Regional Development Minister Priya Manickchand says the Government is developing 21 model communities across the country, in what she has described as a deliberate approach to building stronger communities rather than simply handing out house lots.
The Minister made the announcement last Thursday. The project is being led by her ministry in collaboration with housing, public works and agriculture, and is focused on delivering complete neighbourhoods. A model community, she explained, will include concrete drains, proper roads, street lights, green spaces, play parks and accessible public buildings.
Urban planners are designing each area with surveyed lots, planned streets, drainage, and dedicated space for schools and places of worship, so that the services residents need are built into the layout from the beginning rather than added years later.
Minister Manickchand noted that it is far harder to make these changes in older areas. She cited Newtown, Kitty, in Georgetown, where drainage can be improved but the underlying layout of the community cannot realistically be changed.
The effort forms part of a wider plan to strengthen local governance. Neighbourhood Democratic Councils and other local authorities are receiving increased subventions, while major investments are going into roads, drainage, irrigation, street lighting, safety and recreation in order to improve quality of life. The report was filed for LRTVS Newswatch by Nazima Bailey.
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