Report Concerning the AWAD Workshop Guyana Organised in Georgetown on 20 June 2006

Report concerning the AWAD workshop Guyana organised in Georgetown on 20 June 2006

Amsterdam/The Hague, September 2006

Lodewijk Wagenaar James Rose Johan van Langen a mutual heritage project

Contents

Introduction 3

General setup of the workshop 5

1. Paper Heritage 6

2. Monuments and archaeological sites 8

3. Museums and moveable tangible heritage 11

4. Intangible heritage 16

5. Research 18

6. Conclusions and recommendations 20

7. Visits to pertinent Locations (19 June 2006) 23

Appendix A: Text and Minutes of the presentations of the AWAD 36

local workshop in Guyana

Appendix B: List of participants Guyana workshop 58

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Introduction The first stage or identification mission of the Atlantic World and the Dutch, 1500- 2000 (AWAD) will be concluded with an international Atlantic conference, scheduled for November 2006. This conference will be attended by representatives from all cultural heritage sectors and from the academic/research world in countries where a more lasting Dutch presence was established (Aruba, Brazil, Ghana, Guyana, The Netherlands Antilles, Suriname and the United States of America) and from organizations in the Netherlands. In preparation of the Atlantic conference a series of workshops will be organized in all participating countries. The overall purpose of these workshops is to:

- draw up for each country an inventory of current activities, collections, expertise, needs and wishes regarding research and the preservation, restoration and accessibility of the mutual cultural heritage in its broadest sense; - discuss the improvement and extension of the AWAD online database/research guide as an integrating tool for developing and implementing the activities/projects for the second project phase; - establish priorities and points of focus for each individual country in the fields of preservation, accessibility and research of the mutual heritage.

All workshops concentrate on six discussion topics: archives and libraries (the paper heritage, both printed material and manuscripts); museum/movable tangible heritage (tools, weapons, clothing etc.); monuments and archaeological sites; intangible cultural heritage (oral history, traditions of story telling, rituals etc.); universities/research; other subjects to be discussed (AWAD database/digital research guide; funding; activities for a broader public).

The Guyana Local Workshop was made possible by the close cooperation between Guyanese counterpart dr. James Rose, Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana and Chairman of the National Trust of Guyana, and the Dutch coordinators dr. Lodewijk Wagenaar and Johan van Langen M.A. The National Trust of Guyana has a specific objective to develop a broad policy to secure the commitment of stakeholders (Government agencies, Non Governmental Organizations, Municipalities, Regional Offices, Community Groups) in the preservation of cultural heritage.

The program of the workshop was determined in close cooperation with the counterpart. The gathering was held in two sessions, a morning and an afternoon session on Tuesday 20 June 2006. The practical aspects of the organization were all attended to by the counterpart. The collaboration was very effective and smooth. The University of Guyana was willing to host the workshop at the Education Lecture Theatre, located at the UG campus, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown. Due to the commitment of the members of the National Trust of Guyana and the employees of the UG Social Studies (History) Department the carrying out of the workshop was a success.

Two weeks before the workshop dr. Rose had sent invitation letters to 25 invitees, nearly all of them were able to attend the workshop. The invitees are without

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exception involved in governmental, cultural and/or academic institutions. Two invitees are connected with the University of the West Indies: Prof. Alvin Thompson (Barbados) and Prof. Ian Robertson (Trinidad), both of Guyanese origin and highly respected researchers on Guyanese subjects. A complete list of all participants of both gatherings is added to this report as appendix B.

The general set up of the Guyana workshop will be discussed in the first paragraph, followed by five consecutive paragraphs in which individual items of the workshop (paper heritage, monuments, museums, intangible heritage and research). In a next paragraph the outcome of the workshop is presented and the (role of the National Trust of Guyana) will be discussed, mainly focusing on its activities relating to the conservation of the Guyanese Dutch written, built, tangible and intangible heritage in Guyana. General conclusions, priorities and points of focus will be discussed in paragraph 6. Paragraph 7 contains a summary of the visits paid to the institutions and governmental organisations which are involved in Guyanese cultural heritage projects.

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General set up of the workshop

First dr. James Rose welcomed the participants to the Workshop and asked the Dutch coordinators to introduce themselves to the participants of the workshop. Dr. Lodewijk Wagenaar gave a short general introduction on AWAD and explained the purpose of the workshop. Johan van Langen stated that any information on the Dutch presence in Guyana would be very beneficial to the project. Af the opening remarks the first half of the morning programme started, named the Guyana experience 1500-1800. In the second half of the morning programme the mutual heritage projects, plans, limitations and needs were treated. In chronological order the speakers were: Prof Winston McGowan (UG Walter Rodney Chair), Prof Alvin Thompson (UWI History), Mr Lennox Hernandez (National Trust of Guyana), Ms June Dubissette (National Archives of Guyana), Ms Gwyneth George (UG Library), Prof Ian Robertson (UWI Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Education)and Ms Jennifer Wishart (UG Amerindian Research Unit). After the lunch break Lodewijk Wagenaar gave a more detailed explanation of the AWAD project, and demonstrated a few possibilities of future projects and cooperation. The AWAD website with the database/digital research guide was presented by Johan van Langen. The workshop was intended to discuss on several issues related to mutual heritage. The third part of the workshop, The Guyana Programme (discussion) was that part in which subjects like restoration, preservation, translation programmes, research, accessibility merged. The result was an interdisciplinary discussion with many practical issues. How could the Guyanese and Dutch both benefit from working together in preserving, rediscovering, restoring, researching their mutual heritage?

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1. Paper heritage

In Guyana there are no records available for the period 1621 – 1674. However, records for the period 1675 until the end of the Dutch rule (1814) are housed in three main repositories in Guyana: - The National Archives of Guyana - Supreme Court - Lands & Surveys Commission

Problems relating to management and conservation of archival records In this section, we would like to specifically address the problems related to the management and conservation of archival holdings in Guyana. However, we will focus specifically on the National Archives. Indeed, an examination of the National Archives will present a holistic picture of the problems being experienced by all repositories of archival holdings and therefore these problems are not unique to the National Archives. Of the total holdings, approximately 5% date from the 18th century, 55% from the 19th century and 45% from the 20th century. The Dutch collection is the oldest group as these date back to 1735.

Problems related to climate, storage and handling - Past neglect - Bad conditions of storage - Climate - Bad handling - Attacks by termites - Brown decay

Arrangement, description and access Documents are preserved to be made accessible to researchers – without suitable funding aids, they are lost. - No detailed inventory of archival records - Lack of proper lists and finding aids - Lack of automation for records management - Records stored as hard copies - No cohesive correlation between repositories of archival holdings

Towards the solution Most of the archival records have suffered due to the lack of adequate institutional capacity to manage these records. This has posed many of the problems related to storage and access. In the interest of time, it is important to highlight a few of the pertinent solutions to address the issues above. It has been recognised that many of these are no longer debatable as they have long been accepted as the solutions. But lack of the resources has been the hindrance to implementing these: - The need for a Modern Conservation Laboratory. - Training for staff members to generate a core of professional and technical staff to provide direction for managing the archives, and more importantly, to raise awareness to the importance of preserving these records.

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- Automation of records management systems to facilitate access to records wherever they are located. - Digitising of documents where this can be done. - Building institutional capacity by recruiting a Consultant, in the first instance, to assess needs and to train staff members, where applicable. - And finally, as pointed out in the Lemieux report1, an identification of the most critical and valuable records wherever they are located. Once these are identified, a system must be put in place to protect them, inter alia duplicating and storing in secure places apart from the originals, storing in fire proof cabinets, possibly on fire proof shelves, among others.

An proposal to digitize or microfilm the Dutch records is added to the AWAD Proposals from the National Trust of Guyana, Appendix C.

1 Victoria Lemieux. "Applying Mintzberg's Theories on Organizational Configuration to Archival Appraisal", in: Archivaria 46 (Fall 1998): 32-85.

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2. Monuments and archaeological sites

Indian, Dutch and British archaeological sites in Guyana are scattered around the country, and usually located near rivers or canals. There are many known and unknown sites where scientific research is needed to determine their precise locations, sizes and functions. Other objects like Dutch tombs and other graves are also found on many locations. These archaeological findings have never been documented in a structural way. Guyanese experts would like to built up more underwater archaeology expertise to explore the rivers and to search for utensils and artefacts in the riverbeds. The last few years much attention was paid to the three main monumental objects of Dutch origin, Fort Island (Fort Zeelandia and the Court of Policy Hall), Fort Nassau and Kyk-over-al. The major planned projects of the National Trust of Guyana focus on two of these sites, Fort Zeelandia and Fort Nassau. a. Fort Zeelandia Conserving Fort Zeelandia The ruin of this impressive brick fort has been affected over the years by neglect and the ills of weathering. In the circumstance works will have to be undertaken to prevent further deterioration. This will involve the restoration of the entire structure using compatible materials to prevent further damage to the site. The environs Securing the area – re-aligning the fence by re-enforcing the foundation, replacing rotted wooden runners, posts and corroded sections of the chain link fence. This is necessary to prevent animals and cattle from grazing and damaging the area which will be landscaped. Restoring the brick walkway: in 1999 the brick walkway leading to the Court of Policy Hall was constructed. This walkway was designed with concrete curb walls compacted with sand and then inlaid with clay bricks. At present, possibly because of the uneven distribution of weight some sections have sunken. In the circumstance it is proposed to remove the bricks and cast a concrete walkway and re install bricks. Mounting of flagpoles (2) to mount the flag of Guyana Construction of a new mount to replace the damaged mount for the cannon at the entrance of the Court of Policy Hall

Landscaping: the area at present is devoid of ornate landscaping. In the circumstance it is proposed to transform the environs of the Court of Policy Hall as a garden, one which is not only pleasing to the eye but one which will also enhance the visitor experience. This will include the following: - The drains: planting of the Victoria Regia lily to transform the mud drain which was rewetted last year as a floating garden - The fence: the entire length of the chain link fence will be planted with flowering plants (specie(s) to be determined) - The brick walk way: planting of Travellers Palms along both sides leading to the Museum - The Court of Policy Hall: planting of hedges, this will be maintained at a low level, to create an ornamental appearance along the entire length of the structure, except for the entrance leading to the museum.

