AFC threatens sanctions for Marriott Hotel project if it forms next Gov’t

[www.inewsguyana.com] –The Alliance For Change (AFC) says among its first order of business “if it forms the next Government” would be to revisit, review and if necessary impose sanctions on the Marriott Hotel agreement between the government and Atlantic Hotels.

According to the AFC, government has gone all out in making provisions only in the interest of the Company and not the Guyanese people.

“With a 10 year tax holiday, Marriott Hotel would be paying no corporate tax, no withholding tax, no property tax, no tax on consumables and capital renewal for ten years!” a media release from the AFC stated.

The Party emphasized the uneven playing field local hoteliers are being forced to compete in, which will place them in a highly disadvantageous and uncompetitive position.

“By contrast local businesses in the hotel industry have no such concessions. In fact local hoteliers, the bedrock of this industry, have contributed to the national economy for years and have invested substantial sums in their businesses even with long term bank financing.”

The Party is maintaining that the Marriott Hotel will not be creating employment for Guyanese since it has commenced its attempts to steal employees of other hotels by, “offering more than 50% hike in salary. This hike in salary is being charged to the Guyanese taxpayers as are the salaries of Marriott’s entire expatriate executive management team.”

“In fact, the obscenity is made even worse when taxes are deducted from Guyanese workers before they even receive their salaries and companies are hounded by GRA to pay Vat and all sort of taxes when Marriott Hotels is exempted.‎”

The Party maintains that the agreement borders on fraud and is totally anti-Guyanese.