TRUST NEWS The official newsletter of the National Trust of Vol. 6. Issue 3 December 2007 Heritage Week 2007: 'Celebrating Guyana's Glorious Heritage’

The National Trust of Guyana has over the Heritage Week 2007 Message from Dr. James Rose, years been celebrating Heritage Week, a Chairman, National Trust of Guyana special week dedicated towards the preservation and conservation of Guyana's A nation's heritage is its legacy inherited from the past. It is what we unique heritage resources. This year the live with and, sensibly, what we bequeath to future generations. This Trust has once again organised several heritage represents an irreplaceable reservoir of national inspiration. activities to mark the observance of this Places as diverse and unique as the 1763 Monument, the Denham important week, October 1-5, commencing Suspension Bridge or the Cumberland Open Air Mosque will continue with the opening of a special exhibition under to offer hope and inspiration in the darkest of hours. What is also the theme 'Celebrating Guyana's Glorious significant about this nation's heritage is the profound Heritage: A Walk Down Memory Lane', the acknowledgement that irrespective of our cultural diversity, without launching of a booklet on 'Cannons of exception, this heritage belongs to, and resonates in, all of us. Guyana' and a lecture and presentation of 'Early Eastern Architecture in Guyana.' The In 1972, the Government of Guyana established the National Trust of exhibition was designed to sensitise, refresh Guyana charged with the preservation of sites of national importance and enlighten Guyanese about their rich or beauty; architectural, historical or artistic interest and the protection cultural heritage and the importance and and augmentation of the amenities of such sites. The Trust is also significance of ensuring its survival for both required to ensure access to and enjoyment of all such sites by the the present and future generations. public. The Trust is firmly committed to its mandate of preservation, conservation and promotion of all aspects of the nation's heritage and Heritage Week 2007 was officially opened by has, over the years, been engaged in the challenging tasks of locating, the Honourable Dr. Frank Anthony, Minister of identifying, investigating, recording, preserving and promoting all Culture, Youth and Sport on October 1, at the aspects of that heritage. The work of the National Trust of Guyana is headquarters of the National Trust of vast, diverse and extremely sensitive and it has responded manfully, Guyana, 94 Carmichael Street, Georgetown. limitations of means and capabilities notwithstanding. Against a rapidly changing landscape there is also an additional and increasing need to stimulate a national commitment to the preservation of our heritage. Stakeholder 'buy in' is a priority concern. In the absence of this consensus much would be lost either by accident or by design.

There are several areas that require urgent attention to ensure that valuable chapters of the nation's heritage are not lost. Measures that encourage constructive efforts including the laws, legislation, building WATU TICABA A Wapisiana Village High Street, Georgetown codes and zoning regulations and control are vital to a sustainable programme of heritage conservation and these must be tackled holistically and with the committed involvement of all stakeholders. As we celebrate Heritage Week, 2007 we of the National Trust of Guyana once again invite each and every Guyanese to become an active stakeholder in the preservation of the national heritage of Guyana. Nothing less will suffice.

Rosignol Railway Station Corentyne Terminus, Skeldon MERRY CHRISTMAS & A HAPPY NEW YEAR Scenes from Heritage Week 2007

Message from Honourable Dr. Frank Anthony, Minister of Culture, Youth & Sport Patrons viewing the Exhibition

Our History, has left us a rich heritage, beginning with the Amerindians, arrival of the Europeans, (Dutch, French, English and even Spanish), the Africans, Chinese, Portuguese and Indians. Each group brought to Guyana, its cultural traditions and made its distinct imprint and impact on the historical formation of the Guyanese society.

This multicultural, multiethnic nature has woven the fabric that we wear as a country, in the world. Our legacy from the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to future generations is important for us as a people and a country. In recognition of this, the PPP government on January 1, 1963 established the National History and Culture Council, to 'promote and aid the study of history in Guyana, with a view to quickening national consciousness and fostering national pride and unity.' On January 10, 1964, it was suggested that a National Trust be established for the preservation of historic sites in Guyana and in 1972 the National Trust Bill was finally enacted in Parliament formally establishing the National Trust of Guyana as the premier organization responsible for the conservation and preservation of our cultural and natural heritage both, tangible and intangible.

The Government of Guyana is signatory to a number of charters and declarations including the UNESCO's Cultural Charter, International Council of Monuments and there is collaboration with the Smithsonian Institute.

The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport has been making a serious effort at conservation, by designating conservation sites, including and the Court of Policy Hall, Fort Kyk Over Al, , Red House, St. Georges Cathedral, 1763 Monument, the Non Aligned Monument, the and the African Liberation Monument as national monuments. There are many more to be listed, and we would work tirelessly to add to our existing list. But even as we do so, to expand the work of the National Trust would require more resources, not only financial but technical as well. (Continued on p. 3)

MERRY CHRISTMAS & A HAPPY NEW YEAR

Page 2 Trust News 2007 Scenes from Heritage Week 2007

We must however not be daunted by the tasks that Launch of ‘Cannons of Guyana’ lay ahead, I urge the National Trust and other partners to develop an innovative approach to The National Trust of Guyana conservation finance, so that we can adequately published and launched a booklet meet these future challenges. on 'Cannons of Guyana', a project which brought together the work We have to actively seek out collaboration with done by Major Michael Hartland “partner” agencies, universities, and scientific during the 1990s and Researcher organizations to develop research proposals and Ms. Joanne Collins in 2003. This seek grant funding for heritage projects. We must publication was launched by Dr. James G. Rose, Chairman of the encourage our students, historians and National Trust on October 3, 2007 researchers to explore our history and heritage, so w h o r e m a r k e d t h a t “ t h i s that the elucidation adds to the nation’s knowledge publication is not a comprehensive base. We must work steadfastly to mainstream site account of the evolution and conservation into our national developmental utilization of the cannon in Guyana Dr. James Rose presenting frameworks. These are some of the short term a copy of ‘Cannons of Guyana’ but it nevertheless provides a few to Dr. Frank Anthony goals that we must set ourselves. important insights explaining the appearance of the several be a useful addition to In addition, we must pick up the momentum to get cannons strategically located and the collection of local Georgetown inscribed on the World Heritage List. displayed at various sites around readings on the rich but Currently this list has 830 sites, and it is estimated Guyana”. Dr. Rose added that “it is complex heritage of that it is growing at a rate of 20 to 25 sites per year. our hope that this publication will Guyana.” Yet this list that should encompass the entire h