The Government of Guyana has announced ambitious plans to rehabilitate Durban Park, the once-prominent public facility that has fallen into severe disrepair in recent years.
Vice President and General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, revealed the administration’s intentions during a press conference on Thursday. He confirmed that the government is committed to cleaning up and restoring the park, which has become a symbol of controversy and neglect since its construction.
Durban Park, originally built at a cost exceeding $1 billion under the previous APNU/AFC administration, has been mired in scandal. The project’s financing came under intense scrutiny, with a government minister serving as a director of the special purpose company, Homestretch Development Incorporated (HDI), which collected funds from undisclosed donors. Auditors have struggled for years to properly account for the project’s expenditures due to missing documentation, and a special audit in 2018 highlighted a lack of transparency in how over $1.1 billion was spent.
Today, the facility stands as a dilapidated structure, its wooden beams and stands showing significant signs of decay. The park, once envisioned as a major events venue, has instead become a nightly refuge for vagrants and a stark reminder of failed oversight.
Addressing calls from the public for action, Dr. Jagdeo stated, “I want to say to the people who made the suggestion that we clean it up and fix it up in the next term: yes, that’s going to be done.” The government’s rehabilitation plan aims to restore Durban Park to its intended purpose as a safe, accessible, and vibrant public space for all Guyanese.
Details of the rehabilitation timeline and budget are expected to be released in the coming weeks, as authorities move to address both the physical deterioration and the legacy of mismanagement that has plagued the project. The announcement has been met with cautious optimism by residents and civic leaders, who hope the renewed focus will finally bring lasting improvements to the landmark facility.
