U.K. team advances urban framework plan for Georgetown in high-level stakeholder meeting

A visiting delegation from the United Kingdom–based King’s Foundation met with national and municipal officials on Tuesday to advance work on the Urban Framework Plan for Greater and Central Georgetown.

The session forms part of the government’s wider push to modernise the capital under President Dr Irfaan Ali’s City Revival Plan.

The meeting was led by Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Hon. Vanessa Benn, and Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Hon. Priya Manickchand.

The UK team was headed by Mr. Ben Bolgar, Executive Director of Projects at the King’s Foundation, who provided updates on ongoing work to support the transformation of the city.

The engagement brought together representatives from the Ministry of Public Works, City Hall councillors and engineers, the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, and the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA). Senior CH&PA officials in attendance included Chief Executive Officer Dr Martin Pertab, Chief Development Planner Ms Germene Stewart, Health, Safety, and Environmental Manager Mr Sunil Gopaul, and Deputy Director of Projects, Intakab Indarjeet.

The Urban Framework Plan aims to reimagine Georgetown as a resilient, sustainable, and inclusive modern “Garden City.”

Its five pillars—residential development, commercial expansion, highways, green systems, and water management—are aligned with Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030 and the country’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goal 11 on Sustainable Cities and Communities.

In her opening remarks, Minister Benn underscored the need for coordination across agencies, stating that all stakeholders must be integrally involved to ensure that projects complement each other.

She also reminded participants that the principles of the LCDS must be integrated into every initiative as the government works to modernise and revitalise Georgetown.

Minister Manickchand also stressed the importance of building moving plans to reality.