Mayor declares Georgetown ready for CWC
By Michel Outridge
Guyana Chronicle
March 20, 2007
GEORGETOWN Mayor Hamilton Green yesterday declared that the city is ready for Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2007.
At a media briefing, in his parlour at City Hall, he said residents and members of the private sector combined efforts with the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) to beautify the capital by participating in clean-up exercises.
Mr. Green said they all have done extensive work and should use the CWC as a catalyst for management also of the country.
Among other things, he said all roads leading to hospitals and other medical institutions will be repaired and trees planted.
However, because of complaints about the proper care of the trees, they are seeking help from Cubans and two public health doctors and a draftsman would be employed.
Green alluded to reports that shrubs in Water Street were removed by drug addicts and said members of the Constabulary will be deployed there for security purposes.
He said a special enhancement committee was established, after an October 21, 2006 session at Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, following which the private sector came aboard as a result of fruitful discussions.
Green commended businessman, Mr. Chris Fernandes, for beautifying Water Street where trees were planted, drains cleaned and the roadway repaired.
The Mayor said, too, that the Toolsie Persaud Limited (TPL) site on Water Street is in a state of readiness as a result of works completed through Fernandes.
Green said, over last weekend, Demerara Bank undertook the responsibility for revetment at the Camp Street and North Road monument compound.
He also expressed gratitude to the owner of Khan’s Watch World, in South Road, for his assistance in cleaning that area.
But Green lamented: “No sooner we clean up, some people seem to mess up.”
He recalled the M&CC distributing garbage bins to mini-buses last week and sensitising operators about their role in keeping the city clean.
Green spoke, as well, about the refurbishing and painting of the interior and exterior of City Hall, expected to be finished soon.
“We will maintain it because it is a landmark, a beautiful building which will be preserved.”
City Engineer, Ms. Beverly Johnson mentioned that bridges were restored, drains cleared and roads repaired in several wards.
She said they are looking at the avenues, traffic islands and other places where more things have to be done and one of the areas under focus is Le Repentir Cemetery, where a major exercise will be undertaken to paint tombs between March 20 and 23.
Operation ‘Respect the Dead’ will take place on March 24 when each tomb will be painted.
Johnson exhorted all citizens, who have loved ones interred in the burial ground, to come forward and help with the project.
She said paint and brushes will be sold at very low prices on the designated days and other materials, such as cement and lumber, can be purchased elsewhere to repair tombs.
Johnson said a contract was awarded for cleaning Le Repentir Cemetery and the municipality hopes to maintain it even after the CWC.
She said the M&CC has been working with the Ministry of Works, on Orange Walk, Bourda, for overlaying that thoroughfare.
Johnson said attention will be paid to Albouystown which is in dire need of rehabilitation.
She said Independence Boulevard will be repaired in that ward, the Jackson Street canal in Tucville is one of those being desilted and the ‘Tiger Bay’ tunnel, in South Cummingsburg, cleaned.
Johnson said the municipality has expended some $300M, a sum yet to be garnered, on drains, roads and buildings.