A TOUR of the modern $400M five-storey complex at Charity on the Essequibo Coast was also included in President Bharrat Jagdeo’s agenda during his visit to Region Two over the weekend. The recently constructed complex houses a shopping mall, fast food outlet and pharmacy among other departments.
The complex also caters to the needs of the populace in Charity and farther afield and won the reputation as the first in Guyana to offer Canadian ‘Dixie Lee’ chicken and seafood.
At its inception, proprietor Alfro Alphonso had indicated that the complex would create employment for 100 persons.
In recent years Guyana has seen a spur in private sector driven investments motivated by the development transformation which Guyana has experienced over the years and the proprietors have all attested to this fact.
President Jagdeo has been on record touting private sector development as critical to the economy, opining that it is the onus of Government to continue creating the environment to grow local capital.
“…we need to develop a local entrepreneurial class but also to be open to foreign investments. We will continue working and building on these reforms to ensure that environment is created because it’s an important part of our development strategy.” President Jagdeo said.
Around Georgetown and its environs alone there are signs of major business ventures either up and running, recently completed or in the making.
In 2008, Regent Multiplex – a new multi-million-dollar shopping mall located on Regent Street was commissioned while the following year at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport,  Roti Hut, Rituals Coffee House and Nestle Ice Cream were opened at an investment size of $100M.
That same year witnessed the grand opening of the multi-million-dollar Princess Casino located at the ground floor of the Princess Hotel, Providence, East Bank Demerara.
In Linden, proprietor Dunston Barrow is investing in a $150M mall considered among the largest investments in the mining town.
Within three years, Guyana will be home to the first Marriott Hotel in the Caribbean and Latin America with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification from the United States Green Building Council.
Marriott International Inc. announced its readiness to open its hotel that will boast 160 rooms and will operate under a management agreement with Atlantic Hotel Inc., which is currently owned by the Government of Guyana as part of a public-private partnership between Government and private sector investors.  (GINA)