As government-led restoration efforts continue across Georgetown, former Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Komal Singh, has called for unity and collaboration between the Mayor, City Council, and Central Government to restore the capital to its former glory.
According to the Department of Public Information (DPI), Singh made the appeal during a recent episode of the Spotlight programme hosted by Marcia Hope, where he urged the City Council to actively support and participate in the government’s ongoing initiatives.
“The City Council should be very happy that the government is participating in helping to develop the city. And I would encourage the City Council to work with the government on this initiative. At the end of the day, it is for all of our benefit, including the City Council,” Singh said.
Highlighting Georgetown’s untapped tourism potential and cultural value, Singh pointed out the need for immediate action to preserve historical sites and enhance the city’s appeal.
“If you drive around Georgetown on a Sunday afternoon, there’s no traffic, and you will recognise the enormous amount of potential that exists in the city from a tourist standpoint. We need to fix that, and we need to fix it now. It’s long overdue,” he emphasised.
The DPI report noted that Singh, who also serves as the Chief Executive Officer of GAICO, commended President Irfaan Ali’s clean-up and beautification campaigns, which have revitalised several areas of the city through coordinated efforts involving the Solid Waste Department and heavy-duty equipment.
However, he cautioned that sustaining these improvements depends largely on enforcement by the City Council.
“The issue here right now is enforcement. If the city is allowing people to dump garbage with no consequences, then people will continue to dump the garbage. There needs to be consequences for your actions if we’re going to uphold and try to keep the city clean,” Singh asserted.
Looking ahead, he stressed the importance of collective responsibility in maintaining Georgetown’s transformation.
“It’s important that everybody gets on board. This is not a government initiative alone. The president creates the environment, but it’s up to all of us collectively as stakeholders; we need to participate to make this a reality,” he added.
The call comes as part of the government’s broader effort to re-establish Georgetown as the “Garden City of the Caribbean,” through continuous clean-up drives, rehabilitation of public spaces, and restoration of historic landmarks.