-Berbicians urge preservation
A decision will be made shortly about the future of the historic New Amsterdam Hospital, which has become a haven for vandals and rogues.
Responding to concerns raised by Pastor Wilbert Daniels during a Heath Centre Day at the Family Life Health Centre in New Amsterdam, Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy said he would not stand idly by while the historical site is destroyed. The hospital, which has been neglected since November 2004 when a new facility opened at Fort Canje, is “a timber architectural masterpiece that was designed by world-renowned architect, Caesar Castellani in 1881 and officially opened in 1884.”
Castellani was employed in the Public Works Department of then British Guiana.
Daniels, like other Berbicians, especially former staff members, is calling for the preservation of the building.
Ramsammy said, while the historical aspect must be preserved, there is no need to have the building maintained. The area can be preserved so that young people of the country will know what once stood there.
According to the minister, he had envisaged having a substance abuse resident programme, a day care centre for the elderly in addition to a transport system to shuttle them to and from the facility. “But the problem however quickly emerged as what we thought would be the cost was in fact just a fraction. To rehabilitate the building would be over $400M, in addition to extensive maintenance, or to construct a new building,” he said. Ramsammy, while informing that Cabinet had given him the task to fully ventilate the issue and to resolve it, expressed disappointment that the building was not secured in an effort to prevent vandalism.
He added that he understood that New Amsterdamers are disappointed that the decision with respect to the future of the building was not timely.
Earlier, Pastor Daniels, who had carried out duties as a nurse at the institution, asked what was being done to the edifice and suggested to the minister during the open session that a part of the building is maintained, and the remaining section demolished. Daniels added that instead of vandals removing the materials, it could be salvaged and used on other government buildings which are in dire need of repair.
Daniels, who lives nearby, expressed sorrow at the way the building has been vandalised. He said the building is without electricity, making it easy for rogue-minded persons to remove materials such as ply-board and sliding doors, among other items.
In an earlier comment he had stated, “If government decides to pull it down they need to consult with the people. They should have consultation and discussion with the wider society.” He said that if the building stands as a monument, it should not be left empty. Instead, he suggested that the space be utilized for the establishment of a library and a [medical] museum. “They should fabricate some of the items they have at the museum in town and can even display antique items such as hot water bottles, blood pressure kits and old uniforms. We do not have anything like this in Berbice; everything is in Georgetown… It is my desire to see it restored.”
He also suggested that persons viewing the items could be charged a fee for the maintenance of the building, noting that “people in other countries value their historical sites.”
