Latest update May 12th, 2024 12:59 AM
Mar 03, 2016 News
-closeness to mosque, church cited
A 150-room hotel along with casino, under construction, is planned to be opened within the coming
months on Church Street, Queenstown. But there are objections.
Yesterday, in a letter to the editor, former magistrate, Kalam Juman-Yassin, said that he could not believe that permission was granted for Sleep In Hotel to operate a casino in a residential area.
The hotel and casino is located only a few doors away from a mosque and a church, he said.
However, principal of the hotel, Clifton Bacchus, does not see a problem. No neighbour has raised any objections.
He said that every major place of entertainment is close to a church. “Palm Court, Princess Ramada, Rio—just name them and a church is nearby.”
The hotel, he disclosed, had signed an agreement under the Donald Ramotar administration for the hotel and casino.
The casino would have received the necessary permits for operations once a number of conditions are met, including the construction of a 150-room facility.
Bacchus also has another hotel, Sleep In International, on Brickdam. That too is close to a church, in this case the Church of the Immaculate Conception, commonly called the Brickdam Cathedral.
He has sunk millions of dollars in the construction of the Church Street venture.
According to Juman-Yassin, yesterday in his letter, the multi-storied buildings are being constructed on Church Street, Georgetown, between Albert Street and Oronoque Street.
“My further information is that a casino is to be opened in one of the buildings and I could not have believed that permission was granted for such a purpose. I am completely opposed to the opening of a casino in that residential area as going east it is four buildings from the Seven Day Adventists Church and about 200 yards from the Queenstown Mosque.”
Juman-Yassin, who is also the President of the Guyana Olympic Association, in arguing against the casino, said that work is being done on the nearby Merriman’s Mall, between Church Street and North Road, to convert the area into to a family hangout with emphasis for young children. “A casino will indeed be a bad example for our young children. I can foresee a parking nightmare and a great deal of inconvenience to the residents of that neighborhood. I cannot comprehend how a license could have been granted for a casino to be opened in this area and more so how the Commission for the licensing of casinos could have granted permission.”
Juman-Yassin made it clear that two long established religious buildings located where the hotel is being constructed could not have been missed.
“Were they blind to the fact that that this was a residential area? This will change the face of Church Street and Georgetown. It is shameful and those persons appointed for the licensing should resign in disgrace and if they do not then they should be removed.”
The sports official said that he spoke to Imam Shaheed Mohamed who is the leader of the Queenstown Mosque and that “he was completely unaware that a casino is to be set up there. He understood that it is to be a hotel and he was dumbstruck as to what is planned there.”
The mosque reportedly told Juman-Yassin that it received no notice or was asked
for an opinion.
“I asked myself whether the close connections with the former members of the government and those responsible for granting the license may have played a part. I am calling on all Guyanese and the government of Guyana to look into this matter urgently and stop this tragedy from occurring as history will not be forgiving for inaction.”
According to Bacchus yesterday, the agreement with Government of Guyana was taken long before a decision was announced for the upgrade of the Merriman’s Mall. Juman-Yassin had contended that mall in now family-oriented location.
In any case, the businessman said, the casino will be an enclosed facility that will only be opened to guests of the hotel and visitors to Guyana.
Bacchus is hoping that the hotel will be opened in May. It will provide up to 300 jobs.
The issue of casino was a touchy one for the country when it was first announced in the mid-2000s. There were concerns from churches and other groups about the social implications but it was agreed that no locals would be allowed in when the first casino opened its doors at Princess Hotel, East Bank Demerara. The regulations said it was only to be accessed by guests or visitors.
However, Princess Casino has since relaxed its rules, allowing locals to enter once they produce identification
Government is reportedly contemplating tabled amendments to the law to allow locals full access.
Under gaming regulations, no more than three casino licences can be granted in the country.
In addition to Princess Hotel, another licence has been promised to Marriott Hotel, in Kingston.
Sleep In is the third.
The construction of the Marriott casino has been delayed.
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