| Despite not yet totally sealing the deal with investors, government said that it felt confident, based on negotiations, to have gone ahead with the construction of the US$51M Marriott Hotel.Construction is on full steam at the Kingston site, next door to the Pegasus Hotel, but there have been questions over the investors.The Chinese contractor, Shanghai Construction Group (SCG), has also come under fire in recent days after investigations by Kaieteur News found that no locals were employed in the construction phase.Yesterday, Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, insisting that there is no secret about the hotel, said that Government went ahead with construction without details of the investors known. He said that discussions were far advanced with investors.Alluding to Atlantic Hotel Inc. (AHI), a government-owned company established to manage the project, Singh said that discussions were well advanced regarding the issue of financing also.Disclosures regarding details of the investors will continue to be a sensitive issue until the project is finalized, he stressed.However, Government remains committed to disclosing details with the Parliamentary opposition parties behind closed doors pending the completion of the deal.The Minister, during a press conference at the NCN studios yesterday, was at pains to point out that the project will have several multiplying and ancillary benefits generated when completed.On Friday, AHI’s Chief Executive Officer, Winston Brassington, in an exclusive interview with the state’s news agency, said that the use of a mostly Chinese labour force to construct the multi-million-dollar Marriott Hotel was just one of several conditionalities necessary for the facility’s efficient and speedy construction.Brassington, who has been under fire as head of NICIL/Privatisation Unit, which manages Government assets, explained that SCG won the bid to construct from 23 other firms.Initially, the price was US$65M,Cheap Jerseys USA, “but they were able to lower the cost to US$51M with the condition that they be able to control who they employ on the site,” the release said Friday.In defending SCG’s decision to hire Chinese nationals, Brassington said that the company indicated that “(it) had examined the level of skills available for the project as well as the levels of productivity.”Brassington added that while the company was asked to employ locals,Cheap NFL Jerseys Supply, it was obvious that if the construction of the flagship hotel was to be completed within the specified time,Cheap NHL Jerseys, there must be the flexibility of the inputs.Despite this, the construction company had to comply with the local laws and norms, Brassington said. “For example, even though all of these workers have come by plane and will be here for the duration of the contract they have to pay NIS and PAYE, so in that way we’re not creating a playing field where they are given any preference over local employment.”Once Marriott opens its doors, it will eventually employ over 200 Guyanese, Brassington said, and these will be the permanent workers.The official also said that the issue of productivity and communication had been a cause for concern along with the lack of specialised skills needed for the tasks.The hotel,Wholesale Jerseys Cheap, when completed will boast 197 rooms,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, a large ballroom, conference centre, a casino,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, nightclub, restaurant, a concrete walkway and all other amenities of a world-class hotel.However, the casino, nightclub and restaurant will be leased to a third party which will manage them separately. |
