-To boost infrastructure management
-by Nakasia Logan
The Mayor and City Council today convened an extraordinary meeting following the government’s decision to assume control of 22 city roads.
The roads were gazetted as public infrastructure under Ministerial Orders dated March 20, 2026, in keeping with the Roads Act, effectively placing them under the management of the Ministry of Public Works.
While expressing concern about the move, City Mayor Alfred Mentore acknowledged that central government has long been responsible for collecting road-related revenues and supporting maintenance of these key routes.
“Government themselves has been picking up road revenue taxes. So the onus obviously will be on them. If you collect those taxes, the onus will be on you to repair those roads,” he said.
The government’s decision is expected to streamline the management of some of Georgetown’s busiest and most critical roadways, allowing for more coordinated repairs, improved standards and more efficient use of national resources. The move comes amid ongoing concerns about the condition of several city streets and the need for sustained investment in road infrastructure.
The roads now under central government control include major corridors such as Aubrey Barker Road, Vlissingen Road, Robb Street, Charlotte Street, America Street, Camp Street, East Street and Hadfield Street. Also included are Cowan Street, New Market Street, Middle Street, Cane View Avenue, Garnett Street, D’Andrade Street, Da Silva Street, Lamaha Street, Dennis Street, the Eastern Highway, Sandy Babb Street, Albert Street, Cummings Street and Regent Street.
While the Mayor raised concerns about potential revenue losses for the council and the impact on vendors, he indicated that the M&CC is reviewing its legal options.
The government maintains that the move prioritizes residents’ welfare and safer, better-maintained streets for all.