$2B set aside to start rebuilding Stabroek, Bourda markets
A whopping $2 billion has been set aside in Budget 2026 to begin examining options to rebuild Guyana’s historic Stabroek and Bourda municipal markets.
This intervention, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh said is driven by what he described as the “sad state of deterioration and neglect” at the historic facilities and the need to preserve key landmarks while enhancing Georgetown’s physical landscape.
He told the National Assembly that the work is intended to “beautify our garden city” and to provide a safer, more comfortable shopping experience for citizens and visitors.
The government, he said, will use the 2026 allocation to commence rebuilding activities, with redevelopment options to be examined as part of the initial phase.
The planned Stabroek and Bourda initiative falls within a broader programme aimed at making Local Democratic Organs (LDOs) “more effective, efficient and reliable” in delivering citizen-oriented, community-driven services.
Dr. Singh said the government has already strengthened the governance architecture through the conduct of Local Government Elections and increased financial support through subventions and revenue-earning initiatives, including the construction of community markets.
He added that LDOs also received sanitation equipment and training to improve financial management and operational efficiency.
For 2026, Minister Singh said government will continue upgrading and modernising municipal and local community markets into well-established commercial centres and will develop designated vending zones to improve the shopping experience. A sum of $1.9 billion has been budgeted for those market upgrades and vending zone works.
The government also plans to construct 12 additional LDO buildings with a $550 million budget, while allocating $2.8 billion to subsidise all LDOs.
Singh further announced that $13.6 billion is budgeted to continue community-level environmental support and employment through the Community Enhancement Workers Programme and the National Pathway Workers Project, initiatives the government says help strengthen local services while providing jobs.
In addition, Singh said the government will fully operationalise citizens’ help desks to improve timely service delivery by assisting residents in accessing basic government services, alongside further training and capacity-building support for LDOs nationwide.
