Gov’t taking over Georgetown enhancement; expanding solid waste management

Last Updated on Tuesday, 16 September 2025, 23:18 by Writer

President Irfaan Ali on Tuesday announced that central government would be accelerating the beautification and maintenance of Guyana’s capital, Georgetown and that would be backed up by public education and enforcement.

“I want to launch from the government work the advancing (of) the rescue of Georgetown,” he told a press conference at the Office of the President.

He said the Draft Urban Framework Plan contains several priorities including reducing traffic congestion, promoting sustainable transport, improving sanitation, cleanliness and waste management, building resilience to flooding, heat and climate events, restoring urban landscape and green spaces. The President said his government also intends to blend agriculture and urban development to support food security, innovation, and low-carbon enterprise, natural and cultural heritage anchors, ensuring that nature, culture, and identity remain central to Georgetown’s future.

He said after the infrastructure is built the government would be phasing in the enforcement of laws against vandalism and littering. “A lot of public education, a clear communication strategy is critical at this stage,” he added.

In apparent reference to local government elections that could be called in about one year from now, the President hoped that Georgetown residents would choose “the type of leadership” to ensure the City is transformed and managed that would make everyone proud. The People’s National Congress Reform-led A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) controls 19 City Council seats and 11 by Ali’s People’s Progressive Party Civic.

But he said ahead of the local government polls, his government has launched a City Revival Plan with assistance from the United Kingdom’s King’s Foundation that would see 15 flagship demonstration projects such as recreational spaces, enhancement of places of architectural heritage, and celebration of the City’s biodiversity. Those, he said, would be backed up by a series of programmes aimed at changing behaviours in how Georgetown is treated with.

“The condition of the City, the mismanagement and inefficiency through which the City is managed can no longer be tolerated and we believe that it is time for us, as citizens and as a country, to take charge of this situation,” he told a press conference at which questions were limited to six without any foll0w-ups. Several media houses complained that although they had accredited personnel to cover presidential assignments, they were not invited.

Other planned government initiatives include a walking trail around Georgetown, converting the old railway station on Water Street into a museum while continuing the training of machinists and engineers by the Transport and Harbours Department. This will be supported by images and pictures that will depict Guyana’s history.

President Ali said over the last 48 hours his government had reviewed a number of options for the Stabroek Waterfront development, and the enhancement of shopping and other public areas. “The waterfront celebrates who we are: the land of many waters,” he said. The plan also includes the enhancement of all of Georgetown’s historic drainage canals in a “touristic manner” to form part of the story of Georgetown and Guyana.

The President said that his government would soon be establishing new landfills in Regions 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 10 because the 14 existing landfill sites have outgrown their capacity.

He said the relevant government agencies had been tasked with identifying the lands and acquiring environmental permits and clearance.