Healthy Streets Initiative: Practical, aesthetic elements being balanced as Thomas Street Avenue works advance

– President Ali, Minister Manickchand updated on enhancement project

Enhancement works on the avenue along Thomas Street in Georgetown are progressing, with emphasis being placed on balancing the aesthetic transformation with critical issues such as drainage.
On Friday, President Dr Irfaan Ali, along with Local Government and Regional Development Minister Priya Manickchand and other officials, inspected the ongoing works, which extend from Lamaha Street to Church Street.

The upgrade of Thomas Street Avenue is the first project being implemented under President Ali’s Healthy Streets Initiative – an urban renewal project being executed in collaboration with the United Kingdom-based The King’s Foundation to create healthier, greener, safer, and more functional public spaces in the city.
During the visit, engineers outlined both the practical and aesthetic elements guiding the transformation of the avenue. Particular attention was given to ensuring that the roadway, avenue, and drainage infrastructure function cohesively, with the President stressing the importance of appropriate levels between the road, drains, and avenue as works progress.
Moreover, the Head of State also shared his vision for the completed space and provided input on several aspects of the design. Drawing on his strong background in urban planning and development, the Guyanese leader also examined how elements being introduced along Thomas Street could inform the transformation of other avenues across Georgetown.
Through the Healthy Streets Initiative, The King’s Foundation is redesigning public spaces for better safety, green infrastructure, and climate resilience under the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030.

Minister Manickchand has reiterated the importance of keeping the project on schedule while ensuring that its green character is preserved. She stressed that existing trees should not be unnecessarily boxed off as the avenue is developed, with the project intended to work with and enhance the existing natural environment.
Following the engagement, President Ali and Minister Manickchand walked the length of the project area with lead engineers Raul Boyer and Satrohan Nauth, other engineers, Project Manager Gregory Sukull, and other officials to further assess the ongoing works and the progress made to date.
Meanwhile, this Thomas Street project forms part of the government’s broader efforts to transform Georgetown through sustainable urban development while creating public spaces that are more accessible, attractive, and responsive to the needs of the people who use them.
Only earlier this week, Minister Manickchand visited the Thomas Street project alongside representatives of The King’s Foundation to assess ongoing works.
These visits come on the heels of His Majesty King Charles’ upcoming visit to Georgetown.
The King, who founded the organisation back in 1990 and serves as its Royal Patron, will embark on a State Visit to Guyana from October 29 to 30.
Among the events on his packed agenda, the British Royal will tour a garden in Georgetown and learn about the park’s botanical features and ongoing conservation work within the city. His Majesty will also meet young Guyanese people from environmental clubs taking part in activities focused on sustainability and conservation.
King Charles’ visit to Guyana will also coincide with the Global Biodiversity Alliance Conference, set for October 30 and 31. There, he will meet scientists, Indigenous community members, and innovators to hear about their work on biodiversity, conservation, and restoration.
His Majesty will also hear about the work of the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development, an organisation that manages roughly 371,000 hectares of tropical forest in Guyana, and of which His Majesty has been Patron since 2000, following a visit to the forest as Prince of Wales.
The King will wrap up his engagements in Guyana along the Georgetown seawall, where he will engage participants from the Wilton Park Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Initiative Dialogue to hear about the practical steps being taken toward sustainable urbanisation ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda.
Whilst at the seawall, His Majesty will also hear about the renewed focus on mangrove restoration and the work being undertaken to replant mangroves that help protect Georgetown’s coastline and encourage wildlife to flourish.
King Charles has long backed Guyana’s environmental leadership and continues his support for sustainable development in the country through collaborations with The King’s Foundation. These include the Georgetown Urban Framework Plan.
Developed in collaboration with national and local stakeholders, the Framework Plan has been created by experts in The King’s Foundation’s Projects Team. It sets out a long-term vision to transform Guyana’s capital city, Georgetown, into a resilient, connected, and inclusive capital that balances heritage protection with modern, low-carbon growth. The plan addresses some of the city’s most pressing challenges, including drainage and flood resilience, transport and mobility, urban expansion, and the protection of historic buildings.
Working alongside the Office of the President and other key national stakeholders, The King’s Foundation has helped shape a strategy that reimagines Georgetown as a garden city, supporting walkable neighbourhoods and revitalising its historic waterfront.