Plaisance gets community upgrades

[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTKwPRlSA3g” width=”100%” height=”315″]

― students of University of Guyana pioneered the community development projects

― Ministry of Public Infrastructure donates street lights

― Chairperson of the Industry/Plaisance NDC laud students’ efforts

― residents are contented with community upgrades 

DPI, Guyana, Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Just over a week ago, the residents of Plaisance have been gifted a new bridge linking Victoria Road onto Britton Street. Students of the University of Guyana pioneered the reconstruction of the Britton Street Bridge as part of a student project.

The Local, Regional and Municipal Government course offered by the University of Guyana requires students to plan and execute community development projects in an attempt to understand and appreciate the role of local government in community development.

Vice Chairman of Industry/Plaisance Local Authority Area (LAA), Sule Collymore, and students of the University of Guyana.

Britton Street Bridge before rehabilitation.

Head of the Government and International Affairs Department and lecturer at the University of Guyana, Donna McKinnon.

The University of Guyana students along with Head of the Government and International Affairs Department and lecturer at the University of Guyana, Donna McKinnon.

Bridge and street sign.

Installation of street lights by UG students.

Painting of Pedestrian Crossing in front of Plaisance Primary School.

Britton Street Bridge after rehabilitation.

Chairman of Industry/Plaisance Local Authority Area (LAA), Rodwell Lewis, and students of the University of Guyana.

Donna McKinnon, Head of the Government and International Affairs Department and lecturer at the University of Guyana, said that she hopes that the students will apply the theoretical knowledge gained from classes to develop their communities. She added that the project-assignment has the additional benefit of highlighting the importance of local government in community development.

McKinnon explained that the students’ community project is in its infancy being only two years old. Last year, the students focused on schools and playgrounds in Georgetown. This year, she indicated, the students are still working on improving school environments, and they have expanded to post offices, community bridges, road and street signs and much more.

In Plaisance, thirteen students undertook a project to reconstruct the Britton street bridge, install new street lights along Victoria Road, repaint pedestrian crossings and road signs and install street signs in the Plaisance community.

These students sought funding from both the public and private sectors. Notably, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure willingly contributed street lights towards this endeavour.

Chairman, Rodwell Lewis, and the Vice Chairman, Sule Collymore, of the Industry/Plaisance Local Authority Area (LAA) graciously welcomed the proposal by the students of the University of Guyana to execute multiple community development projects in Plaisance.

Lewis took the time to laud the students’ efforts and mentioned that the villagers not only recognised the importance of the bridge and street lights but they also participated in the execution of these projects.

Collymore said that it is for this reason-community development that he decided to participate in the local government elections in November 2018 and noted that he would welcome further initiatives of this nature.

Currently, the Industry/Plaisance Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) is working on rehabilitating the community centre ground, located on the Plaisance Public Road. This is among the many community development programmes that the government is encouraging across the country.

Onika Bobb.

Images: Jules Gibson and Students of the University of Guyana.