| Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, yesterday met with the various stakeholders involved in the D’Urban Park Development Project, in an effort to get a first-hand account of the works to be completed at the venue.The Minister’s technical team also used the opportunity to explain the works which will be undertaken and completed within the next 21 days at the facility.Minister David Patterson meeting with Ministers Nicolette Henry and Ronald Bulkan at the D’Urban Park site yesterday.The meeting, which was held in the boardroom of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, had involved Minister of Public Telecommunications and Tourism, Catherine Hughes; Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan; Minister within the Ministry of Education, Nicolette Henry; Mayor of Georgetown, Patricia Chase-Greene; Town Clerk, Royston King; Coordinator, Work Services Group – Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Geoffrey Vaughn, officers of the Guyana Defence Force and other technical personnel from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.The project was moved from the Ministry of the Presidency and handed over to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure on Tuesday because of delays.The project is slated as a showpiece for a number of events for 50th Independence Anniversary next months. However, there have been delays.Minister Patterson is set to host a press conference this morning to give an update on the project and take media personnel on a tour.When completed, the facility will consist of a tree-lined promenade, stadium and health and recreational facilities.Coordinator of the project, Larry London, back in February, had indicated that the project is a Government and private sector partnership with meetings being held with a number of businesses for possible support.Several businesses have reportedly donated services, with some pledging cash. Others have extended credit.London had emphasised that they “have not collected a cent yet from any business”, as it was the intention to put transparent systems in place to ensure that no questions are asked of how monies are spent.The project received negative publicity which spoke of poor quality work and questions of transparency. That negative publicity apparently caught the attention of President Granger.At a meeting, held Tuesday at the Ministry of the Presidency, at which Minister Patterson; Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; Minister of Communities,NFL Jerseys Supply, Ronald Bulkan; Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Brigadier Mark Phillips; Minister within the Ministry of Education, Nicolette Henry and other staffers of the Ministry of the Presidency were present, the President made it clear that the safety of the users of the park must be the first priority.”I want to emphasise the seriousness of this. Our intention is to make D’Urban Park the most useful, if not the most beautiful in the Caribbean, so it is not something short term. It is a symbol of nationhood… We want it to be a space that is beautiful, safe and open to the public. Safety must be assured now that it’s a national project and Minister Patterson will now take responsibility for that,” President Granger said.Emphasising that D’Urban Park is now a national project and must reflect national standards, President Granger said that the park reflects national identity and takes precedence over municipal, partisan, commercial and private interests.”There were some delays because of the presentation of the budget. Last year was the financial year from the view of the Government, but we couldn’t do much work until March because the budget hadn’t been passed, but now, I would say that there isn’t any need for apprehension.“The project is a national project. It is not a private project. It is national [project] and that is why it is under the Ministry of Public Infrastructure. The concerns of safety and infrastructure are all being addressed and Guyanese needn’t worry.“They are going to be very proud of what they see on May 25 and May 26,” President Granger said. |
