Sleep-In Hotel did not get a single unusual concession

Dear Editor,
I have seen the article headlined “MoU between PPP/C Government and Sleep-In secured Concessions Galore’ on October 13, 2017. The impression given is that the MoU offered more generous concessions than was the norm.
I wish to state categorically that Sleep-In Hotel did not get a single concession that was not available for the type of investment it was making.
The main aspect of that MoU was that the recipient of the concession had to   construct a hotel with not less than 150 rooms.
The reason for this was stated many times before. It was part of our strategy in developing and promoting tourism.  Creating jobs for our people and diversifying our economy.
Mr Clifton Bacchus has delivered on those conditions and is, therefore, entitled to the concessions. The Sleep-In Hotel employs a large number of Guyanese. It could do much more in employment and revenue generation if the APNU regime was more investor-friendly.

I have spoken to Mr Clifton Bacchus, the owner of Sleep-In, and he assured me that all the materials used for construction of the hotel were made in Guyana; this includes furnishings, etc. In the process, he created jobs for hundreds of other Guyanese and created tax revenues in the millions for our treasury.
I am proud that this investment began under my presidency. It holds out great benefits to our whole country.
Some media houses would be serving a much better purpose if they encouraged investment instead of attempting to disparage them. Our country would advance further and faster.

Sincerely,
Donald Ramotar
Former President