By Kurt Campbell
Kurt@newsroom.gy
On Saturday, President Irfaan Ali led a countrywide national clean-up exercise that saw participation from a number of organisations, including the Protected Areas Commission (PAC), responsible for the upkeep and management of such spaces.
National clean-up exercises, now a steady occurrence, came one day before the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Georgetown Seafront Resort & Convention Centre being constructed along Carifesta Avenue, Georgetown opposite the National Park.
The series of events brought into sharp focus a public discourse on replacing urban spaces with hotel rooms and the call for more attention to the beautification of green spaces, both costly undertakings, but one mostly privately funded and the latter heavily dependent on government financing.
However, those who sit on the PAC do not agree with the notion that there is a neglect of green spaces by local authorities.
On Saturday, while clearing the park of garbage and overgrown vegetation as part of the countrywide activities, PAC members and volunteers also engaged in a tree planting exercise and commissioned a benab, which was donated by Essential Care Pharmacy and Global Health Care Supplies.
The event also saw repeated calls for the private sector to partner with the government in the enhancement of green spaces.
Hand in glove and wearing two hats as PAC Commissioner and President of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG), Omadele De George was in support of both the beautification of green spaces and the need to expand infrastructure networks and build new hotels.
She said THAG and other private sector stakeholders are already engaging the City Council on a beatification project for Georgetown – Restoration Garden City.
She deemed it a personal and organizational commitment to the improvement of the city even as she made the case for new hotels.
“Grand tasks entail having different players… given what we are known for… [green spaces] are not going to be neglected at all.
“The need for hotel rooms is a given,” she added while underscoring the deficiency that is currently on display as the 2024 Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo kicks off on Monday.
George sees no conflict in investing in the two areas at the same time.
Meanwhile, Vice Chairman of the PAC, Roger Yearwood agreed that there is no neglect of green spaces.
“I wouldn’t say so… Ever since the current administration came into government and resuscitated the Protected Areas Commission… since this new board came in and the Commissioners were appointed, there are so many things that we have done and have planned,” he said.
First established in 2012, a new board was appointed for the PAC in 2022 and parks across the country have since been undergoing upgrades.
In the National Park for example, among other enhancements to the facility, two modern outdoor gyms are being installed even as the team works along with First Lady Arya Ali to redesign and upgrade the children’s park.
The First Lady herself has been involved in her beautification project which has seen the development of new spaces for recreation and the enhancement of traditional and long enjoyed public spaces.
Yearwood urged corporate Guyana and the private sector to see the importance of investing in the enhancement of green spaces with works still to be done on upgrading lighting, a park for pets and other enhancements for sporting disciplines and children.
“There are so many things we have panned… I think we are moving apace and these things cost money so we invite partnership from the private sector,” he added.
