Georgetown is dying: Let us save it now!

Nov 21, 2025 Letters

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Dear Editor,

The state of the City of Georgetown, our capital city, has horribly deteriorated over the last 40 years. It is unsafe and unhealthy, and is in an ultra-deplorable state. While we, citizens, are forced to fend for ourselves and find our way in the mess the Mayor & City Council (M&CC) has created, the Council continues to play a never-ending game of political chess!

The constant decline has had a devastating impact on businesses, property owners, pedestrians, commuters, and all and sundry! As a consequence, people are avoiding it like the plague, even as it bleeds, to seeming death. Let me also say, like the vast majority of right-thinking Guyanese have been saying for decades, Georgetown needs to undergo an “emergency surgery” immediately.

As citizens of Guyana, we owe it to ourselves, and future generations, to ensure the eyesores and blights that the M&CC have inflicted upon us, are urgently remedied. Most unfortunate in the whole debacle, however, is that not only have they turned a blind eye to the degradation, they have consciously encouraged it. The M&CC is not only an abysmal failure; it is a gross national embarrassment!

Yesterday, I observed an altercation via social media, and an article in the newspapers of 17th November 2025, which has impelled me to write this letter. Let me start with the altercation in front of Universal Church at Charlotte & Wellington Streets, between representatives of the Church and a motorist.

It stemmed from strong objection by church officials to a motorist parking on the parapet and a part of the pavement, in front of their Church. The church officials insisted that they have exclusive rights to the parapet and pavement in front of their building, while the motorist felt he had the right to park there if he wished.

The heated exchange, recorded and shown live, resulted in a cutlass being brandished! It is patently clear that the situation could have led to violence and even death. The fact is, neither of them has the right they claim! The pavements are for pedestrians to traverse freely and safely. Therefore, they ought to be clear at all times.

Given that property owners have a right to unhindered access to their properties, they also are obligated to keep the pavement in front of their property clear. However, this is not an isolated case, but a city-wide epidemic.

Immediately after the altercation, I observed the M&CC officials moving with great alacrity, exactly as they did on October 28, 2025, on Regent Street and surrounding areas. On that occasion they lawfully removed barriers, no-parking and active-driveway signs etc. placed by business owners, who were struggling to grapple with the prevalent lawlessness.

I then noticed a related article in Stabroek News (SN) in which one Wendell Blair complained to SN that the Mayor & City Council (M&CC) had served him a notice to remove all his encumbrances, such as pallets, trays, tables, mannequins, barrels, boxes etc., within the vicinity of Banks DIH.

Mr. Blair, in his complaint, said he was selling at the same spot, at the side of the road and pavement, behind Demico House, for 38 years! That’s right, 38 long years! He went on to say that for years, up to last year, the M&CC collected a fee for him to sell there.

He added that he went to court, about 40 times, seemingly proud of that accomplishment, and would pay the fine for the offence and return to the same spot to continue vending as usual! This is not only shocking and damning! It presents clear evidence of a completely dysfunctional, and wholly incompetent, Council!

In an order issued after 38 years— and only after being compelled by the Court—the M&CC cited Mr. Blair for breaching section 10 of the city by-laws enacted under the Municipal and District Councils Act, Chapter 28:01 on 14th November, 2025. Mr. Blair, by his own report, was not only breaking the law continuously for 38 years, he consciously did it!

I would like the M&CC to tell us, citizens, why they were not enforcing the by-laws for 38 years. Why did they not remove Mr. Blair and his belongings? Why are businesses forced to obtain Court orders before you execute your lawful responsibility? Further, tell us, under which section, in the same act that you have now cited Mr. Blair, you are authorised to collect monies from vendors whom have illegally taken over the pavements and streets of the city.

Council, by its very act of collecting monies from vendors, has falsely and wrongly given vendors the impression that led them to think they can set up shop, anywhere they feel pleased. It is clearly evident that the M&CC is responsible for the current deplorable state that the city is in and the chaos that ensues. Now is the time for them to clean the mess they have created!

Further, as they lawfully and rightfully acted on 17th November 2025 at Charlotte & Wellington Streets, and on Regent Street and nearby areas on 28th October 2025, Council must, with the same alacrity, expand the exercise to Water Street, Lombard Street, Hinck Street, Commerce Street, America Street and the others. The law cannot be enforced selectively. It must be enforced across the board.

Law enforcement is what downtown Georgetown is begging for! let the city breathe!

Aftab Bacchus
Dissatisfied Citizen

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• Dissatisfied Citizen, Dying, Georgetown, Letters

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