The Independence Boulevard turnaround – from dumpsite to one of Georgetown’s busiest weekend spots

-Minister Edghill speaks

Independence Boulevard has quietly become one of Georgetown’s best transformation success stories, a turnaround so complete that many residents still can’t believe the change happened in the same place they once avoided.

Just a few years ago, the stretch was widely known as a forgotten, foul-smelling dump site. Old tyres, scrap metal, derelict motorcycles, mud, and garbage were the defining features. Vendors operated in chaos, the market was in disrepair, and many Guyanese simply labelled the area “unsafe.” In the words of Public Works Minister Juan Edghill on the Starting Point podcast, “It was a garbage dump. A stink environment… junk dumped… chaos.”

Today, that very spot is one of the capital’s most vibrant and well-used public green spaces, a transformation that came through the President’s wider mandate to lift all communities, not just the traditionally popular ones.

Minister Edghill explained that the upgrade began with direct engagement between the government and residents: listening to community concerns and understanding what people wanted for their neighbourhood.

The result is what Independence Boulevard is today, a clean, landscaped, open public space that now serves as a point of pride for the surrounding communities. The once grim stretch now features greenery, organized vending, proper pathways, and safety measures that encourage families, joggers, vendors, and casual visitors to use the area without the fear or stigma once attached to it.

The minister noted that the transformation was so striking that even Guyanese abroad began praising it. “It was described by people in Brooklyn… they were amazed,” he said.

Residents have embraced the space in a way that was almost unimaginable before the turnaround. What was once “a place you don’t go” is now firmly a part of the Georgetown weekend lifestyle.

People who previously avoided the area because of crime or conditions now return with their families. Businesses around the boulevard say foot traffic has increased, and the general perception of the neighbourhood has improved significantly.

“It has brought value to a neighborhood that was just not too long ago considered mingling there, that’s where the bad boys were,” Edghill noted. “That’s not a place a Guyanese needed to have.”

Now, Independence Boulevard is part of the city’s wider effort to create safe, inclusive spaces across the capital, especially in communities that historically lacked such investment.

One of the most noticeable effects of the revitalization has been the surge in youth activity, and not just at Independence Boulevard. The minister pointed out that the wider transformation across Georgetown, from tarmacs in East and West Ruimveldt to new play spaces in North East La Penitence, has created a network of areas where young people can gather, train, and host sporting competitions.

In the case of Independence Boulevard, the improved environment has made it more welcoming for youth groups, neighborhood teams, and families. Clean, safe, open spaces have naturally encouraged healthier recreational habits.

Perhaps the strongest testament to the success of the project is how popular the boulevard has become. The seawalls have long been Georgetown’s unofficial gathering point, a staple spot for relaxation, food, entertainment, and fresh air.

But Independence Boulevard is now giving the seawalls real competition.

“I have gone to Independence Boulevard on a weekend,” Minister Edghill said. “It is as busy as the seawalls. Because people have a place.”

For years, residents complained about having too few clean, safe recreational spaces in the heart of the city. This turnaround proves that once such spaces are created, the public will fill them.