Is Guyana Still The Garden City Of The Caribbean?

October 04-2009:

Is Guyana Still The Garden City Of The Caribbean?


Preserving Our Architectural Heritage:

Today, most of the old Victorian, Lattice Windows, and Wooden Houses that was the historical landmarks of Demerara-Guiana is either long gone, or is in terrible disrepair. And what are we doing about it? And if not, why?

Every culture has it's own indigenous cultural heritage. Be it locally produced, or inherited. But all the same, there are some notable structures that all cultures identify as sacred, indigenous, and indicative or uniquely their own. And strive dearly to ensure they are preserved, and kept safe for all generations to come.


So why is Guyana today neglecting our structural heritage?

Some say it is because there is no money available to do the necessary repairs and preservation work. Others say, they are being neglected because they remind us of our colonial past too much. Others say that the present generation and government does not see it as a priority, or wants to redesign Georgetown-Demerara, according to a certain ethnic preference and heritage.

Whatever it is, failing to do so will eventually cause us to lose what we have always been proud to say was ours. And what has been used in the past, to culturally identify us as a people, with a certain uniqueness that is precisely our own.

Some of these places that need DIRE repairs and Preservation work are the following:

* St. George Cathedral:

* The Atlantic Sea Wall Structure (entirely).

* The Demerara Stabroek Market (and especially repairing the Clock).

* The Demerara La Penitence Market.

* The Round House At The Atlantic Sea Wall-Georgetown.

* The Demerara Lighthouse.

* Government House-Main Street Georgetown-Demerara.

* The Cultural Benab-Main Street-Kingston.

These are just a few that I can recall that should be immediately placed, under the Care and Supervision of" A National Trust & Heritage Fund/Commission."


Derryck S. Griffith.
Guyanese-NYC.