Georgetown Mayor Threatens Arrest of Contractors Over Unconsulted City Verge Works

According to Kaieteur News, tensions between City Hall and the central government increased on November 12, 2026, after Georgetown Mayor Alfred Mentore stated his readiness to deploy the city constabulary to apprehend contractors engaged in work on community verges without prior consultation with local residents. Mentore mentioned that he had previously utilized constabulary personnel to detain contractors in Lamaha Gardens to safeguard residents and their properties, adding that the increasing community response provided him with the necessary support to advocate for residents' interests.

An emergency gathering was held, which included residents, city officials, and a technical representative from the Ministry of Public Works, to discuss ongoing excavations under the ministry’s hard-shoulder improvement programme. The meeting was held on November 10, 2026. During this meeting, residents voted unanimously to suspend the works immediately until substantive discussions occur between the ministry’s engineers and the communities impacted. The residents strongly rejected the ministry's explanation that the project was intended to beautify the capital and address parking demands.

Residents expressed dissatisfaction with the ministry's explanation, with one attendee questioning the notion of beautification through removal of existing elements. Several long-term property owners voiced their disappointment regarding what they perceived as a disregard for the neighborhood's character, established green areas, and environmental heritage. Resident Khadidja Bâ noted that Oronoque Street was excluded from the official notices distributed before the work commenced, which left residents unprepared when heavy machinery arrived. She also expressed concerns about potential harm to the roots of mature flamboyant trees lining historic avenues, despite assurances from the ministry’s engineer that contractors were instructed to maintain a 15-foot buffer around the trees.

Concerns were also raised by residents regarding the impact of the works on their daily lives. One resident pointed out that dogs frequently use the grassed verges, warning that exposed crusher-run surfaces could become dangerously hot under the tropical sun and potentially burn animals' paws. Other residents voiced worries about public health and infrastructure, specifically the risk of damaging underground water and sewage lines during uncoordinated digging. Furthermore, they cautioned that replacing grassed sections with compacted stone might increase stormwater runoff and exacerbate flooding in the area.

The community subsequently directed its concerns to the ministry. On November 10, Sandra Singh formally petitioned Public Works Minister Juan Edghill on behalf of residents, property owners, and other stakeholders, requesting an immediate cessation of the works and a thorough technical review. This petition has garnered 386 signatures, which consists of 319 digital submissions and 67 physical signatures. The issues highlighted in the petition include the integrity of the local drainage system, the protection of underground utilities, and pedestrian safety.

Residents also emphasized that maintaining the grassed verges extended beyond mere aesthetics; they stated that this practice has long been integral to the neighborhood's character, facilitating neighborly interaction and allowing elderly residents to remain active through gardening and yard upkeep. Instead of having the green spaces removed without consultation, residents suggested collaborating with the authorities to create sustainable designs that would improve infrastructure while simultaneously preserving the existing greenery. The dispute has also brought back concerns regarding similar projects in Lamaha Gardens, where residents had previously complained about a lack of consultation before excavations began. Mayor Mentore affirmed that City Hall intends to support the affected communities, stressing that municipal bylaws and the authority of the city must be respected. Mentore's warning indicates a further escalation in the ongoing disagreement between the Mayor and the central government concerning final decision-making power over matters affecting Georgetown's neighborhoods.