China-Guyana friendship Joe Vieira Park project unmatched in C’bean – Indar

Works are progressing on the US$12 million Joe Vieira Park modernisation project on the West Bank of Demerara (WBD), which is being funded by the Chinese Government to mark Guyana and China’s celebration of 50 years of diplomatic ties.
Minister within the Public Works Ministry, Deodat Indar, who is leading the initiative, conducted a site visit on Friday to inspect the ongoing works being executed by the Qingjian Group Co Ltd (CNQC) from the Shandong Province in China.

Joined by the contractor, technical officials, and representatives from the Protected Areas Commission, Indar noted the PPP/C Government is working with the contractor “to deliver a park that is unmatched anywhere in the Caribbean.”
Works on the park commenced last year and was slated to be completed in January 2026. During Friday’s visit, Indar disclosed that government is eager to have this project completed and is working with the contractor to move forward the deadline to the end of 2025.
The minister had since asked the contractor to extend their working hours in order to accelerate the project.
The US$12 million modern recreational space under construction is the brainchild of President Dr. Irfaan Ali and it will accommodate a basketball court, tennis court, football field, an elevated walkway through trees, and a roundabout with a fountain, among other key features.
In 2022, the Guyana Protected Areas Commission and the Chinese Embassy had signed an agreement to transform the Joe Vieira Park in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) into a modern green space.
Prior to that the Joe Vieira Park, located at Schoonord, WBD, had been in an abandoned state for years. It was donated to the regional government by businessman Joe Vieira, and falls under the National Parks Commission. The green space was designated a park on March 24, 1982.
In 2022, Commissioner (ag) of the Protected Areas Commission and the National Parks Commission, Jason Fraser, along with the Economic and Commercial Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy, Hanming Hu, signed the agreement committing some US$10 million to the upgrading of the park.
In a previous interview, Ambassador Guo Haiyan had said at the time that the park would be renamed the Guyana-China Friendship Joe Vieira Park. She had said that the park would be built with the aim of providing a public place for families, and would not only host recreational activities, but cultural events as well.