Minister within the Ministry of Housing Vanessa Benn says President Irfaan Ali’s Model Village initiative must be evaluated based on its long-term benefits, including improved communities and a better quality of life for residents.
The cost of the Model Village initiative has not been disclosed, and while Benn acknowledged that the programme must have a defined budget she said citizen comfort remains a central concern.
“There must be a cost and there must be a budget line, I agree, but we are doing it in a manner that ensures that we enhance our communities for the comfort of our citizens,” she explained adding that “We have to see how our country is growing and how much we would like to see an enhanced environment for each and every Guyanese.”
The initiative is expected to deliver improvements in roads, drainage, street lighting, recreational spaces, public safety and the overall appearance of communities.
Residents are also being consulted to identify the specific needs and priorities within their villages.
The communities initially identified will form the first phase of a wider national programme.
“This first phase and these first 23 will be replicated in each and every village across our country,” Benn disclosed.
She noted that greater exposure to well-planned communities overseas has also raised expectations among Guyanese for similar development at home.
“You travel and you see these lovely roads and tree-lined streets, improved transportation, and there is no congestion on the roads. Then you sometimes think, ‘Why not us?’” she related.
According to the minister, the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to creating communities where residents can live more comfortably and children can grow and thrive.
