An Inter-Agency Task Force for the crafting of an Urban Development Master Plan was yesterday launched, according to a statement from the Ministry of the Presidency.
The convening of the Task Force marks the beginning of the national discourse mandated by the Cabinet to give priority attention to waterfront development and urban planning, the statement said.
At the event, Director, Department of Energy, Dr. Mark Bynoe reiterated that the Green State Development Strategy is the best model to realise the goal of the urban plan.
In his presentation, Bynoe said “Georgetown, as we know it today, is a place of greater flow of heavy vehicular traffic; increasing congestion and angst; ineffective traffic management; non-existent priority lanes; a culture of impatience and intolerance; insufficient enforcement of the City laws and by-laws, and insufficient multi-purpose facilities. It is therefore, essential that any such Master Plan, must include the consideration of identifying infrastructure needs (on-shore support) such as fabrication and construction, and supply and service opportunities such as transportation and distribution, arising from exploration and development of oil and gas resources in offshore Guyana.. It is therefore essential that we also seek to enhance the participation of local business, institutions, associations and individuals in commercial and direct and indirect employment”.
Bynoe added that in its current phase, Georgetown will require stringent zoning and the enforcement of these zoning laws and oil and gas development will have to co-exist with other development activities and productive sectors.
The Task Force also comprises representatives from the Ministry of the Presidency; the Mayor and City Council, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, the Central Planning and Housing Authority, the Maritime Administration, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and the Ministry of Business.
