AFTER remaining mum for a few days following news reports in sections of the media, the Celina Atlantic Resort on the Kitty foreshore responded yesterday, denying that their construction workers had been arrested and the entity had damaged a section of the sea defence.A representative of the resort yesterday also denied reports that they were proceeding with major extension works in defiance of an official cease order. The official said that they were instead in the process of renovating the same buildings that have been there for many years now.
STATION BAIL
Citing an article carried yesterday which reported that four male construction workers were arrested and taken into police custody, the resort’s representative said that the men were not arrested, but were invited to the police station for an interview and were later placed on station bail.
The official also said that they had received a 100-year lease from the Mayor and City Council which stipulated that the resort must not extend farther than an established area on the foreshore. The resort is contending that they have remained within the confines of the lease and are therefore appalled at the articles being peddled in the media.
With regard to allegations that persons at the resort had driven an excavator across the sea defence and damaged it, their spokesperson informed the chronicle that the excavator was instead transported on a barge and came onto the foreshore from behind the resort, totally avoiding the sea defence all together.
The official said that before embarking on their renovation exercise, they had consulted with the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, as well as with a female representative from the Guyana Mangrove Restoration Project who willingly gave information on the soil type to be used in what they referred to as their present clean-up and renovation exercise to foster growth of mangrove trees in the area.
The resort is also contending that at no time did they damage any mangroves as suggested by the media stories. The official said that instead, they had cleaned areas around the mangrove trees to make the location more ‘eco-friendly’ and to rid it of much garbage that was being dumped there at nights by unknown individuals.
They said several areas around the resort had become a dumpsite, where people would often discard garbage and dead animals.
The official further noted that they were clearing some areas close to the resort to make it much safer for persons who jog on the seawalls, and to prevent the many robberies and rapes that had reportedly occurred in several dark and remote areas close to the resort.
According to the official, plans were also in the making to seek permission to erect two large floodlights to make it much safer for citizens who traverse the area.
While the official claimed that they are in no way trying to break any laws or act outside government regulations, it was pointed out that they had also consulted with an EU representative about what they have been doing and had at no time interfered with the sea defence.
US$1M INVESTED
Further to that, Celina Atlantic Resort is contending that some US$1M has been invested in the project and the main objective of the resort is to brighten up the area in readiness for the country’s upcoming 50th Independence Anniversary festivities, to attract tourists, and Guyanese returning home for the May 2016 anniversary celebrations.
The resort’s official has informed this newspaper that they have been in constant contact with a representative (name provided) responsible for managing the mangroves in Guyana, and were given the “go ahead” to reproduce mangroves and even erect a small “mangrove forest” with well-manicured walkways as a leisure time “safe hold” for nature-loving Guyanese.

MAIN OBJECTIVE
Declaring much disappointment with articles carried in the media, the official explained that the main objective behind their “clean-up campaign,” renovating and beautifying of the area, is to be on par with the extensive cleaning exercises ongoing in Guyana at present.
The resort is arguing that they have been abiding with all legal aspects with regard to their functions and acquisition of liquor and restaurant licences, and all their present buildings at the resort have been approved by the Mayor and City Council.
In the meantime, they are calling for a peaceful resolution to the present situation and welcome any move by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and the Ministry of Tourism to meet and resolve the matter amicably in the interest of the Guyanese citizens and all parties concerned.
The resort has also indicated that with their present sprucing-up exercise, they are aiming to provide employment for some 300 Guyanese.
Efforts last evening to contact the Mayor and City Council, Ministry of Public Infrastructure, and the Guyana Mangrove Restoration Project for a comment with regard to the claims of the resort proved futile, since offices were already closed at the time.