The Skeldon Market in Berbice, Region Six is set to benefit from an upgrade as part of the government’s broader plan to modernise the community and improve the environment for residents, vendors and businesses, President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali said Saturday.
The proposed improvements form part of a wider infrastructure plan for Skeldon, which includes upgrades to a 9,277-metre road network, benefiting approximately 720 households, 12 businesses and four places of worship.
President Ali said the government wants to ensure that community markets are not merely places of commerce, but clean, attractive and functional spaces that can contribute to the local economy.
He said the development of the market must be considered alongside opportunities for agro-processing, agriculture, honey production and other enterprises, creating an environment where residents can expand their businesses and generate greater economic activity.
“We want to develop communities that have a complete ecosystem,” President Ali said, noting that better markets, recreational facilities, green spaces and other public infrastructure are all part of creating communities where people can live, work and prosper.
The wider Skeldon intervention will include more than 2,000 metres of concrete walkways, over 9,000 cross drains, and the rehabilitation or replacement of more than 30 culverts. Plans also include 192 new street lamps, the replacement of 13 utility poles, tree planting and the creation of two green spaces.
President Ali said the infrastructure works are intended to improve safety and accessibility while also addressing issues that affect the appearance and livability of the community, including garbage disposal, noise nuisance and the improper storage of materials along road shoulders and other public spaces.
He said the transformation must ultimately allow residents to enjoy the same quality of life being developed in Georgetown and other urban centres, with safe roads, functioning drainage, recreation spaces, economic opportunities and a clean environment.
“We have to have certain basic level of services that is available to every single citizen, starting with safety and security, opportunities for jobs, markets, entertainment, recreational facility, green spaces, beautification, environmental stewardship, drainage and irrigation,” the President said.
President Ali also announced that government ministers will return to the community in the coming weeks to engage residents on opportunities through the Guyana Development Bank, including the formation of business clusters for poultry, egg production and hatching.
Skeldon is one of twenty three villages targeted under the pilot phase of the Model Village Initiative. So far, discussions were held with nineteen villages. The remaining four are Supenaam, Charity, Suddie and Anna Regina in Region Two, which will commence on Monday.