— says culture, safety, green spaces and economic opportunities critical to sustainable development
THE government is advancing a broader approach to community development that goes beyond roads, drains and buildings, with President, Dr. Irfaan Ali emphasising that sustainable communities must also incorporate culture, recreation, safety, environmental protection and economic opportunities.
The Head of State outlined the vision while engaging residents of Kaneville, East Bank Demerara, as part of the government’s Model Village Initiative.
While roads, drainage and other physical infrastructure remain critical investments, President Ali said these are ultimately assets that must support the people and social systems that make communities thrive.
“A community is not a place of roads and drains and buildings; those are assets of the community,” President Ali said.
He explained that the government’s approach is intended to ensure communities across Guyana benefit from comparable standards of basic services and infrastructure while retaining the characteristics that make each village unique.
“Every community cannot be the same, but every community must enjoy similar level of service, similar level of infrastructure,” the president said.
According to the Head of State, development must incorporate spaces and facilities that encourage residents to interact, participate in community life and enjoy recreational activities.
He pointed to recreational facilities, green spaces, tree planting and beautification, places of worship and other community spaces as important components of creating healthier and more liveable neighbourhoods.
Environmental protection and biodiversity must also be integrated into that development, President Ali said, noting that trees, waterways, fish, ecosystems and other forms of life contribute to the overall character and well-being of communities.
Equally important, he said, is creating an environment where residents, particularly children, women and senior citizens, can feel safe.
“Our elders can walk in the streets safely. They can have green spaces to go and sit down. Our children can be safe, women can be safe,” he said.
Economic opportunities must also be incorporated into community planning, with infrastructural investments helping to create the conditions for residents to live, work, establish businesses and build better futures.
President Ali said the vibrancy of communities is also reflected in their people and the activities that bring residents together, pointing to football, cricket, tennis and other recreational activities involving young people.
He contrasted vibrant communities, where children can safely play and neighbours interact, with neighbourhoods where streets become inactive and residents increasingly disconnected from each other.
The president also underscored the importance of neighbourliness, discipline and respect for laws and community standards, noting that residents themselves have a responsibility to protect and maintain their surroundings.
He said the government’s Model Village Initiative therefore embraces a “holistic, collaborative system” that brings together the ecology, economy, environment and energy of communities.
The wider initiative seeks to establish a framework for developing modern, sustainable and cohesive communities, while preserving the unique identity, culture and heritage of individual villages.
