President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali has proposed transforming New Amsterdam’s old stelling into a modern waterfront boardwalk, featuring restaurants and entertainment options to draw evening and nightlife activity into the township.
“That is the type of opportunities we can create. And already, there is critical infrastructure that we built around New Amsterdam: the Palmyra Stadium, the Athletic Track – all of these things will bring people to New Amsterdam,” President Ali said.
The president shared the idea during a Model Village Initiative consultation at the Berbice High School in Region Six on Saturday. He pointed out that this will help position the town as a tourism destination.
The initiative is part of a holistic plan to make New Amsterdam a “walking community,” with green spaces, parks and health infrastructure designed to encourage residents to be more active.
Under the proposals, the community would get a “health box,” a walk-in unit where residents can check their blood pressure and blood sugar, with results linked directly to the local clinic’s database.
Plans also include quality recreational spaces and play parks, along with reserves to relocate heavy traffic out of residential areas and free land for parking.
President Ali linked the proposals to a broader safety agenda for the township, saying safety must extend beyond policing to include fire protection, flood resilience, and secure spaces where children and elderly residents can use parks without concern.