Guyanese to preserve and protect monuments and sites

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DPI, GUYANA, Thursday, April 19, 2018

Minister of Social Cohesion Dr. George Norton, yesterday, appealed to citizens to protect and preserve the nation’s monuments and heritage sites.

He made this call, while delivering the feature address at the Damon Square, Anna Regina, in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) as Guyana joined the rest of the world in observing ‘International Day for Monuments and Sites’.

He noted that attached to each monument and heritage site, is a unique story of struggle and sacrifice. The Minister said that, for over 45 years, the National Trust of Guyana has done it’s best to preserve the history of Guyana. However, he lamented that some persons willfully destroy these sites without knowing their significance and called upon them to desist from committing such acts.

Guyanese were also encouraged to educate themselves on the various monuments and sites so that they can have a greater appreciation for them. The Minister noted that recognising who we are as a people is a vital part of social cohesion.

“It is appreciating our ancestors who paved the way for us to enjoy the life we live today. It is knowing that we all must be equal in this land of many waters… We must also share equal responsibility in building this nation so let us start by playing our role in preserving and protecting our history. It is our identity that makes us who we are today and who we will be tomorrow”, the Minister stated.

Regional Chairman Devanand Ramdatt, making brief remarks, said that he was pleased that Region Two was chosen for the observance of such an important day. The Chairman said that their sustainable development does not only rely on agriculture but also on the promotion of other aspects of the region. He noted that if the region is to move forward, tourism will play a vital role adding that protecting, and preserving monuments and heritage sites play a critical role in that aspect.

“I think it is our civic responsibility as citizens to ensure that we protect our own, and that we market our achievements and our region in a very positive way”, Ramdatt stated.

Chief Executive Officer of the National Trust of Guyana, Nirvana Persaud, who played an integral role in organising the event, also used it as an opportunity to unveil a book “Places of Interest in Guyana.”

She explained that the book provides information on over 200 monuments and sites across the country and is the first of its kind for Guyana. She further noted, “This compilation is the first of its kind containing such a dense collection of monuments as sites…..This entitled inventory started last year and developed primarily to raise awareness among citizens and non-citizens, of a diverse legacy of Guyana and the need for all of us to work together to ensure the long-term survival, so that the generation after us can benefit from the unique legacy as we did from our ancestors.”

At the event, a mini-exhibition was also held to help raise awareness of the various monuments and sites across the country.

 

By: Isaiah Braithwaite