Residents of New Amsterdam have largely welcomed plans to transform the historic township under the Government’s Model Village Initiative, describing the proposed upgrades as a long-awaited opportunity to modernise the town, improve the shopping experience and create new economic and recreational opportunities.
Plans for New Amsterdam include a modernised municipal market, a dedicated vendors’ hub, upgraded roads, drainage, sidewalks and street lighting, along with improvements to the Esplanade featuring recreational and sporting facilities. The town is also expected to benefit from expanded fire hydrants and CCTV coverage.
Resident Vondetta Carmichael described the initiative as a positive development that could make the town brighter and more attractive to visitors.
“I think it’s a good initiative. At least it’s going to brighten our town and more tourism will come to New Amsterdam. Plus, there will be more job opportunities for people and business people. The business is going to boom,” she said.
Carmichael said she was particularly pleased with the proposed improvements to the streets, trees and market, noting that a more comfortable market environment would benefit shoppers. She said the inclusion of spaces where shoppers could sit, eat and relax after purchasing their goods would make the market experience more convenient.
For Cassandra Williams, the proposed market, drainage and interlock improvements are equally important.
“I love everything about the idea with the market, the drainage, the interlock, everything about it. I love it and it’s a good job,” Williams said.
She said the current condition of some of the interlocked areas has created difficulties, making the planned improvements particularly welcomed.
Regional Councillor Shaun Smith described the initiative as timely, particularly as Guyana continues its drive towards modernisation.
“I think it’s timely in the modernization drive for Guyana. And I think all of the residents of New Amsterdam will welcome this initiative,” Smith said.
He pointed to the large turnout at Saturday’s consultation as evidence of residents’ interest in the proposed changes. According to Smith, the project has the potential to transform the overall appearance of the township through infrastructure improvements, modernised street systems, upgraded interlocks and beautification works.
Resident Sherwin Lafleur also welcomed the plans, particularly the proposed transformation of the market, where vendors currently operate along the roadside.
“Everything that we saw up there was very beautiful,” Lafleur said.
He said the current situation, where vendors are sometimes forced to sell along the roadside, is not ideal and expressed hope that the proposed vendors’ hub and market redevelopment would bring greater order to commercial activity in the town.
For educator Nicholas Sagadaya, the consultation represented an important opportunity for Government to engage directly with residents and demonstrate its plans for development.
“I’ve always said that whenever it is that the Government could meet the people, that’s where you see the actual work coming out of the Government’s mandate,” Sagadaya said.
Sagadaya dismissed suggestions that the consultation was merely a response to the recent tragedy involving the MV Barima, describing such criticism as “amateur political mileage.” He said the level of planning and detail presented during the consultation indicated that the proposals could not simply have been developed within a matter of weeks.
“I’m really excited about it,” he said, noting that as an educator he would be able to take the information back to his students and communities. He said building greater civic responsibility would be critical to the success of the initiative, pointing to the President’s emphasis on education as part of that process.
Beyond roads, drains and other infrastructure, Sagadaya said he was particularly excited about the recreational elements proposed for New Amsterdam.
The proposed transformation is expected to be implemented in phases, with utility relocation expected to precede drainage, pedestrian access and road improvements, followed by green-space development.
