Guyanese will be treated to a diverse display of local culinary and performing arts on Friday, September 15 when the Kingston Seawall Esplanade officially opens to the public, a release from the Office of the First Lady said yesterday.
The project, which falls under the First Lady’s National Beautification Project, focused on scenic revitalization.
The release said that in 2021 First Lady Arya Ali identified the Kingston Seawall Bandstand area for rehabilitation and upgrade, having noticed that the space lacked amenities such as a safe play park for children and washroom facilities.
Illegal vending and poor maintenance of the area had also made it unsafe for families, the release added.
“The Kingston Bandstand area hosts thousands of people on the weekend, and I’ve always felt that the area has tremendous potential. So, it was among the first areas I identified for upgrade because I wanted to ensure that families and …friends had a safe, clean, and beautiful space to socialize,” Mrs Ali said, according to the release.
With the Ministry of Public Works serving as the executing agency, the area now features a fully refurbished bandstand, a resurfaced tarmac, a newly built sanitary block and two promenades, a newly developed play park for children, and 18 vending units along with a food court.
A police outpost has also been established, while surveillance cameras have been installed in the area which has also benefitted from increased lighting. Free wireless internet is also available to the public.
The release reported Mrs Ali as saying that while Guyanese will be the primary beneficiaries of this new recreational space, it will also serve as a tourist spot.
“We will have an array of local cuisine to offer locals and foreigners alike. Performing arts will be reintroduced at the Bandstand, and we want the area to be buzzing with social activities,” the First Lady added.
The official ceremony for the launch is scheduled for 5 pm on Friday at the Kingston Bandstand. The ceremony will be followed by a concert featuring local artistes including Calvin Burnette, Nikita, Cassie Adams, Vicadi Singh, and Tony Cutz, the release said.