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The structure - Replacing of the two main doors (refer to diagram), complete with locks, to secure the museum - Protection of the windows and doors through the application of Thompson’s Water Seal/ Curitol to prevent against termite infection and the ills of weathering. - Securing the building with protective wiring to prevent bats from accessing the structure - The manufacture and installation of an ornate wrought iron grill door to the two main doors to allow for the building to be opened whilst at the same time offering additional security. These doors will be manufactured at a minimum of four feet in height. - Repainting of the interior of the main room of the structure - Installation of skid free tiles (a brick pattern) in two of the smaller rooms of the Court of Policy

Restoring the Powder House Previous attempts to conserve the powder house were achieved with the use of cement mixed with coal dust to seal broken areas of the structure. Because this practice does not conform to the principles of conservation it will be necessary to remove this cement and fasten and rehabilitate the structure using the original form of construction.

Restoring the Eastern Ramparts Project description: to effect revetment works on the eastern ramparts to prevent further erosion of this part of the island thus ensuring its survival for the benefit of future generations. Methodology: to effectively conserve the eastern ramparts it will be necessary to undertake the following works: - Recover the portions of the brick ramparts, which have slipped into the river - Recover any other artefacts such as cannons, which are reported to have also slipped into the river - Construct a wall and necessary pilings to protect the eastern ramparts from erosion by the current of the river - Restore the existing portions of the ramparts and stairs leading to the river, thus further enhancing the infrastructure of this monument for visitors - Reconstruct those areas, which may have been damaged beyond restoration - Remount cannons on sturdy metal carriages in areas where they once stood.

The need for a bricklayer / brick expert was made clear by Lloyd Kandasammy, conservation officer of the National Trust2. A possible candidate for this job is Mr. Joop Hofmeijer (Dominee Keppellaan 40, 3958 JC Amerongen, 0343-452605, meestermetselaar). He is an experienced bricklayer in tropical conditions, and he is recommended by Ton Hagemeyer, owner of plantation Frederiksdorp in Suriname.

2 See also National Trust of Guyana, National Conservation Plan 2006-2010, 33 9

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b. Fort Nassau Fort Nassau and its immediate environment represent an integral chapter of Guyana’s history. To date this site has not been extensively investigated and documented. The site at present is littered with bottles, fragments of crockery, pottery, and bricks and ruins of buildings, which were destroyed in the 18th century. The efforts of the National Trust to conserve and preserve this area for the benefit of future generations have been adversely affected by the fact that visitors can easily remove existing artefacts due to the current state of the site. In the circumstance, it is proposed that an archaeological investigation be undertaken to allow for the documentation of this national monument. An Archaeologist will be contracted by the applicant to study and document the findings of an archaeological investigation of the valley, that area between the ruins of the old brick bridge which is littered with fragments of pottery and crockery and many old bottles. Additional excavation may also be undertaken at the river’s edge where numerous reports by the caretakers indicate that divers has continuously pillaged the nation’s heritage.

Upon completion the archaeologist must submit a report to the National Trust. This report must fully document the field-testing and analysis of the artefacts and, based upon the research design, recommend whether further archaeological work is necessary. Field Testing Report: Three should be sent to the National Trust; one is kept on file at Trust and the other two are sent to repositories.

A standard analysis of the archaeological investigation at Fort Nassau (at a minimum) will include: • Identification, composition, and age of material; • Where within the site, the materials were found; • Description and discussion of typical and extraordinary finds; • A synthesis of how these materials are relevant to the research questions • Photographs of significant artefacts This will allow for the location of other artefacts, which can lead to a comprehensive document that details the history of Fort Nassau and its environs.

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3. Museums and moveable tangible heritage

There are six museums in Guyana, each with its own expertise. These are the museum of African Heritage, the Guyanese Heritage Museum, the Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology, the John Campbell Police Museum, the National Military Museum and the National Museum. The museums have various ambitions. The Walter Roth Museum tries to promote and make the Museum accessible to students, researchers, and the general public through the rendering of professional assistance and service to them. The museum wants to encourage continuing research on different aspects of the collection by students and academics. The traditional role of a museum to provide appropriate storage facilities for the collection and to store and to preserve the collection under optimum conditions are also main objectives.

The National Trust of Guyana will continue to pursue its policy of heritage conservation through carefully supervised projects, particularly at Fort Zeelandia and The Court of Policy Hall at Fort Island, one of Guyana’s National Monuments and pristine historical site. Located approximately 16 km from the mouth of the Essequibo River this historic site which consists of the ruins of Fort Zeelandia and the Court of Policy Hall, was the seat of administration in the colony of Essequibo & Demerara from 1740 – 1780. In 1999 the Government of Guyana declared this site a National Monument.

Project - Guyana’s Dutch Heritage Museum The project aims to transform the largest of the three rooms in the Court of Policy Hall as a Dutch Heritage Museum to showcase various aspects of the nation’s earliest colonizers. Objective: to restore the Court of Policy Hall and establish a Dutch Heritage Museum which will illustrate the nation’s rich heritage Justification: The Court of Policy Hall served multiple functions under the administrators of the Dutch West India Company. It was a store, a church and also an administrative office as well as a sales office. It is the oldest non military structure in Guyana. At present this building is unoccupied. In the field of conservation historic buildings are often transformed as living museums.

“Museums are the keepers of material culture. They collect, conserve, research and exhibit these items”. 3

In the circumstance the proposal by the Trust to transform this structure as a museum to showcase various aspects of the nation’s Dutch colonial heritage will allow for visitors and tourists to fully appreciate the rich heritage of the nation’s history. Methodology: to effectively transform this structure as a museum will necessitate the restoration of the building and its immediate surroundings as well as the acquisition of artefacts and objects to display. Infrastructural works – to effectively transform this historic structure and its environs as a museum it will be necessary to undertake the following works:

3 Dr Req Murphy. OAS Workshop: Planning and Developing Museum and Heritage Sites in the Caribbean. 2002 11

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The Transformation - Main Hall – Court of Policy Hall

Step 1 - The arrangement The museum will be designed in a clockwise rotation in a chronological order to sensitize the visitor about Guyana’s rich heritage.

Screens 1 & 2 - Early settlement and development of Essequibo Trade with indigenous people Aim of the early colonizers Organization of the Dutch West India Company

Screens 3 & 4 - The trade in enslaved Africans & Sugar

Screens 5 & 6 - Development of Berbice Abraham Van Pere – a brief history of the settlement (s) under his scheme Fort Nassau 1763 Slave Insurrection Development of New Amsterdam

Screens 7 & 8 - The attempt at developing the Pomeroon Storm van ‘s Gravesande The rise of Demerara

Screen 9 - Constitutional development

Screens10 & 11 -Social aspects of Dutch colonization Religion: the Dutch Reformed Church

Screen 12 - List of Dutch Governors

Screen 13 – 14 – 15- 16 to mount maps prints etc

Exhibition cases - Manufactured of UV protective glass with a border of bronze or aluminium finish.

Preferably the designs will not rise above the level of the eye and if possible along in the following designs cylindrical, oblong, Short Square, table or raised designs to exhibit the different artefacts which will be acquired. Each case will be locked to prevent theft and vandalism of artefacts which will be displayed. Total no of cases that my be required – 8

Exhibition screens: screens will be raised to eye level (no higher than 6 feet high) and joined together with hinges to allow for easy transport and easy mounting. These screens will be manufactured of ply wood, sealed along the exposed edges

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and painted in cream with a border of red or green. Total no of screens which may be required – 8

Display of screens: the information for the screens shall be a combination of historical data together with illustrations and prints depicting the themes under exhibition. Each will be laminated as banners with UV coated paper/ canvas and plastic to provide protection and longevity for the display.

Step 2 - Acquisition of artefacts and display material(s)

1) Manufacturing of Brass lettering Plaque with the name of the Museum to be mounted at the front of the building 2) Manufacturing of two (2) brass plaques a) The first to commemorate the opening of the museum by the Honourable Minister of Culture Youth & sport b) The second will consist of the names of the members of the board as well as the staff members responsible for the design and layout of the Museum (to be mounted on the inner portion of the brick wall in the main entrance to the building 3) Bottles: collecting/ purchasing of bottles from residents of Fort Island 4) Crockery and other materials (furnishings and décor) of the Dutch Colonial period 5) Beads used for trade with the Indigenous people of Guyana 6) Reproduction of staff(s), based on the description by Storm van ‘s Gravesande and other sources, which were presented to the indigenous peoples for their alliance and assistance to the Hollanders. 7) Antique Maps & Prints of the Dutch colonial era of Essequibo & Demerara and Berbice 8) A flag of the Dutch West India Company 9) Models of Fort Zeelandia & Fort Nassau 10) Models of Dutch Commercial/ Maritime vessels 11) Reproductions of Dutch documents (from the National Archives of Guyana) illustrating important documents of the Courts of Justice & Policy. Each document will be accompanied with a translation in English 12) Acquisition of costumes of the Dutch colonial period 13) Acquisition of framed portraits, illustrations (poster size) of various themes to be exhibited

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Dissemination of data The National Trust will design and produce two thousand (2000) brochures for distribution to visitors to the museum. - Free copies will be given to groups of students from primary and secondary schools visiting. - Copies will be given to tour operators upon their payment to the Trust of a monthly fee which would allow them to conduct tours of the ruins of Fort Zeelandia and the Court of Policy Hall - Visitors who tour the island without the assistance of tour operators or tourism agencies will be asked to pay a nominal fee to gain entrance into the museum. Upon payment brochures and other data will be distributed.

