Maintaining that the Opposition supports investment in the country, Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton on Thursday said the People’s National Congress, will not support questionable investments such as the US$300M Qatari Hotel deal.

Two weeks ago, the Government and a Qatari investment group two ago broke ground for the multi-million US dollars investment.

However, there is already a dispute over the rightful owners of the Carifesta Avenue land, where the hotel is to be built.

The Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has already asserted ownership of the land that the Government has earmarked for the project without any consultation with the municipality.

At his weekly press conference, the Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton said the transaction reeks of executive lawlessness and a lack of transparency.

“Jagdeo and the PPP continue to be deluded that the country is their private estate to dispose of without public and stakeholder consultation, proper planning, and compliance with the law. In discussing the Qatari deal at his last Press Conference, Jagdeo accused the Opposition of criticizing every good PPP idea. Let us be crystal clear: we, on behalf of the Guyanese people, will persist in opposing every half-baked or ill-conceived public project and, equally, every instance of government corruption, secrecy, unaccountability, mismanagement, and dictatorship,” Mr. Nortons said today. 

According to the Opposition Leader, the Qatari Hotel deal is the subject of a legitimate dispute between the Government and the Georgetown City Council regarding ownership of the land in question. 2

Outside of the ownership dispute, he noted that legitimate concerns have also been voiced about the best use for the land, in addition to the questionable Government practice of covertly handpicking developers.

“The situation as it stands is bad for the political and business climate of the country. Not only have Central government and Georgetown municipality relations worsened, but the country’s image as an investment destination suffers when good governance is undermined by the VP’s shady dealings from his living room,” the Opposition Leader stated.

Mr. Norton said legitimate concerns raised by persons are not being taken into consideration by the Government. He said from the initial stage, the Government should have met with the City Council to come up with a plan before moving forward. 

He said the Opposition will not stand idly by and watch the Government bulldoze green spaces in the name of investments.

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