AS the country progresses to higher levels of development, the need to build and strengthen capacity to absorb developmental works becomes all the more necessary. This has to be done at several levels, including the development of our human capital, the upgrading of our physical and social infrastructure, and a strong and vibrant hospitality sector.

Despite some progress in terms of hotel accommodation with recent years, the fact is that we are still lagging in terms of top- class hotel accommodation to cater for overseas dignitaries and business executives, many of whom are here in the country to do business, or have shown an interest in investing in the country. We were told recently of a top African delegation to the country which was forced to be rescheduled, due to the failure to access enough hotel rooms.

There were many who were critical of the government’s decision to invest in the Marriot Hotel, on the grounds that our occupancy rates were low, and that the money could have been better spent on other projects. They have all been proven wrong. Even with the construction of the Marriot Hotel and the expansion of the Pegasus Hotel, there is hardly enough room for the influx of guests to the country, especially following the discovery of oil.

The fact of the matter is that we are woefully lacking in quality hotel accommodation that visitors from abroad are looking for, especially high-priced consultants and other skilled personnel, not to mention  top diplomats and other senior government functionaries.

And while we may have enough rooms available at guest houses, and what is commonly referred as ‘short stay’ places, these are more appealing to locals, and certainly will not attract the level of overseas visitors whose skills and expertise are in short supply, and badly needed to drive the development processes.

This is why the construction of new top-end hotels are so much welcome, and in fact could not have come at a better time in our country’s development. Several new hotels are scheduled for construction in several areas of the country, the most recent being a US$ 32.2 million Hyatt Place Hotel at Providence, East Bank Demerara.

The spanking new 125-room four-star hotel not far from the Princess Ramada Hotel at Providence would be a great boost to cricket lovers who would be coming to watch international cricket at the Providence Stadium, which was constructed by the PPP/C administration to accommodate visitors for the World Cup Cricket. Several other hotels were upgraded and expanded, but these proved inadequate to meet the growing needs of overseas and local visitors.

One indication of progress is when investors are prepared to invest in a country. Investor confidence in the PPP/C administration to manage the economy to ensure a fair return on investment is on a high, and, as pointed out by Minister of Trade and Tourism Oneidge Waldron, it is a natural and logical outcome of the philosophy of the government that economic development and growth must be inclusive and equitable. Similar sentiments were expressed by Senior Minister with Responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, who said that these projects are a culmination of strategic and visionary thinking on the part of President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali and his PPP/C administration.

Development, it must be said, is multi-dimensional. The PPP/C administration is fully cognisant of this reality, and is working on all fronts to advance the process, and to create the enabling environment for that development to materialise. The construction of the new Hyatt Place Hotel at Providence is yet another indication of the importance attached to the hospitality sector so needed to facilitate the transformational process currently underway.