$160M Indian Arrival Monument in Reg. 6 completed
― to be commissioned on April 17
― facility thoroughly inspected by Min. Norton and his team
DPI, Guyana, Thursday, April 4, 2019
The long-awaited Indian Arrival Monument which is located at Palmyra, East Berbice Corentyne, is now completed and is expected to be commissioned on April 17. This was confirmed by Minister of Social Cohesion, with responsibility for Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. George Norton, during a visit to the Ancient County.
Earlier today, Minister Norton, along with a team from his department, toured and thoroughly inspected the spanking new historic site, where they were able to have a firsthand view of the facility and to approve the quality of work carried out by the contractors.
“We are going to declare open this monument site on the 17th of this month, with a representative of the High Commission and an official from the Government of Guyana. It was long over-due… once and for all, we can say that the monument is where it supposed to be. We know the significance of it, so we are pleased to present to the public after the 17, the monument for their viewing,” Minister Norton noted.
Director of Culture, Tamika Boatswain, who was also a part of the team, remarked that while there are some minor areas where work needs to be improved; “generally the presentation of the site is good and will be one Guyanese will be proud of.”
According to Project Manager, Stephon Chung, the project was completed on February 28, 2018, with an overall cost of $160M. He said the works were divided into eight sub-lots which are as follows:
- Lot 1- Construction of monument foundation, base and podium
- Lot 2- Construction of roadway, internal drains, perimeter walkway and parking area
- Lot 3- Construction of fencing and internal walkway
- Lot 4- Construction of visitor’s gallery and security hut
- Lot 5 – Supply and installation of concrete pavers (roadway and parking lot)
- Lot 6 – Supply and installation of concrete pavers (perimeter walkway and internal landscaping
- Lot 7 – Civil works supervision of services for the Indian Arrival Monument at Palmyra, Region 6
- Lot 8 – Preparation of internal and external landscaping
Persons travelling to Region 6 can, without a doubt, testify of the six impressively huge, 12feet tall bronze statues, erected and supported by a solid base, at the ‘T Junction’ located just off the Berbice River Bridge’s entrance. The immense exhibit depicts a child, two women and three men, performing their daily duties.
The six statues have a value of $31M (US$150,000). It was a donation made by the Government of India to Guyana in 2017.
The APNU+AFC government had intended to declare the monument site opened, at least before December of 2018, since the project was high on its national agenda. However, after assuming office in 2015, the government discovered numerous faults to the design built by the previous administration, which had to be revised.
Additionally, in April of last year, months before the sculptures were installed, the base which was constructed to support the six statues had collapsed. According to Chung, this incident was one which contributed to the delay of the project’s completion.
Kellon Rover.
Images: Jules Gibson.