NOTHING is more aesthetically pleasant than a spotless and orderly atmosphere. Under the PNC-dominated City Council, Georgetown, which was formerly known as “The Garden City”, was allowed to deteriorate over a number of decades to the point that it became “a garbage city”.

For much of the post-independence period, the city wore a depressing look: Clogged drains filled with litter and garbage; buildings in need of rehabilitation and re-painting; flooded streets and piles of garbage all over the place. The stench emanating from garbage build-up and stagnant drains was unbearable, especially when it rains. Not even the iconic City Hall was spared the neglect.

Yet, the beauty and magnificence of the city were never in doubt. Georgetown still remains one of the most beautiful cities in the Caribbean, with its varied mix of colonial architecture indicative of its former colonial status and heritage. The influence of European architecture is still very much in evidence, which gives the city its unique and distinctive character.
It is a lasting shame on the City Council and the PNC administration that the capital city of Georgetown and its beautiful architecture were allowed to run down to the state that it has currently found itself in.

The blame rests squarely on the shoulders of the PNC-dominated Mayor and City Council, which, over the decades had mismanaged its affairs to the point where it was unable to pay its wages and other bills, not to mention its ability to effect the barest minimum of rehabilitation works to the city’s infrastructure.

It was not until the return of the PPP/C to office on October 5, 1992 that an effort was made to reverse the decline of the city by way of financial subventions and several other interventions in terms of road repairs, drainage and garbage disposal among others. The impact of these interventions were, however, not fully optimized, due to an entrenched culture of mismanagement and extravagance by the Council, which sadly continues until this day.

With the election to office of the PPP/C in March 2020, a renewed effort was made to bring back the city to its former glory. President Dr. Irfaan Ali, in his New Year message, announced that his administration intends to lead a national resurgence of sustained public cleanliness that promotes environmental health across the country and the restoration of national pride.

President Ali and his PPP/C administration must be given full credit for coming to the rescue of the city. The current restoration works on the City Hall, coupled with the several attempts to beautify the city, are manifestations of a President who cares about aesthetics, and the health and well-being of the citizens of Georgetown.

This has been replicated in several other parts of the country, and as the country becomes more financially consolidated, Guyanese could expect a much cleaner and environmentally-friendly surroundings.

In the case of Georgetown, even though the President has given full commitment to restoration works, the city and the welfare of its citizens, he made it clear that the PPP/C administration will not allow itself to be used as a “scapegoat” for the failure of the City Council to do its work, and to live up to its responsibility and mandate.

“Let me be very clear, this government cares tremendously about our city, but we will not allow ourselves to be used as a scapegoat in the city not fulfilling its responsibility and mandate or in the city converting everything into political opportunism or a political football,” the President said.

President Ali had reiterated earlier that whilst the city is not fulfilling its responsibilities in maintenance of the environment and its infrastructure and the cleaning of drainage, Central Government has embarked on a massive programme to clean the city, to clean and maintain the roadways, establish roundabouts and maintain drainage systems.