In the face of a call by the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) for Guyanese to be employed in constructing the Marriott Hotel, a senior company official said the use of Chinese labour was the best deal to ensure the project finishes on time.

The GTUC said it was deeply disturbed that Guyanese were being barred from working on the project at Kingston, Georgetown to the benefit of China and the hotel’s beneficiaries.

“For the absence of Guyana labour, in our country, when Guyanese are paying the bill, constitutes an attack on state-hood and is a form re-colonisation, which must be rejected,” the GTUC has said in a statement.

The confederation said Guyanese should enjoy the right to work as part of efforts to alleviate poverty, reinvestment of monies in the community and through the treasury by taxes, and reduction in dependency and anti-social behaviours.

“These elements are prerequisites for ensuring the path of social and economic equity, stability and development. China and every progressive economy understand this and so too must Guyanese,” the trade union body added.

The Marriott-branded hotel is being built by Shanghai Construction Group at a cost of US$51 million.

But Chief Executive Officer of Atlantic Hotels Inc; Winston Brassington explained that Chinese labour was being used to ensure that the project is completely swiftly. He suggested that there was a higher level of productivity among the expatriate workers.

“The issue of productivity and communication would be a cause for concern, he further noted and additionally the lack of specialised skill needed for the tasks needs to be recognised,” he was quoted as saying by the Government Information Agency (GINA).

Brassington said that despite being put to public tender, only two companies submitted bids for the hotel’s construction. That, he said, was after 23 firms initially indicated their interest and seven were shortlisted. Brassington said that Shanghai Construction Group’s initial bid, the lower of the two bidding companies, was US$ 65M, but they were able to lower the cost to US$51M with the condition that they be able to control who they employ on the site.

He said Shanghai Construction Group indicated that they had examined the level of skills available for the project as well as the levels of productivity. Brassington added that while the company was asked to employ locals, it was obvious that if the construction of the flagship hotel was to be completed within the specified time, they must have the flexibility of the inputs. The CEO said the construction company must comply with the local laws and norms, Brassington said, “For example, even though all of these workers have come by plane and will be here for the duration of the contract they have to pay Social Security and Income Tax, so in that way we’re not creating a playing field where they are given any preference over local employment”.

The AHI boss said the hotel would eventually employ more that 200 Guyanese permanently when it opens its doors next year.

Brassington took issue with the GTUC “selectively attacking” the Marriott project while at the same time ignoring the union-busting tactics by the management of the Pegasus Hotel.

“This is another example of selectively attacking what the government is doing and it’s not fair and valid when they look at everything around them,” the head of AHI noted.

The Marriott, when completed will boast 197 rooms, a large ballroom, conference centre, a casino, nightclub, restaurant, a concrete walkway and all other amenities of a world-class hotel.