Durrant Pate/Contributor
Guyanese President Irfaan Ali is seeking to convince the Jamaican-based all-inclusive resort chain, Sandals, to build an eco-tourism hotel in the South American Caribbean territory, which is currently experiencing an oil boom.
On the weekend, President Ali hosted Sandals Executive Chairman, Adam Stewart, speaking of his desire for have a Sandals eco-friendly hotel in Guyana, noting that the local private sector is ready to invest an initial US$15 million in such a venture.
“You will be doing your brand a great disservice if you don’t have the bold capacity that I know your brand carries to make the best possible investment decision Sandals has ever made and that decision is to work with our private sector as partners in creating Sandals’ number one eco-destination, all-inclusive resort here in Guyana. I can assure you that none will come close to you,” Ali told Stewart.
Before Dr Ali addressed the formal opening of CAMS Motors, a joint venture that includes Stewart’s ATL Automotive, the Jamaican businessman confirmed that the Guyanese leader was lobbying him to enter the hospitality sector, something he has not ruled out.
“As I arrived here, we were here to sell cars, but the president reminded me that one of these days we need to build a hotel down here, and I want to follow suit…That’s not a public service announcement just yet. It’s a we love the idea of it,” Stewart told Demerara News in Guyana.
Stewart is also the Executive Chairman of ATL Group which includes ATL Automotive, which is part owner in CAMS Motors. The President indicated that Guyana has been in talks with Sandals for about one year now, when he had floated the idea of Sandals investing in Guyana’s hotel sector. Dr Ali said more than 14 hotels have been built by Guyana’s private sector in recent time.
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