President Dr. Irfaan Ali on Sunday announced that at least 15 businesses operating along the Kingston–Tiger Bay corridor have committed to hiring community “wardens” under a new security and neighbourhood-enhancement initiative being introduced through the One Guyana Neighbourhood of Love programme.
Speaking during a community meeting in Kingston, President Ali said each participating business will employ one warden on its payroll to support neighbourhood safety, cleanliness, and overall upkeep. These wardens will form a small, dedicated team tasked with maintaining order and assisting residents as the government rolls out a broader urban renewal plan.
The President noted that businessman Deo Mattai and several others in the Kingston–Tiger Bay area have already pledged their support.
“If we have 30 businesses, at least 15 have already signalled they are ready to take on one person each,” Ali told attendees. “They will be part of community safety, community security, and community cleanliness.”
To reinforce the network, the government will provide critical infrastructure, including patrol bikes and trucks, to help monitor the area.
“We want people to feel safe,” Ali stated. “Security is the foundation of the redevelopment we are building here.”
A Model Neighbourhood in the Making
The community warden initiative forms part of President Ali’s plan to transform Kingston and Tiger Bay into Georgetown’s first “model neighbourhood.” The wider redevelopment drive includes rehabilitating public buildings, supporting local entrepreneurs, and expanding recreational and commercial spaces.
New facilities—such as craft shops, a small-business centre, restaurants, and bars—are expected to bring new employment opportunities once upgraded spaces are completed. However, the President stressed that long-term economic gains depend on improving public safety and dismantling long-standing stigma associated with the area.
“We have to remove a big stigma from the area,” Ali said. “Once we build these centres and create safe, clean public spaces, the jobs and income will follow.”
Local entrepreneurs have already shown interest in joining the redevelopment wave. According to the President, businessman Kumar has committed to relocating his food-preparation operations to the area once sanitary facilities are improved—a move expected to generate employment, especially for women.
Community Involvement at the Core
President Ali underscored that the neighbourhood’s transformation depends on active involvement from residents, schools, businesses, skilled workers, and community organisations. Kingston Secondary School is among the first institutions to join the programme.
The Kingston–Tiger Bay redevelopment serves as the pilot for wider national efforts to revitalise urban and suburban communities. The Neighbourhood of Love initiative is also connected to ongoing drainage upgrades, beautification of public spaces, and the creation of a planned “walking tourism lane” running from the seawall to the Botanical Gardens.
“This can only work if we do it together,” the President told residents. “Imagine the jobs we can create if we scale this up. But the neighbourhood must take ownership of its safety and development.”
President Ali concluded the meeting by hosting a community meal—symbolically launching what he described as a renewed spirit of unity, cooperation, and shared responsibility within the neighbourhood.
