Public consultations on “Model Village” initiative gets underway today

President Dr Irfaan Ali will be leading public consultations in several regions across Guyana on the Government’s ‘Model Village’ – an initiative that seeks to create better communities with enhanced roads, drainage, irrigation systems and green spaces. These public engagements will commence today in several communities throughout Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara). According to a notice from the Government, the consultations will start from 09:00h at the Leonora Secondary School, West Coast Demerara (WCD). Meetings will also be held today at Zeelugt, Tuschen, Goed Fortuin, Parfaite Harmonie and Pouderoyen, culminating with a presentation on the proposed new Pouderoyen Market at 18:30h. Citizens are encouraged to participate in these engagements during which they will be able to share their ideas, raise community concerns and most importantly, help shape the future development of their communities. On Tuesday, the consultations will move to Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) with engagements scheduled for Kaneville (13:00h), Grove (15:00h) and Diamond (17:00h) on East Bank of Demerara (EBD). The Region Four public meetings will continue on Thursday at Melanie, Mon Repos, Good Hope, and Enmore on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD). In Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), consultations are scheduled for Friday at Bush Lot, Bath and Hopetown. These engagements will continue over the weekend at Port Mourant, Rose Hall, Skeldon and New Amsterdam in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) on Saturday, and then conclude on Monday with meetings scheduled at Supenaam, Suddie, Charity and Anna Regina in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

This ‘Model Village’ initiative is being spearheaded by the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry alongside the Ministry of Housing, the Ministry of Public Works and the Ministry of Agriculture. During an appearance on the ‘The Guyana Dialogue’ programme back in June, Local Government and Regional Development Minister, Priya Manickchand, had disclosed that the Government plans to develop 21 model communities across the country that will feature better roads, drainage and irrigation systems and green spaces. “The model community will have…concrete drains, properly marked roads, streetlights, green areas or play parks, public buildings that are accessible and that work, just what a model community would look like…,” she outlined.

Develop neighbourhoods
According to the Local Government Minister, the Government’s goal is not to just distribute house lots but to develop neighbourhoods where families can thrive. “Where we develop communities or housing schemes, it’s an entire scheme developed, it’s planned out or drawn by urban planners, people with the appropriate qualifications where green spaces are identified, house lots are surveyed and mapped off, streets and drainage are planned into that housing area, schools areas left for primary as well as nursery schools and if necessary, secondary schools, places left for worship…,” she noted.
“It’s not just the handing out house lots, it’s a very layered approach to making sure people can live in communities, not just houses…it’s building neighbourhoods and communities, understanding that stronger families and stronger communities will give us a stronger country…its very conscious building,” the Minister added. Manickchand explained that there are challenges in implementing these features with existing communities. For instance, she said in Newtown Kitty, Georgetown, “we can fix the drainage, we can clean the alleyways and make them concrete so that the water is flowing but you can’t do much with how its already planned”. The President Dr Irfaan Ali-led administration is, in this term, focusing much energy of building out better communities, where families can thrive. The Government has been working to improve the functioning of Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDC) and other local authority areas by increasing their subventions so they can deliver better services to residents.
Additionally, heavy investments are being made to improve road networks, drainage and irrigation systems and install streetlights and safety features to make communities more welcoming. Millions are also being invested in creating recreational spaces to promote better lifestyles among citizens.