Residents of Non Pareil and Melanie along the East Coast of Demerara were on Thursday given a detailed preview of the sweeping transformation planned for the community under the government’s Model Village Initiative, as President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali continued nationwide consultations to create safer, cleaner and more sustainable communities.
The engagement, held at the Melanie Nursery School, brought together residents, community leaders and government officials to discuss the proposed development plan and gather public input before implementation.
President Ali said the initiative goes beyond infrastructure development and seeks to improve every aspect of community life.
“Stronger, resilient and sustainable communities are communities that are built to last…It is not only about the physical infrastructure. It is about how we process our own existence within the community,” the head of state noted.
He explained that the programme is designed to create communities where residents enjoy a greater sense of belonging, dignity and ownership while ensuring development is centred on people.
The president noted that each village will maintain its unique identity while receiving an equal standard of public services.
The holistic development plan includes improved drainage systems, CCTV cameras, enhanced security, fire hydrants, economic opportunities for small businesses, upgraded recreational spaces, landscaping and better integration of community facilities.
The initiative will also establish designated industrial parking areas, organised vending zones, entertainment districts and green spaces to minimise conflicts between residential and commercial activities while improving the overall quality of life.
“We don’t want every community to be the same, but we want every community to have the same level of service. The transformation that you see in one area in Georgetown must be the lived transformation of every citizen across our country,” President Ali stated.
Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony presented the technical assessment conducted by engineers and planners, outlining the current conditions in the community and the proposed interventions.
“We want to do the roads, proper drainage, walkways, landscaping, lighting and create streets of wellness where health, wellness and mental health are taken into consideration,” he stated.
According to the assessment, Non Pareil and Melanie comprise approximately 470 acres with 73 roads, about 1,730 households.
There are several public facilities, including schools, health services, places of worship and recreational spaces.
The proposed works include the construction of approximately 26,900 metres of walkways, more than 43,000 metres of concrete drains, 32,200 metres of hardened road shoulders, rehabilitation of bridges and culverts, installation of 122 additional streetlights, replacement of more than 100 utility poles and the expansion of fire hydrant coverage throughout the community.
Plans also provide for the planting of 423 trees, the enhancement of four playgrounds and three green spaces, the removal of derelict vehicles and illegal encumbrances, improved garbage disposal systems and the creation of structured vending and tourism areas.
Residents were shown visual presentations illustrating how existing streets, recreational facilities and public spaces would be transformed through phased implementation.
The consultation concluded with government officials inviting residents to share their views and recommendations to ensure the final design reflects the needs and priorities of the community before construction begins.