Training The Trust shall as part of its programme of activities for 2006 fund the caretaker or recruit a museum attend at and have that person trained as part of the annual workshops conducted by the National Museum of Guyana as well as the Guyana Tourism association and the Tourism & Hospitality Association of Guyana.

Fort Nassau Mini Museum (To be tendered by April 2009)

Project description: construction of a Visitor Centre and Mini Museum

Objective - To erect a Mini Museum and Visitor Centre to sensitize visitors to the rich legacy of this historic site - To stimulate visitor appreciation - To promote heritage information about the site

Design The Mini Museum shall consist of display boards with illustrations and text along with models and display cases.

On the exhibition boards the following themes shall be exhibited • The History of Fort Nassau • Historic Photos, Illustrations, Maps of the site • Specimens of documents relating to the history of Nassau • List of Governors and administrators at Fort Nassau etc These panels will be done on vinyl to allow for longevity.

Display cases shall be built to exhibit • Bottles recovered from the site • Fragments of crockery recovered from the site • Other artefacts such as hinges etc found at the site

A model of the fort and the site shall be built to sensitize visitors to the site. In addition a brochure rack will be mounted to display brochures of Fort Nassau and other publications 14

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To facilitate this project the structure erected to accommodate the Caretaker will be modified to facilitate the Mini Museum and Visitor Centre This includes • The extension of the present structure • The addition of a balcony • The addition of traditional elements of Guyana’s timber architecture – timber shutters, fretwork, finials etc • The removal of walls in the interior of the building • Construction of a small walkway around the building (optional ) • Construction of restroom and installation of a water tank

Possible assistance from AWAD for the Dutch Heritage Museum

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4. Intangible heritage

The Dutch intangible heritage in Guyana is a field that still needs to be explored extensively. Many Guyanese (from the common man to the scientific researcher) are fascinated by stories of Dutch ghosts who are haunting the countryside. One can say that many stories are locked up in a sort of “local memory”. For a person who has built a house on former plantation grounds it would be wise to offer some rum to favour the spirits of the former landowners, the Dutch plantation owners. Customs like this, and myths like those about silk cotton trees, buried treasures, tombs of governors (especially the tomb of Storm van ‘s Gravesande) with buried jewelleries are very well known. The urban centre of New Amsterdam holds a very special place in the cultural history of Guyana and has managed, a bit more than other areas, to retain much of the atmosphere and character from the country’s historical heritage. Its name is a significant vestige of the Dutch past, which is also reflected in the common description of Berbice as ‘The Ancient County.’ This history and powerful colonial heritage became the main preoccupation of Edgar Mittelholzer (1909-1965), one of Guyana’s best known writers. His work has helped to define Guyanese literature and to immortalize New Amsterdam as well as the history of Berbice. His best and most entertaining single novel is the haunting mystery thriller My Bones and My Flute which combines his documenting of the social, racial and class attitudes of colonial New Amsterdam with the legendary/mythical supernatural adventures of the Berbice river and the secrets of its Dutch past. Deep in the Guyana jungle the bones of a Dutch plantation owner lie unburied on the forest floor; nearby his old timber mill stands deserted. Oppressive and sinister memories of an occult past linger menacingly over the mill. And always the haunting, insistent sound of a phantom flute. In My Bones and My Flute, and in the autobiographical A Swarthy Boy, the kinds of racial, colour and class snobbery that characterized the colonial society while the author was growing up are illustrated while he represents himself as radical artist and social maverick in those books. The bones of Dutch ancestors, or more precisely the removal of these bones from the Bourda cemetery, is a very actual debate in modern Guyana. “Why should there be a controversy about the Bourda Cemetery ? The argument for its removal is overwhelmingly strong. Is it a case of some who don't want to break with tradition because tradition is too sacred to tamper with? Or is it that some people care more about preserving tradition at the expense of modernisation and development?” asks Mr. Freddie Kissoon in his column in the Kaieteur News (23-6- 2006).

(…)This Dutch historical site sits right in the middle of the city, presenting itself as a strategic hindrance to the expansion of the inner core of the city. Why is a historical relic more important than the lives of thousands of poor road-side vendors? (...) The debate in the Bourda Cemetery may involve people who have a passion for preserving historical sights. But Guyana has economic problems. If the removal of the Bourda Cemetery can go somewhere in alleviating those problems, then surely people must come first. The question is not the dissolution of the Bourda Cemetery , but its transfer to another location. (..) Its

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removal should not be a contentious issue. The debate should revolve around where to put it. Surely, the final resting place for these Dutch ancestors should be a nice, aesthetic part of the city. (...)

Many streets, towns and villages throughout Guyana bear the names of people, cities, names of plantations from colonial times. Dutch family names are still very common in Guyana. And Dutch words like sluis, koker, stelling are just a few of the Dutch relics. Lloyd Kandasammy and June Dubisette brought forward that there is an almost nationwide demand for translating and explaining all the names of townships, villages and estates like Blygezigt, Vreed-en-Hoop, Voorburg, Voorsigtigheid, Waakzaamheid, Zes Kinderen, the Island Hoog en Droog, Godt Ziet Alles, Op Hoop van Beter, Zeelugt, Vrede en Vriendschap, and so on. The story “Hunting the red jaguar” written by youngster Imam Baksh might be illustrative of how (young) Guyanese look at the history of their country and its early settlers. It tells about an encounter of a young Dutch boy named Wim, who lived at Kyk-over-al, with a old and wise jaguar. This story was printed in the magazine Guyana Annual 2005-2006, and with this story Imam won the first price in the Henry Josiah Competition.

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5. Research

Alvin Thompson made the following suggestions to preserve and recapture the legacy emanating from the Dutch period: - Offer scholars some opportunity of learning Dutch in the Netherlands, in a completely Dutch environment. - Repatriation of important documents through collaborative work between various Guyanese and Dutch organisations through scholarships and/or research grants - Produce a research guide to the sources relating to archival materials and books concerning Guyanese history. This guide should not be limited to material in the Netherlands, Guyana and the UK but materials in the USA, Germany and other European countries should also be included. - Detailed studies to produce manuscripts of: Slavery studies, to include the slave trade, the slave family, the slave culture, the church in a plantation context, plantation organisation and production, trade relations with indigenous people and the Dutch. He indicated that archaeological work would be highly useful in complementing some of the written sources named above. With respect to collaborative work, the areas mentioned by Alvin Thompson were: The political system, Comparative work between Guyana and Dutch Antilles and how it affected Guyana and comparative work on Guyana and Suriname.

On other fields co-operation with the Surinamese can be very beneficial: - The Surinamese experience with similar restoration projects like Fortress Nieuw Amsterdam (is comparable to the restoration project on Fort Island), many disciplines will be needed to realize the complete restoration and preservation of the buildings and other monumental objects. - Language courses for history students UG

Participants then made suggestions on how restoration, preservation, translation, research and access could be achieved.

Ian Robertson made some suggestions concerning linguistic research: - It would be of great value to translate documentation - Need for advance in electronic data - Making available existing oral and pictorial records

Implications stated were: - New and different electronic resources - Academic institutional support - The linguist history link

According to Alvin Thompson the Dutch influence on Guyanese daily life was not restricted to the 17th, 18th and early 19th century. Even today Guyanese society shows signs of a Dutch colonial past. These signs are to be found in geographic, demographic and linguistic relics. Perhaps the most significant en enduring development is this respect is the system of polders and dykes which helped to make

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the coastal area more congenial for human settlement and the development of settled agriculture. Till the 1960s some aspects of the British Guianese legal system were based on Roman-Dutch law.

Lodewijk Wagenaar stated that small projects could be done (suggested that three be identified ) such as putting information on CD, students could do their Masters Thesis in Guyana. Existing structures could be used to enhance what already existed and that there could be established student exchanges. He also stated Dutch lecturers could be assigned to teach Dutch

Jennifer Wishart gave some suggestions of possible contributions to the mutual heritage co-operation. She would like to have more additional information on: 1. Biographical, historical data of Dutch commanders, governors, secretaries. Additionally portraits of the officials of the DWIC , in particular Laurens Storms van ’s Gravesande. 2. Maps and plans (if any) of the Guiana colonies/ settlements, proposed settlements, trading posts and other establishments 3. Plans depicting the layout of tobacco, cotton and sugar estates 4. Plans for the design of Dutch slave trading vessels for the purpose of exhibiting in the museum 5. Letters by Dutch officials pertaining to the development of the Guiana colonies that may be reproduced for exhibiting in the museum 6. Religion and society- information pertaining to the development of the Dutch reformed church in the Guiana colonies 7. The slave route — information, particularly the reproduction of the registers of slave trading vessels from their departure from the African coast to the Guiana colonies... further examples can include information of the different slave trading vessels, their names, captains, origins etc. 8. Dutch colonial society — examples of the different aspects of Dutch society in the Guiana’s for example clothing, domestic utensils etc....

