THE plan underway for the proposed Parliament Square, on the site which formerly housed the Bureau of Statistics, on Brickdam, Georgetown, has been pushed back due to delays in the arrival of construction materials. But Housing Minister Irfaan Ali assured that works are expected to resume shortly.
He made this disclosure, during an interview, earlier this week, when he gave an update on the undertaking by his ministry.
“I am hoping that, with some work in the night, we can still complete Parliament Square. One of the things that has been the holding up of some supplies is through the shipping agencies. We are hoping to have the job finished by the New Year, if not early next year,” he offered.
Last year, Mr. Ali announced that the enterprise, aimed at enhancing the surroundings of downtown Georgetown, would be complete by the middle of 2011 and, when finished, the city would reflect a “better image of urbanity.”
In addition, he said it is geared towards paving the way for the redevelopment of the area
as an elevated mini-urban park, consistent with planning and design principles defined by the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA).
This accomplishment, Ali added, will have a catalytic effect on the overall thrust towards the enhancement of valued urban spaces to restore the capital as the ‘Garden City’.
“This facility is unique and it is intended to rejuvenate and stimulate a change in the culture of the people and enhance the garden nature of our city, while preserving the historical traditions,” he explained.
Alluding to the details of the plan, Ali said natural elements, such as building blocks, shrubbery and trees, will be used to create a greener, cleaner environment, factoring in sustainability considerations as well to create a highly accessible and centrally located public recreational facility.
Despite the redevelopment, the historic significance of the demolished structure would be preserved as a miniature model, along with meticulous landscaping to accentuate the historical value of the place and compensate for the loss of the previous edifice.
Other key features include a model of a miniature Public Buildings, to be used for educational purposes by persons visiting, as well as a fountain centrally sited on a mound, surrounded by a circle of shrubs. “This is to highlight our natural environment,” Ali said, adding: “The concept of the Low Carbon Development Strategy is important to us, even in the urban centres. So we need to push this.”
Management of the implementation will be guided by inter-agency collaboration among stakeholder agencies, as the CH&PA recognises that the nature of the scheme requires diligent collaborative supervision if consistency, in terms of standards, is to be maintained throughout the design and implementing phases.