President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali on Monday said the government’s Model Village initiative is intended to redefine community development by creating safer, greener and more prosperous villages where stronger social values, environmental stewardship and community spirit match economic progress.
Speaking during a consultation with residents at the Tuschen Secondary School in Region Three, the president said the initiative is not simply about upgrading infrastructure but about transforming communities into places where families can thrive, businesses can flourish, and citizens are empowered to shape their own future.
President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali
While the government will continue investing in roads, drainage, recreational facilities and other public infrastructure, sustainable development must also be driven by shared responsibility, strong family values and active citizen participation.
President Ali explained that the Model Village initiative places emphasis on the physical, social and human dimensions of development.
“We want communities to be anchored in faith, communities to be anchored in trust and love. Communities that are built with a socio-economic support system that allows people to have viable economic opportunities,” he stated.
Residents at Tuschen Secondary School
President Ali outlined several concepts under consideration for participating communities, including organised commercial zones, modern food courts, expanded green and recreational spaces, climate-resilient infrastructure and the integration of innovative agricultural technologies to strengthen food production and local enterprise.
He noted that government teams have spent the past several months surveying communities to identify development priorities.
The president added that the consultations are intended to ensure residents play a central role in shaping the projects that will be implemented.
Dr Ali said every community should develop its own unique identity and economic ecosystem, supported by infrastructure and services that improve the quality of life while preserving order, safety and environmental sustainability.
“This is not the time to step back in a moment of hate and division. This is that time to step forward with a renewed resolve of strengthening what love for our country really is. This is that time when we embrace each other in the comfort of wanting to be all citizens of this beautiful land,”the president urged.
The Model Village initiative is being rolled out in selected pilot communities in Guyana, with consultations forming a key part of the planning process to ensure development reflects the needs and aspirations of residents.
