submitted to the National Assembly, the Marriott Contract, AHI’s Tax Agreement and the Agreement to Lease, dated 28th January 2010, between NICIL and AHI, in response to questions raised in Parliament about the project. These agreements have all been in the public domain for over a year,” the release said yesterday.“Following the above, the Government held a debate on the Marriott Project,Carlos Teran Italy Jersey, which, part of the Opposition participated in. The issue of lease charge was never raised.”NICIL/PU, a state agency which has time and again come under fire for the handling of government’s privatisation proceeds, said that the Government has always said that it remains open to making presentations to the opposition on this project, in a manner similar to the Amaila Hydro Project.“In all aspects of the project,Daniel Descalso Italy Jersey, NICIL has publicly advertised for interested parties (to date at least five different advertisements have been issued); these include seeking investors, seeking the contractor, seeking the supervision firm, and seeking parties to operate the Entertainment Complex.”NICIL/PU explained that the administration has on many occasions issued concessionary lease rates where there is substantial capital investment on the said property and significant positive developmental benefits- the objective being to encourage investment,Dalton Pompey Canada Jersey, employment, and income generation.“The terms and rate of the lease are the same as those issued to a private developer over 10 years ago for the said property. The developer withdrew in 2009, following the US financial crisis of 2008.”The statement also said that AHI and NICIL have pursued the development of this project in an open and transparent manner.“The Marriott Hotel Project has huge developmental benefits including the creation of over 250 jobs for Guyanese, once completed, and the establishment of a modern,jerseys nfl wholesale, world class branded hotel that will support the expansion of Guyana’s travel and tourism sector.”The project has been under fire for its secrecy with no official word on the private investors. There have also been criticisms on the use of government funds to invest in the project. |
|