Alvin Thompson stated that other important areas of collaborative work include a much more detailed study than has been possible so far on the political system which the Dutch developed in the country, and also on the various ways in which the legal system was informed (perhaps is still informed) by Dutch laws and precedents. At the comparative level, collaborative work would be useful to elucidate the ways in which the Dutch experience and legacy in Guyana differed from/were similar to those in the Caribbean islands. Clearly, we can discern, at least superficially, geographical, spatial, organizational and occupational differences, but these might be explored more fully, and the similarities also need to be addressed. A comparison between Guyana and Suriname (which became a Dutch colony in 1667 but remained almost continuously under Dutch sovereignty until it achieved independence in 1975) might yield interesting results about the impact of the Dutch presence on the two countries.

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6. Conclusions

First of all it was the consensus of all the participants of the workshop that there could be established an interdisciplinary partnership to share information and educate persons on the history of the Dutch in Guyana. The conclusions mentioned here are based on the results of the workshop, the visits to the institutions (the pertinent locations), conversations with experts from the institutions and the proposals made by the National Trust of Guyana. In many ways Guyana remains a terra incognita, there is much to be explored and much to be discovered. Most of the excavations were at Amerindian sites and just a few remains of Dutch buildings have been located and registered. The lack of research/inventory guides is being felt.

The National monuments of Dutch origin have been neglected for centuries, and are still being plundered today. Bricks are taken away from the sites on a daily base. An interdisciplinary approach is needed, aimed at developing projects where different aspects, categories and sectors of the heritage field can be integrated. Archivists (documents and maps) and historians can work together with archaeologists, bottle experts, coin experts, clay pipe experts, canon experts, bricklayers, irrigation experts, technical engineers, dyke experts, and so on. Their fields of expertise and the results of their research will mutually enhance one another. The National Trust of Guyana is very committed to the mutual heritage and the Dutch legacy in Guyana. The Five Years Plan of the National Trust shows several initiatives, plans for research, preserving, benefiting from and explaining the Dutch heritage in Guyana. The National Trust aims to preserve and restore the Dutch heritage in Guyana for cultural, educational, academic, and other purposes. The main objectives are the restoration of the buildings on Fort Island, the exposing and preserving of the fundaments of Fort Nassau. Another objective is to establish a museum and a information center on the respectively islands.

Museum/moveable tangible cultural heritage They are no surveys or inventories of records and artefacts that are deposited with museums, governmental institutions, libraries and the National Archives. The budget limits the management in their tasks like collection management, education, research and services assistance and support to other museums. The National Museum holds only a few Dutch artifacts from archaeological and anthropological collections. Many artifacts and other archaeological findings have been plundered and exported to the USA and Europe. Perhaps a system of a “loan collection” with artefacts and utensils from Dutch museums could be set up. The Dutch history of Guyana will get much attention in the two planned museums; one on Fort Island and one near the remains of Fort Nassau. These museums will give extended information on the Dutch settlers, the slave society, slavery, contact with the indigenous peoples of Guyana, the plantation economy, and so on.

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Archives and Libraries The National Archives of Guyana and the UG Library are the most prominent players in this field. They keep the written heritage of the former colonies of Berbice, Demerara and Essequibo, British Guiana and the Republic of Guyana. The holdings of the Archives are decomposing due to tropical climate and historically poor storage facilities. Without proper preservation, 400 years of Guyana’s history will be lost to future generations. In the case of documents in the advanced state of brown decay it is impossible to turn a page without cracking or reducing it to powder. The records are stored as hard copies, and there is no cohesive correlation between repositories of archival holdings. In addition to this the National Archives has been slow in applying the modern ICTs to its operations, and this has been compounded by a lack of relevant expertise to implement, manage and preserve a digital archives. The objectives of the National Archives are: - To build and maintain a reliable public sector information system through Digitization. - To improve management, preservation and accessibility of archival materials through digitization of collections. - To develop a collection for interactive access and for use of public information. - To develop the capacity of the archives in its quest to preserve and disseminate the nation’s records. - To develop new competencies in the management of a digital collection. - To eliminate handling as far as it is possible, of the physical document. Perhaps here the National Archives of the Netherlands could be of assistance, especially the restoration and conservation department. A proposal to digitize the Dutch collection in the National Archives is enclosed.

Universities/research Relating to the intangible cultural heritage professional research is needed. Prof Robertson has done major linguistic research but much more can be done. The UWI holds a collection of oral history tapes in Skepi Dutch and Berbice Dutch, donated by Ian Robertson. The paper heritage is scattered over a number of organizations and here too large part of the material is inaccessible due to lack of inventories. Besides the paper heritage is threatened because of improper storage facilities. But accessibility should be improved. An inventory/overview of archival material relating to the colonies Berbice, Demerara and Essequibo is mentioned as a first priority by Alvin Thompson and others.

Linguistic barriers: The Guyanese researchers and the people with interest in the Dutch history of Guyana must pass many hordes before reaching their goal. The oldest records in the National Archives are written in 18th century Dutch which forms a huge obstacle for many researchers. What would simulate research on the Dutch colonial are of Guyana: - Translation programmes (documents, names of townships, villages, titles of books, etcetera)

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- Intensive Dutch language courses for Guyanese scholars (preferably in the Netherlands, a cheaper solution would be to follow courses in Suriname (if possible))

Access to the overseas sources: - Research guide to the sources relating 17th, 18th century Guyanese history - Copies of Dutch and British records to be stored in Guyana, like the CO 116 series (National Archives, Kew), or the DWIC records. - To get access to Dutch records, it is important to make translations of documentation. There is a need for advance in electronic data. - It is important to make existing oral and pictorial records available and accessible (electronic data).

Arrangement, description and access to the local Guyanese sources: Documents in the National Archives are preserved to be made accessible to researchers. Without suitable funding aids, they are lost. - No detailed inventory of archival records - Lack of proper lists and finding aids - Lack of automation for records management

Recommendations after local workshop in Georgetown, Guyana - Continuity is essential, continuation of the programme and strengthening the relations are essential and a condition for future cooperation with Guyanese partners. - Assistance and stimulation of small and attainable projects is important - Cooperation in the region (Suriname, Netherlands Antilles) should be studied - To acquire (passive) mastery of the Dutch language (“Dutch as a source language”) is of great importance for a further disclosure of the Dutch records at the National Archives and of the Dutch books en documents at the UG Library. - The National Archives aims to improve the preservation and conservation of its record collection (digitizing the Dutch collection). Assistance in this process is desired.

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7. Visits to the pertinent Locations (Monday June 19th, 2006)

Mr. Ben ter Welle, a Dutchman living in Guyana for more than 25 years and a personal friend of Dr. James Rose, has been very helpful and supportive during the preparations of the workshop. Ben drove us to all the locations, and introduced us to the managers of these institutions. All the visited locations are governmental organisations, or at least partly financed by governmental funding. These institutions were: 1. The Lands and Surveys Commission 2. The National Museum 3. The National Archives of Guyana 4. The National Trust of Guyana 5. The Guyana Tourism Authority/Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana

After finishing our visits we had a meeting with the honorary consul for the Netherlands in Guyana, Dr. Peter De Groot. The final visit of the day was at the NCN television station, where an interview was taken. This interview was broadcasted on June the 20th.

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7.1 Lands and Surveys Commission

The Lands and Surveys Commission (Ministry of Agriculture) 22 Upper Hadfield Street Durban Backlands Georgetown, Guyana

The mission of the Lands and Surveys Commission is to survey and map the land and water resources of Guyana, to be custodians of all public lands and administer these effectively in the national interest, and to provide land-based information to a broad range of public and private sector entities and interests. The Lands and Surveys Commission had a reorganization five years ago. After a cleanup the Commission made a new inventory of their maps. The Commission holds a lot of copies of Dutch maps of Guyana (c. 1750-1800). The copies were made by the British in the 1920s. Surveys Manager Mr. Leon Rutherford showed us a few examples of these copies. We made a few photos of these copied maps (see below). Link: http://www.sdnp.org.gy/minagri/moa_mfcl/moa/landsandsurveys/index.htm

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7.2 National Museum

The National Museum is located on North Road in a building complex which opened in 1951. The Museum's collections were housed previously in the Carneige Building. The Guyana Museum in Georgetown has a collection of flora and fauna, archaeological findings, and examples of Amerindian arts and crafts.

Director of the National Museum is Ms. Tamika Boatswain. She studied at the Universidad Nacional Pedro Henriquez Ureña (UNPHU - Dominican Republic) and showed with her thesis “Una Plan para la Conservación y Puesta en Valor de las Ruinas del Fuerte de Nassau, Guyana (September 2003)” interest in the 18th century history of Guyana. The museum holds a small collection of objects from the Dutch period, like pipes, foot-baths, a Dutch slave whip and scale-models of the Dutch Fortresses Zeelandia and Nassau.

Ms Boatswain mentioned the lack of expertise on subjects like structures, boats and utensils. She was fascinated by the idea that many museums in the Netherlands are holding objects like these in store, while in Guyana there are no known examples left. Ms Boatswain was interested in setting up a constant “Dutch period – Slave society”- exposition, with a possible “loan collection” including artefacts and utensils from Dutch museums.

The National Museum

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Scale model of Fort Nassau Dutch Porcelain Pipe

Scale model of Fort Zeelandia Dutch Slave Whip

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7.3 National Archives of Guyana

The National Archives of Guyana (NAG) is a public sector agency of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports that preserves Guyana’s written heritage by overseeing the collection, custody, preservation and management of the official records of the nation. The National Archives was established in 1958 but required its organisational mandate from the National Archives of Guyana Act of 19824.

