GUYANA’S experience has evinced some interesting persons, with some peculiar pretensions, within recent years. They belong to that well-known category that whenever failing in their objective, they attack the Government. Of course, never nationalistic, they have their personal agenda of a narrow political type, which does not include the broader interests of this country, but rather pure selfish ambitions.A perfect example of this ilk is hotelier, Mr. Robert Badal, a political aspirant, well-known member of the Alliance For Change (AFC), as well as one of its known financiers.

This was the businessman who ascended to the heights of frenzy when the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government announced that it was going to build Guyana’s first brand hotel, the Marriott. We recall his vehement criticisms as he questioned the wisdom of building such a hotel in Guyana, contending, among other things, that it would be difficult to satisfy occupancy levels, in addition to the fact that Government would not be able to recover its investment costs. Playing God, eh!
In other words, he was writing off this socio-economic investment, with its huge potential for attracting increased tourist arrivals to Guyana, even before its very foundations had been laid.
But Badal’s real issue with such a venture was its proximity to his Pegasus Hotel, and the competition that the latter would have from the Marriott. He, like his Opposition cohorts, even questioned Government’s decision to undertake such a venture. He failed to comprehend the larger plateau of an administration taking the lead in promoting a sector that promises so much for the future.
But the Marriott is now completed, preparing for its grand and auspicious opening very soon, with the prognosis that business for this international five-star facility will be immediate and bountiful. Then suddenly one of the greatest volte face ever – Badal offered to buy equity! And, this was despite his previous vitriol that such a hotel was not necessary!
Not surprisingly, Badal is now levelling accusations that the Marriott is ‘poaching’ staff from other hotels, including his Pegasus outfit, by offering higher salaries.
The name of the game is competition, and this is what Badal had feared from the moment of the initial announcement to build a Marriott Hotel. He knew that such a brand with its five star standards had all the potential to render his age-old holding (The Pegasus) obsolete.
Since Guyana operates a market economy, then what is wrong with the Marriott shopping staff from other such enterprises, at higher salaries? So many would have departed from the precincts of the Pegasus because of poor working conditions, inclusive of wages. We stand to be corrected by recalling the Guyana Labour Union, a while ago, having to stage a protest within the grounds of the very hotel, on behalf of its members who were staff at the hotel.
The sad tragedy of the Badals of this country is that their patent selfishness, coupled with their political affiliations, is a constraint on their ability to comprehend what is best for Guyana’s development.
They pretend love for country; but their actual doings betray their anti-national motives.
Long live the Marriott!