NATIONAL Tree Planting Day was yesterday observed countrywide, and the Mayor and City Council’s (M&CC’s) green team was seen at the Merriman Mall in Bourda planting trees to beautify the area.

Residents are being asked to get involved in the tree-planting exercise. According to Town Clerk Royston King, the entire stretch of the Merriman Mall is to be made into a recreational park for children and the elderly.

“We have started to upgrade the physical structure of the mall itself.
We are now putting in swings and slides and other play equipment for our children. We are also putting in lights,” the Town Clerk explained.

“As part of National Tree Planting Day, we are planting trees around the mall; and this will be replicated in almost every local community in the city of Georgetown,” the Town Clerk said.

Inviting participation of all citizens and stakeholders, King said that, in another two weeks, the area around the Merriman Mall will be transformed into a beautiful and safe area for all “to enjoy the good life that was promised to them.”

Meanwhile, the Georgetown Green Volunteer Corps, a body initiated by the M&CC, has commenced cleaning of all community recreational grounds within the City. Group members involved in this activity comprise private citizens and members of the business community. Their tasks include removing overgrowth from these grounds.

Information released by the M&CC has detailed that many parks and other recreational facilities in Georgetown have for years been neglected, due to a lack of funds. The Council has outlined that, over the years, some of these recreational facilities were handed over to community groups for management, but many of those groups have become defunct. Consequently, the grounds could not be cleaned and maintained.

The M&CC has therefore underlined the need for restoration of all playgrounds and parks. The Town Clerk had promised that the “Green Volunteer Corps would give citizens the opportunity to be a part of the restoration and transformation process in the city”.

The M&CC has since resuscitated its sport and culture group, which was dormant for many years.
(Rabindra Rooplall)