Government Launches Aggressive Infrastructure Overhaul in Georgetown
The Ministry of Public Works has launched a comprehensive campaign to address longstanding infrastructure problems across Georgetown, tackling issues such as deteriorating roads, failing bridges, and inadequate drainage systems that have plagued residents for years.
Over the weekend, Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill led a team of engineers on an extensive series of site inspections in several vulnerable communities. The outreach covered areas including Agricola, Container City, Rasville, Benn Kirton Drive, Rivers View, Sussex and Hill Streets, Middle Road, Barbie Dam, Bamboo Drive, Meadow Brook, Kitty, Bel-Air Park, North Sophia, and Merriman’s Mall.
During these visits, residents openly expressed frustration over years of neglect by the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (G/MCC). They highlighted poor drainage and crumbling road networks as major contributors to persistent flooding and transportation woes, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall.
Minister Edghill, in direct response, assured communities that urgent government intervention is forthcoming. He instructed his technical team to gather information from residents to facilitate return visits and detailed assessments. These evaluations will inform tailored action plans designed to meet the unique infrastructural needs of each community.
“The Government of Guyana will not abandon Georgetown or any of its wards because of the incompetence and immature politics of City Hall,” Edghill declared. “People are suffering and we will act. The government will do what it takes to improve lives and livelihoods.”
This initiative is part of a broader national infrastructure development strategy being implemented by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration. The plan aims to modernize and rehabilitate infrastructure across all ten administrative regions, with a focus on community-level development and inclusive growth.
In 2024 alone, the Ministry of Public Works managed over 4,500 public infrastructure projects nationwide. These projects engaged contractors at all levels—from small community-based teams to large engineering firms—spanning a wide range of roadworks, bridge construction, and urban upgrades.
Key undertakings included:
The $475 million Cemetery Road Project in Georgetown;
21 contracts for 2.7 km of concrete roads and 10 contracts for 9.8 km of roads in Region One (Barima-Waini);
7 contracts for 35 km of laterite roads in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni);
42 contracts for 2.5 km and 66 community participation road projects in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni);
7 contracts for 350 km of laterite roads in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), including 1.5 km each in four key villages;
And in Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice), a total of 100+ contracts covering roads in Kwakwani, Ituni, and Coomaka.
Over 3,000 community roads were constructed or rehabilitated in 2024, with small contractors playing a pivotal role in transforming neighborhoods across the country. In Region Ten alone, more than 300 contractors executed projects valued at over $4 billion.
Complementing road development, nearly 200 new bridges are either underway or completed nationwide. Notably, in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), 45 of the 46 bridges on the route to Lethem are being replaced to boost accessibility. Major bridge projects—such as the ongoing construction of two four-lane bridges, including one across the Wismar River—are also reshaping the country’s transportation network.
The government has underscored its commitment to building resilient and inclusive infrastructure that supports national development, reduces urban-rural disparities, and improves the day-to-day lives of all Guyanese.
