Either the government or the Qatari group planning a resort along Carifesta Avenue must engage with the city on the necessary studies and applications before approval can be granted, Georgetown Mayor Alfred Mentore declared on Monday.
On Sunday afternoon, the foundation block for the US$300 million Georgetown Seafront Resort and Convention Centre was laid on Carifesta Avenue in a rapidly concluded process which was first revealed in December last year.
The Mayor told Stabroek News on Monday that he does not oppose the initiative by the Qatari company, Assets Group Inc but neither the government nor the company submitted a feasibility study or Environmental Impact Assessment on the project.
“I want to make it clear that we are not anti-developmental as it relates to the project, anything to do with the beautification of the city I will support it but several procedures have to be followed, no one from the government nor the Qatari company submitted a feasibility study nor environmental impact assessment to us, projects like those we have to know if it falls in alignment with the (building code), we have to know which persons residing along that area will be impacted, terrestrial and aquatic life etcetera, so all of these things must be considered”, the City Mayor asserted.
Mentore reminded that the facility will be constructed on what was identified as the Guyana National Service (GNS) and National Insurance Scheme (NIS) grounds, which were meant for educational, recreational and institutional purposes.
The lands were assigned by the estate of Quintin Hogg in 1887 to the city of Georgetown with the covenant that they be used for recreational purposes. This was later amended to allow educational institutions.
According to the Mayor for the project to be fully authorized on the lands which were bequeathed to the city council and not the state, applications must be submitted to institutions such as the Guyana Lands and Survey Commission, the Guyana Land Registry, the High Court etcetera.