Hundreds rush to savour Splashmin's Proprietor still awaits land lease
By Samantha Alleyne
The Splashmin's Fun Park and Resort which was opened two Sundays ago was buzzing with activity over the Easter holiday weekend as persons from across the country travelled to Madewini on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway to have a taste of what the resort is offering. The 135-acre resort complex developed solely by Lennox John, proprietor of Ashmin's Trading Company on High Street, is said to be the first of its kind in the country. During a recent media tour of the facilities prior to the opening, John had told reporters that he had not been granted a lease for the land although he had spent millions of dollars on the project and was continuing to invest in it. He said it was some time after he had started to develop the land that he was given the approval from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Prior to receiving the EPA approval, John said, he experienced a period of frustration when the agency rejected his report on the project and instead sent its own team to do an assessment. He eventually received the EPA approval in December last year when his plans for developing the land had been far advanced. John told reporters that although he has applied for a lease for the land, he still has not yet received it from the Lands and Surveys Department. Stabroek News contacted the EPA which verified that John had received its approval last year. According to the official who spoke to this newspaper, the EPA had been in contact with the Lands and Surveys Department and was told that it was only after John had been given the agency's approval that he would be issued with the lease. The official said that the agency had reported to Lands and Surveys that John had been given the EPA approval so it was unclear why he had not yet being granted the lease. This newspaper, after numerous attempts, finally got through to the Commissioner of Lands and Surveys, D.K. Datadin, but no information was obtained from the commissioner. When asked if John was issued a lease, the commissioner replied by asking "He has not?" This reporter then proceeded to explain to the commissioner that John had told reporters that he had not been issued with a lease. The commissioner responded: "Well, if the man is saying he has not, then he has not." Asked whether there was a problem that was preventing John from being issued the lease, Datadin said, "I would have to check the files." He then ended the conversation. Stabroek News attempted to make contact with Datadin after this conversation but on all occasions it was reported that he was out of office. However, this newspaper gathered that the case had been forwarded to Minister of Agriculture, Reepu Daman Persaud. Efforts to reach him also proved futile. The fun park and resort is a member of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG). Stabroek News was told on Tuesday that the resort was an allied member of the association. This means, a THAG official explained, that John did not now have the right to vote but if he should submit the normal membership fee he would be given that right. Although the resort does not have overnight accommodation as yet it boasts several facilities for a day of fun for both adults and children. It costs $500 to gain entry to the resort and a fee is also charged for every boat ride. The resort has picturesque surroundings and provides the services of four life guards whose lookout posts are strategically located. It has bar facilities and a restaurant. And bottles are prohibited on the premises. Reporters were told during the tour that management would be building a four-star hotel soon so that guests could remain overnight. The resort also has a cricket pitch and facilities for persons to play basketball and football. John further told reporters that although he was ordered to vacate the land during its development, he had chosen not to since he had already invested millions of dollars. He said that he was more interested in the tourist value of his resort's operation and the thousands who would benefit as a result of a "well-ordered, planned and executed project." He also said that he was focusing on the immense value of the project to eco-tourism and the tourist industry generally on the eve of next month's conference here by the Caribbean Tourism Organisation. The proprietor said that the fact that the EPA had approved the project and that Go-Invest and the Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Industry had endorsed it, he was confident that the Lands and Surveys Department would follow by issuing the requisite lease.
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