What the Mayor and City Council says is a new approach in its efforts to “rebrand, renew and revitalize” the capital will be unveiled this morning in the form of a three-day ‘Green Conference and Expo’ at two neighboring city venues: the Pro-menade Gardens and the Parade Ground.
City Hall Public Relations Officer Deborah Lewis told Stabroek Business earlier this week that the event seeks to bring together, sections of the citizenry, the business community and municipal officials in an ongoing exercise aimed at bringing about both a psychological and a physical shift in attitude to the creation of an environmentally friendly atmosphere.
In a telephone interview on Wednesday Lewis said the initiative had secured the support of at least 15 urban businesses houses including Republic Bank and National Hardware as well as local diplomatic missions, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Guyana Power and Light Company. She said the event will seek to create a setting that will allow for a heightened public sensitivity to a green environment that will be shared by citizens and the business community alike. Promotional material circulated by the secretariat in charge of the event said it “is based upon a presidential order that the country undertake its development programmes within a green framework and an environmentally friendly environment.”
The Promenade Gardens will host the deliberations associated with the event while the expo will the held at the Parade Ground.
The event, according to the municipality’s PRO will seek to enhance vendors’ appreciation of the importance of a clean environment, a pursuit which she said will be reinforced by slogans, memorabilia and discussions. She said City Hall was seeking to ensure that the event left “a lasting impression.” Performances by schools and musical groups will be built around the theme of the environment.
Long criticized for what was felt to be its less than stellar performance in its efforts to maintain the capital, City Hall says in its promotional material that its current focus is on making Georgetown “the most eco-friendly city within the Caribbean and South America” as well as “a model city for those seeking to attain green development.”