Today, the archives reflect and have on record more than 400 years of Guyanese development. These holdings are in great numbers, diverse in character and rich in information. They hold about 700 metres of textual materials 10,000 printed items and 55 metres of newspapers. Of the total holdings, five percent date from the 1800 century, 55 percent from the 1900 century and 40 percent from the 2000 century.

The new National Archives building “under construction”

Former Culture minister Gail Teixeira said the National Archives has come a long way, and she encouraged young people to get acquainted with their history by researching and making use of the materials. She encouraged students who are completing high school to pursue careers in record keeping by obtaining jobs at the National Archives. According to Ms Teixeira the archives has served well in maintaining Guyana's history. She appealed to persons who might have valuable documents for the archives to offer them to the institution. The Archives also presented the first issue of a quarterly newsletter, the Archives Watch.

Within a few months the new National Archives building will be ready. The whole collection will be moved from 26 Main Street to the new location at Homestretch Avenue, near the Lands and Surveys Commission. Archivist Ms June Dubisette

4 See enclosure “The National Archives of Guyana Act” 27

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showed us a few examples of Dutch Guyanese paper heritage like late 18th century minutes of the courts of Policy and Justice. The list of 1700 and 1800 legal documents recently (April 2004) transferred to the National Archives is very significant, and important for future researchers.

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7.4 National Trust of Guyana

94 Carmichael Street Cummingsburg Georgetown, Guyana Telephone (592) 225 -5071 Fax (592) 223 - 7146 http://www.nationaltrust.gov.gy/

The National Trust of Guyana was established in 1972 by an Act of Parliament with the following terms of reference: - The preservation of buildings of national interest or of architectural, historical or artistic interest or national importance or beauty, and the protection and augmentation of the amenities of such buildings and their surroundings - The access to and enjoyment of such buildings, places and chattels by the public - The preservation of furniture and pictures and chattels of any description having national or historic or artistic interest

Objectives The immediate objective of the National Trust is to advise the Minster of Culture Youth & Sport on the work of the Trust in the conservation of the nation’s patrimony A specific objective is to develop a broad policy to secure the commitment of stakeholders (Government agencies, Non Governmental Organizations, Municipalities, Regional Offices, Community Groups) in the preservation of cultural heritage Another objective is to strengthen existing by laws to regulate and supervise works within the conservation zone thus allowing for the authenticity of historical properties to remain intact with minimal alterations in building materials, size, shape or addition to structures or any other work (s) which may not confirm to the practice of conservation. Other objectives are to sensitise the nation of their rich heritage and the benefits to be accrued from its preservation and to promote the appreciation of cultural heritage

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Mandate The Trust is committed to the preservation, conservation and public display of all aspects of the cultural heritage of Guyana. It is therefore its mission to locate, identify, investigate, record, preserve and make accessible to the public all monuments, buildings, structures and sites of historical, architectural, artistic or natural beauty and national significance. The Trust is also obliged to propagate the awareness and a wholesome understanding and appreciation of the relevance and significance of these aspects of the nation’s heritage to the national psyche.

Justification The task of preserving and enhancing Guyana’s natural and cultural heritage extends far beyond the simple preservation of landscapes and monuments. Against a rapidly changing landscape there is an increasing need for the Trust to stimulate among Guyanese an awareness to their cultural environment

The Heritage Context

External Trends - Increased awareness to issues related to the conservation of cultural heritage - The preservation of the cultural landscape as a vital link for the success of Heritage Tourism - Availability of advanced technological resources such as the internet - The possibility of World Heritage Listing (Georgetown)

Internal Trends - The Trust’s annual budget allocation (recurrent and capital) from the Government of Guyana has increased significantly over the last two years (2004-2005). - Increasing participation by the community in sensitising the public of their rich and varied heritage - Increased usage by the community of heritage sites

Constraints The needs for the conservation of cultural heritage are vast and we are responding as far as our means and capabilities allow. There are many areas that require urgent attention to ensure that valuable chapters of the nation’s history are not erased. Internal law and policies are in urgent need of revision and ratification. Critical to heritage conservation, particularly in securing the approval of the World Heritage Committee to place Guyana on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, is an effective and enabling institutional and policy environment that set the tone for the prioritising of heritage issues. Measures that sustain efforts – laws, legislation, building codes and zoning regulation and control are vital to a sustainable programme of conserving heritage. The Trust will continue to advocate for a review of the National Trust Act (No. 7 of 1972), focusing specifically on the areas of • Increased fines for violation and desecration of heritage sites and National Monuments

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• Emphasising ‘guardianship’ rather than ‘ownership’ status for private property adopting a uniform listing criteria and adopting the stand of sensitisation as a tool of enforcement • Implementation of listing criteria to prioritize the listing of monuments

The members of the board of the National Trust are (September 2006): Dr. James Rose (Chairman) Dr. Patrick Williams (Director WWF Guyana) Major General (rtd) Joe Singh ( Executive Director, Conservation Int. Guyana) Mr. Rawle Edinboro (Town Planner) Mr. Orin Hinds (Architect) Professor Rory Westmaas (Architect) Ms. June Dubisette (Archivist) Ms. Joan Elvis ( Representative of the Ministry of Local Government) Mr. Leon Rutherford (Lands surveyor) Guyana Lands & Surveys Commission Mr. Bert Carter (Civil Engineer) Mr. Lloyd Andrews (representative of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs) Mrs. Indira Anandjit (representative of the Tourism & Hospitality Association) Ms. Eliza Florendo (representative of the Environmental Protection Agency)

Conservation Officer Allyson Stoll; Research & Documentation Officer Lloyd F. Kandasammy; Accountant Dorothy Argyle and Assistant Anita George also serve the Trust.

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7.5 Guyana Tourism Authority / Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana

Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) 157 Waterloo Street, Georgetown, Guyana, South America Tel. (592) 225-0807 or (592) 225-6699 Fax. (592) 225-0817 E-mail: [email protected]

Guyana Tourism Authority National Exhibition Site Sophia, Georgetown. Tel: (592) 223-6351/6352 Fax: (592) 231-6672

In recent years, tourism has been given a high priority in Guyana’s economic development strategy. This has been due mainly to changing market forces and the dismantling of secure and preferential markets for traditional sectors of Guyana’s economy as well as steady development of Guyana’s tourism. Between the period 1986 to 2005 there has been significant interventions which have led to the development of Guyana’s tourism sector. Principal among them have been the appointment of a Minister with responsibility for tourism, the establishing of a Ministry of Tourism, the introduction of a Tourism Studies Unit at the University of Guyana, the formation of the Tourism Association of Guyana and the passage of the Tourism Authority Bill and establishing of the Guyana Tourism Authority.

THAG is a member of the Private Sector Commission. It is an umbrella body of all Tourism related entities. Members include hoteliers, resort owners, tour operators, travel agents, restaurants, jewellery and craft shops, transportation services among others. The association was established in January 1991 by a number of persons working in the tourism industry. Initially called the Tourism association of Guyana (TAG), its main aim was to lobby the Government of Guyana to create a Tourism Board as a legal entity. Early 1999, TAG evolved into The Tourism & Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) in recognition of the magnitude of the industry. 32

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Objectives - To foster both foreign and local goodwill toward the tourism industry. - To market the tourism product of the country locally, regionally and internationally. - To work with government to establish and maintain standards for the industry. - To promote legislation that will benefit, improve and expand the tourism industry in Guyana.

Future plans THAG and the Government of Guyana (GOG), and its Ministry of Tourism, Industry & Commerce, have today built a strong alliance to promote and develop Guyana’s many natural and cultural attributes as a tourism destination. An effective THAG/GOG working relationship has been achieved, which is expanding industry momentum and awareness across Guyana. THAG fully intends to continue nurturing its alliance with the Government. THAG has steadily pursued partnership with the Government in developing and expanding the many aspects of the tourism industry, the generic marketing, as well as positioning individual members locally, regionally and internationally, and in introducing and maintaining the highest standards with operators in the industry. The Guyana Tourism Authority (Tel 592- 223-6351) collaborates intensively with THAG. According to the THAG cultural (heritage) tourism is the fastest growing form of tourism in Guyana. A combination of heritage tourism and wildlife tourism is also a interesting possibility for Guyana. A substantial part of the tourists visiting Guyana is the group of Guyanese born migrated to Canada, the UK or the USA, and their children. They usually only visit their family members in Guyana, but more and more they pay visits to the Guyanese Dutch sites as well. Ms. Maureen Paul (THAG) would like to see a Guyanese version of “Holland Village” near Nagasaki. Fort Island would be the most ideal location for the.

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7.6 Honorary Consulate of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Honorary Consul Dr. P. De Groot

Dr. Peter De Groot c/o Fairfield Rice Inc. 24 Water Street, Georgetown, Guyana Tel: 225-9311-4 Fax: 227-1032 E-mail:[email protected]

Dr. Peter De Groot is very enthusiastic about the project the Atlantic World and the Dutch. He said that he would support the Dutch experts and students in their efforts wherever he can. Peter De Groot is a Guyanese businessman and director of the export company Fairfield Rice Inc. His cultural background is Portuguese and, as his family name gives away, he has got Dutch ancestors as well.

