By Nazim Baksh
THE city of Georgetown has been running on empty for decades and yet this is not the time for anyone, especially its residents who are keeping it alive, to fall into a state of despair. There is still loads of time to turn things around, but it requires decisive leadership and immediate action.
The eminent urban planner, Jane Jacobs and author of her landmark treatise, “The Death and Life of Great American Cities,” said: “Whenever societies have flourished and prospered rather than stagnated and decayed, creative and workable cities have been at the core of the phenomenon.”
Declining cities and social unrest always seem to go hand in glove with declining economies. However, Guyana’s economy is on the rise and that’s perhaps just one reason why we should remain hopeful.
The second reason is that for the first time in our history we have a President who is not a lawyer, doctor or an economist. President Mohamed Irfaan Ali holds a doctorate in urban planning and I reckon he knows a thing or two about what it will take to harness the seeds that could lead to a city badly in need of regeneration.
This President is acutely aware that Georgetown is still alive despite its many challenges. He is not interested in turning Georgetown into a dream city. He knows that it will take the collective imagination of key stakeholders and the cooperation of its citizens to repair the image of Georgetown. It is a herculean task, not a one-man or a one-political- party job.
The question is whether the residents of this city and its elected officials have the requisite vision and will to embrace change and take advantage of the opportunities staring them in the face.
Pay attention to the President’s demeanour, particularly his words on the day a partial roof at Stabroek Market collapsed. He was evidently pained, embarrassed, angry perhaps, and yet he made a bold offer to the Mayor and City Council – let’s repair this city of ours together.
As I hopped into a taxi in front of Demico House earlier this week I realised the area seemed empty of people. While I was happy to see the iconic business like it was intended to be, I was sad that the vendors who had for years stifled it into a lifeless shell were forced to relocate. I hope they didn’t suffer any financial loss as a result.
Vendors in front of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation too have been warned to relocate their stalls or risk forceful removal. The vendors at the Georgetown seawall have likewise been instructed by authorities to abide by the terms of their agreement and not erect permanent structures on public land. Thankfully, they all complied and not a single vendor had their entrepreneurial spirit crushed.
The City Council should find special enclaves in the city’s core to accommodate vendors whether they are selling vegetables, fruits, food, clothes or household items. The city needs them. Street food when done right is a blessing, not a curse.
But at the same time, everyone should recognise that streets and sidewalks are the vital organs of a city and are meant for people to use, not abuse. When they are occupied, intensely and frequently, they are a symbol of a city’s wealth. It is important that they be made safe for pedestrians to walk, talk, meet, greet, shop and gawk if they wish.
A city does not have to be a work of art to be great. The aim is not to make Georgetown into a Venice, Amsterdam or Chefchaouen in Morocco. An important feature of great cities is that its multiplicity of bits and pieces have to supplement and support each other, as Jacobs observed.
Congestion is a major cause of stress to anyone who lives in or visits Georgetown. Drivers treat the city like it is a wildlife sanctuary and as such their vehicles become a refuge to transport them from point A to the nearest lodge, whether it’s their place of work or their homes.
While the government is repairing and upgrading the city’s roads, Councillors can designate specific roads for public transportation only and create adequate parking for visitors to move easily on foot in the downtown core.
Georgetown is littered with derelict buildings. During the limited term of APNU-AFC, city engineers have identified over a 100 for demolition. In 2016, it was 52, and in 2019 the number doubled. City Councillors have bemoaned the fact that these buildings are unsafe and dangerous for anyone who lives or squats in them.
As a matter of fact, families with school-aged children were believed to have been squatting with impunity under the area of the collapsed Stabroek roof. Mercifully, no one died when the roof collapsed.
In tearing down these dilapidated buildings and making room for the new, the Mayor and City Councillors would be wise to seek the counsel of the President. Perhaps he might tell them how to envision new ideas by relying on the secrets of old buildings.
