MINISTER of Tourism, Industry and Commerce (ag) Irfaan Ali has expressed his disappointment at comments made by APNU Executive and Member of Parliament, Dr. Rupert Roopnarine, about the ongoing construction of buildings in the city.

Dr. Roopnarine referred to the construction in the city as ‘ugliness’. Minister Ali also noted that Dr. Roopnarine suggested that the efforts to construct modern, tourist attractive, facilities deserve the ‘ugliness award’.
Given the continuous investments by the local private sector to develop the tourism industry, these negative comments were deemed as “unwarranted and disparaging to the private sector”.
The minister said that for 2013, the local private sector will be investing a huge sum to build a new resort; a luxury hotel, an apartment and four smaller hotels on Sheriff Street; and, expansion of the Duke Lodge and the Pegasus facilities.
The minister, on behalf of the Government of Guyana, commended the private sector for its commitment to the development of Guyana, as government plans to continue this partnership for the country’s development.
Special appreciation was expressed for the mining sector for having heeded the call of government to invest their liquidity in the tourism sector.