Businesses join battle against traffic congestion

Sep 28, 2025 News

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…to review timing of offloading of containers

Kaieteur News – Businesses have partnered with the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in a bid to ease traffic congestion. Operations Director of Gaico Inc, Khishan Singh in a recent episode of Spotlight, said that the private sector has frequently met with the Ministry of Home Affairs to tackle the issue.

He said the private sector is considerate of their timing in offloading cargo.

Notwithstanding, he reminded that Guyana is a developing state with rapid advancements, which makes it difficult to dedicate roadways for specific vehicles.

Singh said too that the railway road will assist in how the private sector handles cargo in Guyana.

Additionally, Executive Director of the Guyana Manufacturing & Services Association, Govindra Raghubansi also pointed to Guyana’s rapid development.

“…A reason for this growth is that, you know, there’s a lot of construction, oil and gas going on, manufacturing is growing”, he said.

Raghubansi emphasised that, though there is room for improvement for the traffic situation in Guyana, there has been an increased amount of container ships coming to Guyana.

Last month, Traffic Chief Mahendra Singh said that the “police can only do so much”, in relation to the traffic congestion that continues to plague citizens.

“All we can do is have our presence on the road,” he was quoted as saying in an iNews Guyana while stating that in many cases, traffic buildup is caused by poorly executed order of road works or heavy-duty machinery breaking down on the roadways.

Meanwhile, the private sector said it is open to the City Revival plan as announced by President Irfaan Ali.

“So, we’re excited, and we’re very, very supportive”, said Singh.

President Ali last week unveiled the Georgetown City Revival Plan, an initiative aimed at revitalising the capital through targeted investments in infrastructure, drainage, road works, sanitation, and urban beautification.

According to the Department of Public Information, President Ali, speaking during a press briefing at the Office of the President, stated that the plan will form part of a broader national strategy for sustainable urban development, beginning with the capital and its surrounding region. He emphasised that poor governance and inefficiency in managing the city could no longer be accepted.

“The mismanagement and inefficiency through which the city is managed can no longer be tolerated. It is time for us, as citizens and as a country, to take charge of the situation. We are advancing the rescue of Georgetown,” President Ali declared.

DPI stated that over the past five years, the government has invested billions of dollars into improving Georgetown’s infrastructure, including drainage upgrades, road works, housing development, and the construction of a high-span bridge over the Demerara River. These improvements, aimed at enhancing quality of life and driving economic growth, will now be supported by the newly launched city revival plan. The plan is being implemented in collaboration with the King’s Foundation.

The plan envisions a transformed, sustainable “Garden City” that reflects Guyana’s biodiversity, cultural heritage, and commitment to inclusive development. Several flagship projects have been proposed, including:

Recreational spaces and heritage restoration: Rehabilitation of historic sites such as the old Transport and Harbours building and the former train station. The latter will be repurposed to house a museum and training hub.

Stabroek Waterfront Development: A modernisation effort targeting the waterfront and market districts, with designs that showcase Georgetown’s identity as the “land of many waters.”

Urban green enhancements: Restoration of urban landscapes and tourism-oriented upgrades to drainage canals, alongside the development of the Lamaha Railway Courtyard project, a visual walk-through of Guyana’s history.

Sustainable growth clusters: Expansion into agro-integrated zones, green infrastructure and transport links, and the revitalization of the city’s historic civic core, including Stabroek Market and Water Street.

President Ali underscored that the plan is aligned with Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030, ensuring that all initiatives promote environmental sustainability, economic resilience, and social inclusion.

Key priorities under the city’s urban framework include housing and infrastructure expansion, improved waste management and sanitation, increased flood resilience and climate adaptation, protection of the city’s heritage, and the development of a modern transport system aimed at easing congestion.

The president further stressed that stakeholder engagement, across the private sector, municipal authorities, government ministries, and civil society, will be crucial to the plan’s success. “We are progressing with a clearly defined plan for the city. Every stakeholder will play a critical role in advancing this transformation of our capital. Georgetown must be repositioned as one of the finest cities in the world,” he affirmed.

In addition to the transformation of Georgetown, the government also intends to pursue demonstration projects such as the outer Georgetown low-carbon market town and the Silicon City master plan, both of which aim to pilot models of sustainable urban development.

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• Gaico Inc., GMSA, Khishan Singh, offloading containers, Traffic congestion

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