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7.7 National Communications Network (Television Interview)

The Guyana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) and the Guyana Television Broadcasting Company Limited (GTV) have merged into a new company, National Communications Network Incorporated (NCN Inc.), effective 1st March 2004. According to Executive Director of NCN Inc. Desmond Mohamed, all assets and liabilities of these two companies have been taken over by NCN Inc. so that any outstanding monies due to either GTV or GBC now become payable to NCN Inc. Also, all sums owed by GTV and GBC will now be paid by NCN Inc. The Directors and Management of NCN look forward to providing new and improved services in both television and radio for the benefit of our viewers and listeners, Mohamed said. The new company looks forward to the public’s continued support. Lodewijk Wagenaar was asked to give an interview for the television programme Let’s Talk, with the title “Restoring our Dutch Heritage. The host Neaz Subhan was surprised to hear so much about the unknown history of Guyana. The programme was broadcasted nationwide on the 20th of June. The next day some people recognized Lodewijk from his TV performance. They were enthusiastic and very interested in the Dutch-Guyanese history. A DVD-copy of the programme is added to the enclosures. A DVD copy with the broadcast is enclosed.

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Appendix A

Texts / minutes of the presentations of the

AWAD local workshop in Guyana

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Workshop scheme

1. Opening Remarks by Dr James Rose

2. The Guyana Experience, 1500-1800 2.1 Dutch Colonial Activity Prof Winston McGowan 2.2 Dutch Colonial Activity Prof Alvin Thompson

3. Mutual Heritage 3.1 Build Heritage Mr Lennox Hernandez 3.2 Archival Holdings Ms June Dubissette & Ms Gwyneth George 3.3 Language Prof Ian Robertson 3.4 Archeology Ms Jennifer Wishart

4. The Atlantic World and the Dutch [AWAD] Mutual Heritage Project 4.1 The Atlantic World & the Dutch Project Dr Lodewijk Wagenaar 4.2 Presentation of the AWAD-website & database Mr Johan van Langen

The Guyana Programme (discussion) Restoration Preservation Translation Research Access Institutional Building Capacity Building

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Opening Remarks

Dr. James Rose welcomed the participants to the Workshop. He expressed the view that there would be meaningful contributions at the Workshop which would be able to facilitate the preservation of the Dutch activities. The departments of Foreign Affairs and Culture support the AWAD-project but the international cooperation should be a meaningful exercise instead of a purely academic exercise. Anything less would be disappointing. The preservation of the Dutch documents in Guyana, about 15 metres, is a important case. These documents are in urgent need for conservation. A earlier attempt for a microfilm-project failed due to the lack of Dutch diplomatic finesse. Dr. Lodewijk Wagenaar gave a short introduction on AWAD and explained the purpose of the workshop. He indicated that similar Workshops were to be held in six other regions and that ideas on projects from these various Workshops would be addressed at a Conference in November 2006. He was optimistic that the University of Guyana and the other organizations/institutions attending the Workshop would be able to establish cooperation with AWAD and benefit from projects. Mr. Johan van Langen thanked Dr James Rose for arranging the workshop, and he hoped it would be a first step towards a long term co-operation between Dutch and Guyanese scientific institutions and individuals. He stated that any information on the Dutch presence in Guyana would be very beneficial to the project.

Dutch presence in Guyana

Professor Winston McGowan, Walter Rodney Professor, School of Education & Humanities, University of Guyana.

Dutch Colonial Activity – Professor Winston McGowan

The following was highlighted in the presentation: • Insights into the Dutch colonial experience in Guyana • Chronological parameters of Dutch influence in Guyana • Marked features of the Dutch experience • The Economy in the Dutch period • Land management

There were many commercial links with the Americas. 1740 – The colonies were opened for European colonization Indigenous people had good contacts with the Dutch. Not many slaves were brought to Guyana, it was an underdeveloped region An heritage of the Dutch period is the boundary issue with Venezuela. Guyana has a remarkable Dutch legacy, the coastal areas are largely below sea level, a system of dykes, kokers, drainage system, etc.

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Some Thought on the Dutch Period and Presence in Guyana

Professor Alvin O. Thompson, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados

The Dutch played a major role in the making of the Atlantic World. They challenged and whittled down the Spanish monopoly in the hemisphere from the late sixteenth century, set up a number of colonies in the Americas, established forts and factors on the West African coast, became the main purveyors of the slave trade, especially from around 1637 (when they captured Elmina fort from the Portuguese) to roughly the late seventeenth century. Within Guyana, which is more immediate to our discussion, they set up the first durable settlements and arguably the earliest of those that challenged Spanish sovereignty in the Caribbean. First in Essequibo, then in Berbice, followed by Suriname (which they captured and retained from the English), and finally in Demerara, they spread their trading and plantation settlements. For a long time their plantations were located some distance upriver, before they settled largely on the coast. They also communicated and traded with the Amerindians or Native Americans way beyond the plantation settlements, and especially in the Orinoco and Essequibo Rivers, and their many tributaries. Within the Guianas, up to the early 1800s the Dutch trading and commercial presence was almost ubiquitous. They have left indelible marks on the physical, economic, social, political and cultural landscapes of the Guianas, and indeed of the Atlantic World. The physical landscape of Guyana was considerably modified in selected places by Dutch endeavours. Perhaps the most significant and enduring development in this respect is the system of poldering or dykes (still often called kokers in Guyana) which helped to make the coastal areas more congenial (or at least less harsh) for human settlement and the development of settled agriculture. The other indelible mark in this context is plantations or estates that they established and that dominated the economy for a considerable period of the nation’s history. Some persons would argue that they still do so. The third major development was the import of Africans who in time became the largest single population group during the Dutch period. In 1785, according to one estimate, they outnumbered the white population by sixteen to one. The fourth major development, closely related to the others, was the employment of the Africans as servile labour cohorts, with few or no rights and with the burdensome responsibility of making their owners rich. This is by far the most unfortunate legacy of the Dutch (as also of the British) presence in the country. The fifth important development was the physical structures that they erected, in the form of plantation houses, forts, government buildings and churches. Much of what they built was destroyed by the passage of time, the superimposition of English architectural styles from the nineteenth century, and simple neglect. However, a few notable relics exist, such as Kykoveral and Fort Nassau. The sixth significant impact of the Dutch was in the area of language. Here again, much of it has been superseded by the English language and by the several dialects and sub-dialects that have emerged in isolated parts of the country. However, a few pockets of “creolized” Dutch (or Skepi Dutch) still exist. Dr. Ian Robertson did considerable pioneering work in studying the lexical and grammatical

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structure of this language. More recently, the language has been documented in greater detail in Silvia Kouwenberg’s, A Grammar of Berbice Dutch Creole (New York: Mouton de Gruyter, 1994). More importantly, perhaps, the linguistic memory of the Dutch period survives in the numerous place names that still exist, as a perusal of the Gazetteer of Guyana (Georgetown: 1974) will readily reveal. It also exists in the lexical items that still crop up periodically in Guyanese speech and in the pronunciation of certain English words. The political arena constitutes the seventh important sphere in which the Dutch presence impacted on the country. For well over a century after the British took over the country the political system reflected largely that of the Dutch, though with substantial modifications as time went by. The Combined Court controlled the purse strings of the colony at least until 1928 when Crown Colony government was instituted. The seventh important area is in relation to the legal system. The criminal, and especially the civil, laws were influenced deeply by Roman-Dutch law, as Michael Shahabuddeen makes clear in his pioneering work, The Legal System in Guyana (Georgetown: 1973). Civil aspects of Roman-Dutch law were applied in the colony until 1916, and even so in certain cases, such as disputes arising from wills which had been drawn up before 1916, were being dealt with as late as the 1960s under Roman-Dutch law. The final legacy that I will mention is the religious one. The Dutch Reformed Church, though lacking a significant presence in terms of numbers either during the Dutch or British period of colonization, and apparently finally closing its doors in the 1860s, was a fundamental part of the Dutch presence. The Lutheran Church, though originating in Germany, seems to have been regarded by the Dutch settlers as a sister church and was allowed greater freedom of worship than other denominations. This denomination still exist in Guyana. Both of these churches eschewed teaching enslaved persons the doctrines of the Christian religion until the last decade or so before emancipation. However, a few enslaved persons imbibed their doctrines. It is clear that the Dutch left varying aspects of their material and social culture in the country: muted and or/transformed at times, but nevertheless still real. The problem is that most of what happened in the Dutch period has been shrouded in silence, partly because of the superimposition of British forms and norms on the society, and partly because of the small number of researchers who have sufficient knowledge of the Dutch language to unlock the secrets of the Dutch past in the country. To my mind the greatest single way in which Guyanese could uncover their history and other aspects of their legacy emanating from the Dutch period is through a facility that offers scholars some opportunity of learning Dutch in the Netherlands. This is an aspect that we could/should explore more fully in the discussions that are due to take place later today. The second important way in which we could enhance our knowledge and understanding of that period is through the repatriation of important documents. Actually, the University of Guyana Library microfilmed a substantial portion of the CO 116 series held in the British National Archives (formerly the Public Record Office) in London, covering the Dutch period in Demerara and Berbice roughly from 1732 to the early nineteenth century. However, a considerable amount of material still exists in various public and private archives in the Netherlands, on various aspects of the Dutch presence in the country. It is particularly important to retrieve as much as

