President Irfaan Ali continued public consultations on model-villages today in Melanie Damishana on the East Coast of Demerara.

He began the consultations earlier this week at the Leonora Primary School in Region Three, and has since held consultations along the East Bank Demerara corridor.

Through the Model Village initiative, the Government is hoping to create better communities with enhanced roads, drainage, irrigation systems and green spaces to ensure social and economic development for residents.

Speaking to residents in Melanie, the President said the time has come for communities to not only rebrand themselves while maintaining their identity, but to also create spaces where people can live, work and grow comfortably.

“That is why, we don’t want every community to be the same, but we want every community to have the same service. The transformation that you see in one area in Georgetown, must be the lived- transformation of every citizen across our country,” the President said.

Noting that 3 out of 4 persons still live in villages, the President said the transformation of the village is critical to the transformation of the economy, and the country as a whole.

He said in that transformation, the Government is also seeking to reduce conflicts that exists in the villages, so that each village could become a place where persons are able to coexist peacefully.

“So, we want to be able to build spaces within communities and in between communities that we can have these facilities located in a safer way, in a way that is more environmentally acceptable, in a way that is more physically acceptable,” the President noted.

Some of the major initiatives planned for the Melanie Damishana community include the upgrading of public infrastructure and public spaces, constructions of walkways and general landscaping among other things.

“One of the things we have done is to look at the challenges, right now you have only three fire hydrants in your community. Based on the technical assessments and assessments of the experts, we will be installing 43 fire hydrants in your community.  They did an assessment of the utility poles, and they have identified 100 utility poles that need to be changed and to put in the proper utility poles for your community,” the President stated.

Further, he noted that security cameras and street lights will also be installed as well as designated spaces for vending.

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