City Enhancement Committee's efforts progressing
Kaieteur News
February 8, 2007
Plans proposed by the Downtown Enhancement Committee to prepare sections of the capital city for Cricket World Cup (CWC) are progressing quite satisfactorily and are on track to be completed by month-end.
Coordinator of the project, Rufus Lewis, made this announcement yesterday during a press briefing at City Hall.
According to Lewis, several projects have already been completed, including beautification along Water Street , which includes extensive sprucing of the Muneshwer's roundabout.
Also finished is the de-grassing and planting of flowers and trees at strategic points, most notably medians, which were also painted to further enhance the aesthetics.
Additionally the preparation of the lawns behind the National Museum - to be used as an entertainment venue for CWC ‘days off' - is nearing completion, Lewis informed.
This venue he noted will be manned by officers of the City Constabulary, and activities planned for the location will be made possible through collaboration of the Enhancement Committee and Culture Ministry.
Lewis related, too, that 100 of the intended 200 modern bins slated to be placed strategically in the downtown area have already been procured and most have been deployed. The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) has provided funding for 20 of the bins which are valued at an approximate $1M each.
Members of the Committee at an earlier press briefing had related that there was major emphasis on the placement and security of the receptacles.
The placing of the bins was aided by the Solid Waste Department, with at least four on each block of Water Street . They will be cemented to the ground and secured by a chain. And plans to have the rails of the four bridges along the Avenue of the Republic restored to keep their historic metalwork have been altered, because of financing. Lewis said that only one of the bridges will see its rails being restored to the original standard.
The Committee along with the City Council has also undertaken the cleaning of the canal along the Avenue of the Republic and Lewis noted that efforts will be made by Council and the Committee to ensure that it remains free of litter.
The Committee comprises members of the city's business community who together are funding the efforts to spruce areas bordered by Church Street , Avenue of the Republic, Hadfield Street and the Demerara River for CWC.
A meeting will be held by the Committee today to further report on the progress of the project, according to Lewis.