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possible of the plantation records. This could be done through collaborative work between various Guyanese and Dutch organizations. In this respect, scholarships and/or research grants could be made available to Guyanese scholars singly or in collaboration with their Dutch counterparts to do this kind of work. In terms of publications, the first call, in my opinion, is for a published work detailing the various depositories in various parts of the world, but especially in the Netherlands, Britain, the United States, Suriname, Spain/Venezuela, Portugal/Brazil, and Guyana that contain unpublished documents relating to the history of Guyana. Undoubtedly, such an effort would take time, money and patience, but the task must begin sooner rather than later. Two important models for such a work are: P. Walne, ed., A Guide to the Manuscript Sources for the History of Latin America and the Caribbean in the British Isles (London: Oxford University Press, 1975), and K.E. Ingram, Manuscript Sources for the History of the West Indies: With Special Reference to Jamaica in the National Library of Jamaica and Supplementary Sources in the West Indies, North America, and United Kingdom and Elsewhere (Kingston: University of the West Indies Press, 2000). The second important work should be a good general history of the Dutch period in Guyana that utilizes much more of the contemporary manuscript sources than the few previous works have done. Detailed studies also need to be done on a number of other topics. Slave society in Guyana in the period under review cries out for urgent attention. Slavery studies are on the cutting edge of research in the Americas, the Caribbean, Europe and Africa. We know very little of what happened in Guyana. Areas such as the slave trade, slave family, slave culture, rural and urban slavery, and Maroon societies are virtually absent from the few studies that exist on Guyanese slavery. Related studies are the Church in a plantation context, plantation organization and production, and relations with the Amerindians. Archaeological work would be highly useful in complementing the written sources, especially in relation to the last two topics that I have mentioned, and also in regard to the urban environment and the military installations. In the case of the Amerindians, the painstaking and excellent work of Denis Williams, entitled Prehistoric Guiana (Kingston: Ian Randle Publishers, 2004), stands as a model of what is possible. In the linguistic field, already mentioned above, the dedicated work of Dr. Ian Robertson in the linguistic field has brought to light important “creolized” language structures based on Dutch, especially in Essequibo. Professor Richard Allsopp’s more general work on Caribbean lexicography has also indicated important lexical retentions more widely throughout the country. This is clearly an exciting area of research, for it has implications for research on the non-material aspects of the Dutch legacy in Guyana. Other important areas of collaborative work include a much more detailed study than has been possible so far on the political system which the Dutch developed in the country, and also on the various ways in which the legal system was informed (perhaps is still informed) by Dutch laws and precedents. At the comparative level, collaborative work would be useful to elucidate the ways in which the Dutch experience and legacy in Guyana differed from/were similar to those in the Caribbean islands. Clearly, we can discern, at least superficially, geographical, spatial, organizational and occupational differences, but these might be explored more fully, and the similarities also need to be addressed. A comparison between

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Guyana and Suriname (which became a Dutch colony in 1667 but remained almost continuously under Dutch sovereignty until it achieved independence in 1975) might yield interesting results about the impact of the Dutch presence on the two countries.

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Dutch Built Heritage in Guyana (c1600 – 1818)

Lennox Hernandez, Head, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Technology, University of Guyana

A power point presentation was done showing:

Fort Kijkoveral, Mazaruni River • Small island in Mazaruni River near junction with Cuyuni River, both branching from Essequibo • Fort and seat of Dutch management of Essequibo from 1616 to 1718 • Area of approximately 1.5 acres • Fort Kijkoveral ruins – remains of brick walls and arched entrance

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Fort Island, Essequibo River

• Possibly the 3rd fort on island • Built by Laurens Storm van ‘s Gravesande – 1740 to 1741 • Seat of Dutch government moved from Cartabo to Flag Island (now Fort Island) in 1739 • The island had other Dutch works, including the Church/Court of Policy building, built c1752

Fort Zeelandia

Court of Policy Building, Fort Island (c 1752)

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Fort Nassau, Berbice River

• Possibly three previous forts on or near this site and the remains may be one from 1720 • Nothing on site above six brick courses presently • Evidence of various buildings on site (foundations, steps, etc) • A number of graves on site

Fort Nassau, Berbice River - warehouse foundation walls

Fort Nassau, Berbice River - Dutch graves

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Other Dutch Remains

Wharf walls – Fort Island, Essequibo River

Building foundations - Saxacalli, Essequibo River

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Brick foundation remains in Hadfield Street, Georgetown

St Andrew’s Kirk (1811-1818) Avenue of the Republic

• the site occupied by the Dutch as early as 1748 with the siting of a signal station (brandwagt) – beginning of Stabroek • the oldest extant church in Georgetown • was originally a Dutch Reform Church opened, though incomplete (framework only) in 1812 • later a joint venture between Scots and Dutch and completed in 1818

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Archival Holdings

Ms June Dubisette, Archivist (ag.) National Archives of Guyana and Ms Gwyneth George, University Librarian (ag.)

Summary

This presentation will attempt to address archival holdings in Guyana and the problems related to conservation and management of these records.

Introduction

It has been established that for the period 1621 – 1674, that there are no records available in Guyana. However, records for the period 1675 until the end of the Dutch rule are housed in three (3) main repositories in Guyana: The National Archives of Guyana Supreme Court Lands & Surveys

The National Archives - where in 1920 Oudschans Dentz lists Dutch records of the Government Secretary’s Office. Given the time constraints of this presentation and for practical purposes, I will circulate a list of the holdings of the National Archives. An attempt to list these eighteenth century Archives was made by Ineke Delzing, a Dutch scholar. This list was published by the Department of History, University of Guyana, and was deposited in the National Archives, University of Guyana Library and the National Library (List of Ordinances of Berbice 1681-1816). The other significant repositories which contain records are the Deeds Registry and the Supreme Court Registry (both in Georgetown). These two repositories should hold significant documentation in relation to early maps etc.

Another repository of Dutch records is the Lands and Survey Department which should contain some maps and survey plans. Benjamin notes that no early holdings of land data can be found, except for a volume of papers relating to the problems created for landownership consequent on the erosion of the Courabanna Point on the East Coast of Demerara. In relation to Berbice, Benjamin notes that except for the Ordinance and Proclamations (beginning in May 1681) in the National Archives, there is nothing before 1735.

The records after 1721 are in a much more substantial form and are divided amongst the repositories in Holland, Great Britain and Guyana. Some of the Berbice records are also lodged in the legal Registry in New Amsterdam, where some of them have been transferred to the National Archives, as for instance in 1975 after a severe flood did damage to that Registry.

The University of Guyana Library also holds some miscellaneous pieces of documents, notably the CO111 documents which are on microfilm, and some rare maps.

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Minutes of the Court of Policy

Problems relating to management and conservation of archival records

In this section, we would like to specifically address the problems related to the management and conservation of archival holdings. However, we will focus specifically on the National Archives. Indeed, an examination of the National Archives will present a holistic picture of the problems being experienced by all repositories of archival holdings and therefore these problems are not unique to the National Archives.

The strength of the National Archives is undoubtedly its holdings. Compared to a number of countries in the Caribbean region, these are extensive, with approximately 700 metres of textual materials, 10,000 printed items and 55 meters of papers.

Of the total holdings, approximately 5% date from the 18th century, 55% from the 19th century and 45% from the 20th century. The Dutch collection is the oldest group as these date back to 1735.

Problems related to climate, storage and handling

Past neglect, Bad conditions of storage Climate Bad handling Attacks by termites

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Brown decay

Arrangement, description and access

Documents are preserved to be made accessible to researchers – without suitable funding aids, they are lost.

No detailed inventory of archival records Lack of proper lists and finding aids Lack of automation for records management Records stored as hard copies No cohesive correlation between repositories of archival holdings

Disaster preparedness

Guyana’s archival records have already suffered the deleterious effects of fire, notably the disastrous Georgetown fire of 1828. Guyana’s coastal belt seems, now more than ever, to be threatened by the incursions of water on to what was land, leading to severe flooding.

Preservation of our records must take into consideration the need for disaster preparedness. The Lemieux Report on the Archives notes the need to identify vital records and to index the location of these for easy transfer in case of flight. Archival buildings must now take into consideration this particular threat.

Towards the solution

Most of our archival records have suffered due to the lack of adequate institutional capacity to manage these records. This has posed many of the problems related to storage and access. In the interest of time, we would therefore like to highlight a few of the pertinent solutions to address the issues above. We recognise that many of these are no longer debatable as they have long been accepted as the solutions.

But lack of the resources has been the hindrance to implementing these: The need for a Modern Conservation Laboratory. Training for staff members to generate a core of professional and technical staff to provide direction for managing the archives, and more importantly, to raise awareness to the importance of preserving these records. Automation of records management systems to facilitate access to records wherever they are located. Digitising of documents where this can be done. Building institutional capacity by recruiting a Consultant, in the first instance, to assess needs and to train staff members, where applicable. And finally, as pointed out in the Lemieux report, an identification of the most critical and valuable records wherever they are located. Once these are identified, a system must be put in place to protect them, inter alia duplicating and storing in secure places apart from the originals, storing in fire proof

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cabinets, possibly on fire proof shelves, among others.

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Dutch Creole Language

Professor Ian Robertson, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, T&T.

