Works will soon start on US$10M Joe Vieira Park – China’s Ambassador

Works will soon commence on the US$10 million Joe Vieira Park 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.
This was revealed by Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Guo Haiyan, during an interview on the sidelines of the unveiling of another Chinese/Guyana project- a $15 million Guyana/Chinese Friendship Pavilion at Lamaha Street, Georgetown on Wednesday.
When asked by the media, the ambassador assured that works will soon start on the park. “(Workers) have already arrived from the designer company. Some technicians from the contractor. They are busy with the preparation work. I know because the park is closed, we’ve done some (coordination) to make sure the project will go smoothly. Now they are constructing the building for the workers… there’s already progress. We’re planning to have a sod-turning ceremony soon,” she disclosed.
Last year, Minister within the Public Works Ministry, Deodat Indar, had said the iconic Joe Vieira Park would take about 20 months to be upgraded. The Minister, along with Ambassador Haiyan, spoke about the project during the National Clean-up and Beautification Campaign that was led by President Irfaan Ali on Sunday in Region Three.
Indar had related that the Park would be rebuilt into something “very, very attractive”, not only for the region, but for the entire country. He also reminisced on the pre-COVID traditions of Easter celebrations at the venue.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Guo 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.
Also 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.
The Joe Vieira Park, located at Schoonord, WBD, has 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.
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.
“I believe this new park will provide the local people a modern public place near their home, where they can enjoy the lakeside views, picnic time, fitness exercise, culture events, and recreational activities,” she had said.
The park will also include canopies and a children’s activity centre. It will be fully funded by China through a grant, and will have a Guyana-China Friendship Monument commemorating the long and ongoing friendship between the two countries. (G3)