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https://kiskadeewatch.com/guyana/city-halts-cummings-st-construction-over-safety-concerns/

City halts Cummings St construction over safety concerns

Where the construction work is being done

The Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has intervened in the construction of a building at Cumming Street, Alberttown, Georgetown, following concerns raised by a nearby resident.

Mayor Alfred Mentore yesterday told Kiskadee Watch that the City Engineer’s Department has served the owner, an Indian national, with a cease order, halting construction while investigations are conducted.

Mentore explained that extensive checks are being carried out through the council’s various application systems to determine whether approval was granted for the project. However, no records have yet been found.

“We are checking the single window portal and other application systems at the council, but no record has yet been found,” the Mayor said.

The issue came to public attention after resident Denoila Lynch conducted a live video on social media expressing concerns about the safety of her family and neighbouring residents.

Lynch alleged that construction activities were affecting access to the walkway and creating hazards due to falling debris. She also claimed that the four-storey structure was being erected without adequate safety measures, including the absence of safety netting.

Additionally, Lynch raised concerns about the building’s foundation, claiming that no piles had been driven to secure the structure.

She further alleged that construction materials had fallen onto her property, causing damage and resulting in leaks throughout her home.

“My daughter’s bedroom is leaking, my bedroom is leaking,” Lynch stated during the live broadcast.

Following the concerns raised, the City Council ordered a halt to construction on June 22, 2026, pending verification of the necessary approvals and documentation.

When asked whether any applications may have been submitted by a previous owner of the property, Mentore said the matter is still being examined and did not rule out the possibility. However, he maintained that no application for the project had reached the level of the council.

In a subsequent post on her Facebook page, Lynch thanked the City Council for its intervention, stressing that her concerns were not directed at the property’s owners but were focused on the safety and security of her family, neighbours and surrounding residents.

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