In his power point presentation Dr. Robertson highlighted the linguistic experience:

• The use of socio-historical conditions for Creole • The significance of the absence of Dutch lexicon Creole • 17th and 18th century Dutch speaking • Working with non-linguists - meaning of Creole - seeing through a linguists eye - cheating on the historians

He stated that some of the limitations were:

- Time - Inadequate funding - Inaccessibility of contemporary resources and resource person

International Co-operation:

- University of Amsterdam - The Surinamese - Amsterdam Municipal Archives - National Archives, The Hague - SOAS - Lambeth Palace Library

Some suggestions made were:

- Translation of documentation - Need for advance in electronic data - Making available existing oral and pictorial records

Implications stated were:

- New and different electronic resources - Costs - Academic institutional support - The linguist history link

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The Dutch presence and the archaeology of Guyana

Ms. Jennifer Wishart of the Amerindian Research Unit (ARU), University of Guyana

The archaeology of Guyana up to the present time focuses on prehistoric occupations. Artefacts of the historic period when encountered are nevertheless recorded and reported but so far no known excavations have been undertaken with regard to the historic sites of Guyana. However some articles relating to this period have been published. In 1977 Dr. Leslie Potter located “a building looking like a tower” on Hogg Island in the Essequibo River. A team comprising personnel from the National Trust visited the ruin which stands on the site of the former Dutch estate of Lyksberg. The photographs taken and the plotted location of this ruin were handed over to the National Trust. Leslie Potter’s article is published in Archaeology and Anthropology volume 1, journal of the Walter Roth Museum. Also published in subsequent issues of this journal are articles by Paul Hanrahan on Dutch bottles, the late Joel Benjamin on the naming of the Essequibo River and the efforts of Europeans, including the Dutch, to reconstruct the phonology of the Arawak language in Guyana and its adjacent territories. Martin van Wallenburg’s thesis on Sites of Fortifications and Administrative Headquarters of Early Dutch Colonists on the Berbice River also contains diagrams and maps of this area and Anna Benjamin did a re-evaluation of this thesis both of which are published in Archaeology and Anthropology. At a site on the left bank of the Karakara River in the Rupununi, Smithsonian Archaeologists Doctors Clifford Evans and Betty J. Meggers recovered sherds from a Dutch stoneware gin jug during their 1952/1953 investigations published in Archaeological Investigations in British Guiana 1960. During Denis Williams’ archaeological survey of the Iwokrama Forest he reported and recorded Post Arinda al the confluence of the Siparuni and Essequibo rivers.

Williams mentioned that the Dutch trade was centered on the Essequibo-Siparuni confluence where Post Arinda was established in 1734. He further states that the growth of a large Amerindian village on the opposite bank of the river, which was visited by Horstman in 1739 may have been stimulated by the Dutch presence in this area. He was informed in 1993 by Mr. Fred Allicock that a route, which led from Cannister Fails on the Demerara River across the watershed to Post Arinda, then to Dutch Point via the upper Burro Burro River to the savannas, still lives in local memory. Williams records that Post Arinda was moved to the Rupununi River some time between 1765 and 1769 and continued to function until at leastl79l. A comprehensive investigation of Post Arinda proved impossible during Williams’ 1994 survey due to the need for large scale forest clearing. At Himara House, a site on the left bank Essequibo River in the vicinity of Turtle Pond, the base of a Bellamine jar was recovered at low water level. Williams suggests that this may indicate a Dutch presence in this area also of the Iwokrama Forest. Numerous European objects have been reported and recorded at other archaeological sites in Guyana but in most cases their possible origin is not recorded.

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Relevant Articles and Books

1. Ruin of a Windmill on Hogg Island. Leslie Potter. Archaeology and Anthropology 1(1) 1978. Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology. 2. The Naming of the Essequibo River. Joel Benjamin. Archaeology and Anthropology 5(1) 1982. Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology. 3. Old Bottles with British Guiana Commercial Markings. Paul Hanrahan. Archaeology and Anthropology 7, 1990. Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology. 4. The Arawak Language in Guyana and Adjacent Territories. Joel Benjamin. Archaeology and Anthropology 8, 1991. 5. The CS/Ostrich Wine Bottle. Paul Hanrahan. Archaeology and Anthropology 9, 1993. 6. Sites of Fortifications and Administrative Headquarters of Early Dutch Colonists on the Berbice River. Martin van Wallenburg. Archaeology and Anthropology 10, 1995. 7. Fort Nassau and the van Wallenburg Thesis: A Re-evaluation of the Evidence. Anna Benjamin. Archaeology and Anthropology 12, 1998. 8. IWOKRAMA The Commonwealth and Government of Guyana Rain Forest Programme — Archaeological Studies. Denis Williams. Ms. 9. Prehistoric Guiana. Denis Williams 2003. Jamaica: Jan Randle Publishers. 10. A Look At The Archaeology of Guyana 50 Years After Osgood. Jennifer Wishart. 2003. The Amerindian Research Unit and The National Trust.

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Possible assistance from AWAD for the Dutch Heritage Museum

1. Plans for Fort Kyk Over Al, Fort Zeelandia, Fort Nassau and other outposts and forts that were established in Guyana for the purpose of constructing models for exhibiting in the Dutch Heritage Museum 2. Historical and pictorial data pertaining to the Dutch West India Company • Charter of the DWIC (Dutch West India Company) • the seal of the DWIC • Military wear/ insignia, flags, symbols • Currency • Illustrations, etchings, paintings etc that may be reproduced for exhibiting in the museum 3. Paintings! etchings/illustrations depicting scenes of the Dutch colonial era 4. Biographical, historical data of Dutch commanders, governors, secretaries. Additionally portraits of the officials of the DWIC , in particular Laurens Storms van ’s Gravesande. 5. Maps and plans (if any) of the Guiana colonies/ settlements, proposed settlements, trading posts and other establishments 6. Plans depicting the layout of tobacco, cotton and sugar estates 7. Plans for the design of Dutch slave trading vessels for the purpose of exhibiting in the museum 8. Letters by Dutch officials pertaining to the development of the Guiana colonies that may be reproduced for exhibiting in the museum 9. Religion and society- information pertaining to the development of the Dutch reformed church in the Guiana colonies 10. The slave route — information, particularly the reproduction of the registers of slave trading vessels from their departure from the African coast to the Guiana colonies... further examples can include information of the different slave trading vessels, their names, captains, origins etc. 11. Dutch colonial society — examples of the different aspects of Dutch society in the Guiana’s for example clothing, domestic utensils etc.... 12. Plans of buildings or proposed buildings

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The project The Atlantic World and the Dutch

Dr. Lodewijk Wagenaar, University of Amsterdam and Amsterdam Historical Museum

The Project Coordinator stated that the project mainly focuses on countries where a significant Dutch presence was established namely Aruba, Brazil, Ghana, Guyana, the Netherlands Antilles, Suriname and the United States. He stated that in November 2006 a Conference would be held to determine what cooperation and/or projects could be established in order to preserve and research work on the Dutch. Dr. Wagenaar expressed the view that maps, archaeological work and records could help in understanding the administration, goals and production etc. of the Dutch in the regions names above. He stated that in the short-term, short programmes could be established where information could be had from the libraries. Also students from Netherlands could come to work with various departments/institutions in Guyana. Students could also come to Guyana to do their Master Theses. In relation to the language problem he suggested that, in cooperation with the Embassy of Suriname, a relationship could be established to do translations. Wagenaar indicated that the more information made available on the history of the country during the Dutch era would help younger persons to learn more about their past.

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Presentation of the AWAD website and digital research guide

Mr Johan van Langen MA, Nationaal Archief / Dutch National Archives

The purpose of this presentation is to introduce the digital guide of the AWAD- project. To start with I will give some general information on this digital guide. Then I will give a demonstration of some of the possibilities of the digital guide. This digital guide is one element of the project, offering detailed information on published and unpublished Dutch sources for studying the history of the Atlantic world. It encompasses the entire heritage, in all its forms, deriving from centuries of interaction. So far information has been included on current projects and relevant organisations (such as archives, museums and universities).

The digital guide also holds a list of specialists with their fields of expertise, and links to the website of their universities or institutions as I will show to you. You will also find data on the many written sources and on tangible and intangible heritage.

This gives an impression of the diversity of information that the guide aims to encompass as it develops. It will take several years to complete this section of the database and thus establish a comprehensive research tool. Substantial additional funding from the Netherlands Culture Fund has enabled this stage of the project to continue until the end of 2006. In subsequent years the completion of the digital research guide is intended to be realized as a joint venture of the KITLV/Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies and the Institute for Netherlands History.

Although far from being complete, it was decided to make this guide available as it stands. Along with this we invite all of you with an interest in this project to support its development and to correct information where required. Data can be submitted by filling out an electronic form. We hope that in this way a living and growing research tool will evolve, thus benefiting those with an interest in the history of the Atlantic world.

The instruction paper you have found on your desk gives you information on how to add data to the digital guide.

* Demonstration of some of the possibilities *

We hope the Guyanese input will grow substantially. In order to keep the information in the database up-to-date we depend on the cooperation of all of you. If you find that any information is lacking or incorrect, please let us know.

Appendix B

Dr James Rose University of Guyana (UG), National Trust Dr Lodewijk Wagenaar University of Amsterdam Mr Johan van Langen National Archives of the Netherlands Prof Winston McGowan UG History Prof Alvin Thompson UWI Dutch Colonial History Prof Ian Robertson UWI Dutch Linguist Prof Mary Noel Menezes UG History Ms Maureen Paul Tourism Sector Ms Indira Anandjit Tourism Sector Mr Lennox Hernandez Centre for Architecture Heritage Ms June Dubissette National Archives of Guyana Mr Lloyd Kandasammy National Trust of Guyana Mr Donald Sinclair UG Tourism Dept. Ms Arlene Munroe UG History Ms Jennifer Wishart Amerindian Research Unit Mr Tota Mangar UG History Ms Cecelia McCalmont UG History Ms Nirvana Persaud National Trust of Guyana Ms Tamika Boatswain National Museum Ms Gwyneth George UG Library Mr Ben Ter Welle Dutch Consultant Mr Dudley Kissore Archivist, Cheddi Jagan Resource Centre