The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government’s decision to launch a nationwide series of consultations on its proposed Model Villages Initiative is being viewed by many as more than a discussion about roads, parks and public amenities. For many villagers, community leaders and land rights advocates, it raises profound questions about the future of ancestral lands, village governance and who will ultimately control the development of some of Guyana’s oldest communities.

Beginning Monday, August 3, President Irfaan Ali and members of his administration will visit dozens of communities across Regions Two, Three, Four, Five and Six to discuss the initiative, which the Government says is aimed at creating “cleaner, greener, safer and more resilient communities” through improved infrastructure and community participation.

But community leaders and land rights advocates argue that beneath the appealing language lies a proposal that deserves far greater public scrutiny.