Latest update April 4th, 2025 6:13 AM
Gov’t to cover city canals for parking
By Zena Henry
The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) reported that in one year a maximum of 9,999
The Avenue of the Republic canal is one of two to be covered.
new vehicles were registered under the PSS series. This development will usher in the PTT series and government is again concerned about the impact the influx of vehicles is having on the city.
The main concerns are congestion and inadequate parking as these have faced city directors in the past. As a result, Cabinet decided Tuesday, to activate initiatives to cover up several city canals and make them available for automobile drivers to park.
Cabinet Secretary Roger Luncheon told reporters during the weekly press briefing at the Office of the President that canals located at the Avenue of the Republic and South Road/Croal Street have been identified for the introduction of the initiative.
Luncheon said that Cabinet took note of GRA’s report and was immediately concerned that the new series will put additional pressure on the city’s vehicle capacity. “The PTT series will now start, and again we are confronted with the influx of new vehicles that continue unabated.” He said that the consequences are predictable, and these would include, congestion and parking.
“In that context, Cabinet favourably accepted the proposal by the Minister of Housing and Water, Irfaan Ali, for the non-permanent covering/bridging of main canals in the city.” Non-permanent he said, for the purposes of removing the covers so that cleaning, dredging and desilting could be conducted on the waterways.
At all other times, he said, the facility will be used for parking. Cabinet has instructed, however, that the Housing Minister organize public consultations among stakeholders.
A few places within the city have already covered some of their drains prior to this announcement. Business spots, in particular, have bridged their private spaces to accommodate parking.
The Mayor and City Council of Georgetown (M&CC) has taken note of the government’s decision and will be discussing the matter at their next statutory meeting. The M&CC is the Municipal body mandated with the upkeep and smooth running of the capital.
Deputy Mayor Patricia Chase-Green who is currently acting in the capacity of City Mayor told Kaieteur News that she became aware of plans to cover canals via the media. The Deputy Mayor said she is not aware of any consultations held with the Municipality.
Chase-Green said that the Council has already received several telephone calls from the public rejecting the idea to cover the canals. In her opinion, covering the canals will “destroy the city’s beauty.” She questioned why options of using unoccupied spaces or creating parking lots outside city hubs were not considered.
“Why do they want to put everything in the city,” she questioned.
Chase-Green said that many non-permanent actions eventually become permanent, and while the government did state that the canal bridges would be removed for cleaning purposes, she was not convinced, and expressed concerns that the coverings would create new problems for maintaining Georgetown.
Chase-Green then referred to the ‘Akbar Khan report’ which was adopted but never implemented by the government. She said that the years-old plan spoke of reconfiguring Georgetown and many ideas were put forward to see the smooth flow of the city. The Khan report spoke of relocating bus parks, taxi parks, and ensuring business places provide parking areas among several other issues.
Chase-Green opined that if the authorities should put in place measures that see people parking their vehicles outside the city and using a transportation shuttle system to move people about the city, then that could be considered. She said it is being done in developed countries.
Georgetown’s layout was influenced by several European occupants, but the canals were built by the Dutch in the 1700s. They sought to ensure the free runoff of water from the land. Several kokers and drains throughout the city run off into the canals which drain into the sea. The canals are a bold reminder of the Dutch influence in Guyana.
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