Aug 6, 2026
3 min read
New walkways, drains, streetlights and fire hydrants are among nearly 100,000 metres of infrastructure works planned for Non Pareil and Melanie, East Coast Demerara, under a development plan unveiled to residents on Thursday.
The plan under the government's Model Village Initiative, covers roughly 470 acres across 73 roads and about 1,730 households. It was presented by President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali as he continued nationwide consultations aimed at creating safer, cleaner and more sustainable communities.
The engagement, held at the Melanie Nursery School, brought together residents, community leaders and government officials to discuss the proposed plan and gather public input before implementation.
President Ali said the initiative extends beyond infrastructure development, aiming to improve every aspect of community life.
"Stronger, resilient and sustainable communities are communities that are built to last… It is not only about the physical infrastructure. It is about how we process our own existence within the community," he said.
He said the programme is designed to foster a greater sense of belonging, dignity and ownership among residents while keeping development centred on people, adding that each village will retain its unique identity while receiving an equal standard of public services.
The development plan includes improved drainage systems, CCTV cameras, enhanced security, fire hydrants, economic opportunities for small businesses, upgraded recreational spaces, landscaping and better integration of community facilities. It will also establish designated industrial parking areas, organised vending zones, entertainment districts and green spaces intended to reduce conflict between residential and commercial activities.
"We don't want every community to be the same, but we want every community to have the same level of service. The transformation that you see in one area in Georgetown must be the lived transformation of every citizen across our country," Ali said.
Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony presented a technical assessment conducted by engineers and planners, outlining current conditions in the community and proposed interventions.
"We want to do the roads, proper drainage, walkways, landscaping, lighting and create streets of wellness where health, wellness and mental health are taken into consideration," he said.
According to the assessment, Non Pareil and Melanie comprise several public facilities, including schools, health services, places of worship and recreational spaces.
The proposed works include roughly 26,900 metres of walkways, more than 43,000 metres of concrete drains, 32,200 metres of hardened road shoulders, rehabilitation of bridges and culverts, installation of 122 additional streetlights, replacement of more than 100 utility poles and expanded fire hydrant coverage.
Plans also provide for the planting of 423 trees, the enhancement of four playgrounds and three green spaces, the removal of derelict vehicles and illegal encumbrances, improved garbage disposal systems and the creation of structured vending and tourism areas.
