President Dr. Irfaan Ali has announced a plan to end the “disorderly” growth of shops along Guyana’s main public roads by transitioning small business owners into purpose-built commercial plazas.
He said that the government will identify critical areas along the East Coast and East Bank to construct modern food courts and open-air facilities.
These sites are intended to be safe, clean, and touristic, providing a comfortable and engaging environment where families can enjoy high-quality services.
The president was at the time addressing the official opening of the Demerara Bank Limited Branch at Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara.
“We have to build a more orderly system of growth and development. We can’t have hundreds of shops on the main public road,” he said.
He explained that this endeavour will be linked to the Guyana Development Bank, with support from other commercial banks.
The head of state also dismissed critics who label the removal of roadside stands as an attempt to take away opportunities. He explained that the current unregulated setup poses significant safety risks.
“We want to build an environment that is safe, secure, beautiful, clean and humanistic for these businesses,” President Ali emphasised.
He stressed that that building these plazas is a step toward making Guyana a world-class leader, where even the smallest businesses operate within a system that is aesthetic, secure, and globally competitive.