GEORGETOWN – The Government’s high-profile push to remake Tiger Bay into Georgetown’s first flagship “model neighbourhood” has ignited a fresh political showdown, with Alliance For Change (AFC) Chairman and Interim Leader David Patterson warning that the sweeping promises mean nothing unless the administration finally shows the country what it is actually planning to do.
In a pointed statement, Patterson threw his support behind the idea of reviving the capital, calling it long overdue, but said the rollout of this so-called City Revival Plan already carries the unmistakable scent of secrecy. According to him, Tiger Bay was chosen as the first target of transformation without a single published document, budget line, or public consultation, leaving residents and observers guessing what is really coming.
Patterson reminded the public that Tiger Bay is not a typical settlement. Much of the land belongs to private owners, creating a legal minefield for any government attempting large-scale redevelopment. Without ownership or consent, he warned, the Government cannot build new homes or erect facilities, no matter how grand the announcements may sound.
“Unless they intend to pursue prescriptive acquisition, a costly and controversial path, the Government is legally limited to roads, drains, lighting and Wi-Fi,” Patterson cautioned, adding that anything more would directly undermine their own loud declarations about ‘zero tolerance’ for squatting.
He also pointed to a painful history of failed relocation attempts. Over the years, successive administrations offered subsidized or free house lots to Tiger Bay residents, only to watch the plan collapse when families could not afford construction costs or repayment schedules. In many cases, once a family moved out, someone else moved right in, resetting the cycle and leaving the underlying problems untouched.
Against that backdrop, Patterson said the Government’s sudden appearance in Tiger Bay, accompanied by cameras and political fanfare, has triggered deep suspicion. In the absence of hard information, residents are now left to wonder whether the transformation is truly for them, or whether they are being quietly prepared for removal to make way for private redevelopment.
Others, Patterson noted, believe the Government wants to move quickly so that any political fallout fades long before the 2030 elections. He said the solution is simple: publish the plan.“Modernizing Georgetown is not optional, it must be done,” Patterson wrote. “But if transparency is not the foundation, then everything else becomes theatre. Let the Government release its full blueprint, its budget, its timeline, and its guarantees to the people who actually live there.”
Calling Tiger Bay “a test case for the soul of the revival plan,” Patterson warned that without honesty and public engagement, the initiative risks becoming another glittering national announcement with no substance behind it. “The devil,” he said, “will always be in the details.”
