Ahead of the initiative, Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Mr. Robeson Benn and Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Mr. Kellawan Lall inspected the facilities Wednesday, to determine the need for further improvement and were accompanied by officials of the Zoological Park and the National Parks Commission (NPC).

The Government Information Agency (GINA) said repairs will be done on the fence and accommodation for animals while the manatee ponds will be desilted and the aquariums improved.

The Zoo is a location of interest for local and overseas visitors and is expected to attract more people during the Cricket World Cup (CWC) games next year, GINA stated.

The agency said a Government task force, set up to overlook the enhancing and beautifying of the capital and its environs, will spearhead the programme in the Zoo.

Minister Lall explained that there is need for a continuous maintenance programme to carry out the works, as well as volunteers to add to the resource base and a plan will be developed to attract voluntary help from the University of Guyana, Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) and other educational institutions during the holiday periods.

The task force includes representatives of the ministries of Public Works and Local Government, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) and the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), who will all focus on issues such as proper garbage collection and disposal, rehabilitation of road shoulders and verges, drains and canals and removal of impediments.

GINA said, presently, the Public Works Ministry is upgrading Main Street as part of an initiative to upgrade five avenues in the city, by raising their surfaces above flood level, repairing drainage and levelling parapets.

Similar work will commence in Waterloo, Carmichael and Thomas Streets during this week, GINA said.

It said, for the purpose, equipment was recently procured to level road shoulders and undertake landscaping along the seawall from High Street to Vlissengen Road and more would arrive shortly to boost the process.

Last August, the government released $10M, of the $50M in an escrow account for the M&CC, to beautify the municipality.

GINA recalled that, while visiting several communities in South Georgetown last February, President Bharrat Jagdeo announced that $200M would be placed in that account and the $50M could be accessed to enhance various areas in the city beautification scheme.