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During a recent interview with the media, he condemned the illegal acts by citizens who indulge in vandalism at the site.The project is part of the Ministry’s Urban Renewal Plan (URP), which will see sections of the city and its environs beautified.
“About two years ago, the Ministry of Housing and Water announced a plan that was termed the urban renewal plan. That was looking at a way in which we can improve the look, maintain our strong cultural heritage while we seek to modernise the city,” Ali recalled.
The first such project, ‘Parliament Square’ was earmarked to be completed two months ago. However, about three months ago, a group of persons began occupying a section of the square without any authority or permission, he stated.
The Minister said, while this is the case, he is a strong believer in democracy.
“We believe in freedom of expression, so, what we did is, we allowed them,” he explained.
According to him, three months has now elapsed and the contractor has given notice of termination because this has created a setback and the deadline for the completion of the park might not be met.
TIMEFRAME
“He needs to complete the work and we have a timeframe for having the work completed, so that we can open the Parliament Square on December 1,” Ali pointed out.
He said the Ministry would have issued a number of notices to persons who have occupied the Parliament Square property, asking them to remove from the boundaries within.
“What we wanted them to do, basically, was to take down the umbrellas, the tents. We don’t have a problem, you can stand in front the square and showcase whatever issues you have but you cannot distract other persons from using the square, with the setting up of umbrellas, tents, old shoes,” Minister Ali said.
In addition, he said there are reports of people urinating on the walls of the square in the night, the landscaping has been destroyed and they’ve also now moved towards disfiguring of public sign boards, etc. All these matters have been reported to the police.
“We can’t tolerate this. Democracy is about everybody enjoying equally whatever is there to be enjoyed. And you can’t have a few persons imposing, upon a lot of persons, their will and their way,” he warned.
Ali continued: “So we’re saying that, within the boundaries, no one can erect any structure, put up any umbrella, put up chairs, open their pants as if they’re in some strip bar and take off their shirt and lay off in the night on the Parliament Square…you have to have some amount of decency. We want everybody to enjoy the country.”
He informed that the area will, eventually, be developed into the main terminus for tourism and the plan is to develop a Georgetown tour in the tourism package, including site visits among others.
“And we’ll bring people there, we’ll have buses there, we have the Brickdam renewal plan. Many Guyanese have been complaining,” he noted.
The Minister disclosed that, presently, there are lights sitting in a storeroom that cannot be installed because of the vandalism and also a fountain that is incredibly beautiful that the people of this country can’t enjoy.
OBJECTIVE
Ali said the only objective is to improve the condition and ensure that the city regains the beautiful heritage that it had.
He cautioned that any illegality committed within the boundaries of the square will be investigated and face the strict arms of the law.
“We put up nice painted signs and they took paint, paint out half of them and made a mockery of the signs. You can’t come within the boundaries of private property and impose,” Ali maintained.
He said: “We’re going to ensure that, within the boundaries, no illegal structure is erected, no illegal chairs are placed and we’re going to remove everything within the boundaries. I have to take a position in the interest of all the people.”
