First Lady initiates plans to landscape Timehri/Soesdyke highway, erect welcome sign

First Lady of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, HE Arya Ali, on Friday September 4, 2020, initiated plans with a range of stakeholders to landscape the entire area from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) at Timehri to the Linden/Soesdyke junction; a key feature of the project is the construction of a welcome sign at the roundabout.

The design of the welcome sign, which was developed by Impressions, will feature the Coat-of-Arms mounted atop a body of text which reads ‘Welcome to Guyana’.

The Coat-of-Arms will be double-sided, with the reverse end of the sign reading ‘Thank you for visiting’.

The sign will be erected at the roundabout just next to the country’s main airport.

The First Lady visited the location in the company of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CJIA, Mr. Ramesh Ghir, CEO of Impressions, Neal Sukhlal, and proprietor of China Trading, Jason Wang. 

At the site, the team discussed the proposed size of the sign and additional features including lighting and décor.

Mr. Sukhlal pointed out that the project will rely on the use of materials that will not harm or damage the environment.

The First Lady said that she was pleased to hear that such an approach is being adopted, since her National Beautification Project underscores the need for environmentally friendly practices.

This project, which is being spearheaded by the Office of the First Lady, is one of many being undertaken by HE Arya Ali as part of her National Beautification Project which relies on scenic conservation.

She added that as Guyana positions itself for social and economic transformation in the coming years, it is important for the country to be prepared for an influx of tourist.

“We therefore have to ensure that we invest in enhancing the scenic qualities of the country, so tourists will find it esthetically pleasing and be encouraged to return,” HE Arya Ali said.

The team is also considering the inclusion of flower baskets which will hang from the light posts from the Soesdyke junction to the airport.

One of the pillars of the National Beautification Project is to attempt to engage the business community, civic and professional organizations, and state agencies, to boost tourism by creating a more scenic Guyana.  This approach seeks to establish a link between business and tourism development, and the conservation of natural, cultural, recreational, heritage and scenic resources, while relying on professionals whose skills can benefit these scenic conservation efforts.