Health Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy has disclosed that a decision has been taken for the historic New Amsterdam Hospital building to be demolished.

He told Stabroek News during a visit to West Berbice that he was not sure what Cabinet would decide regarding the land.

The task of demolishing the century-old structure has been handed over to the Region Six Administration. Ramsammy said the region would commence the demolition exercise shortly, bringing an end to an historic building that some Berbicians had hoped would be restored.

After the opening of the new hospital complex on February 20, 2010, vandals started to dismantle sections of the old building and according to residents “vandals would be hammering away at the building night and day….”

As a result of the vandalism, a section of the old building came crashing down on June 2, less than two weeks after this newspaper had featured residents who were fearful of such an outcome.

The central pavilion along Charles Place, which was completed in 1884, crumbled after its pillars were removed by vagrants who sold the lumber from the landmark edifice at prices rangeing between $10,000 and $15,000 per horse-drawn cart-load.

After the section of the building collapsed, angry residents shouted words of disgust at the fate that had befallen the once beautiful structure and said they were “fed up complaining” to the authorities. They also expressed dismay that government was doing nothing to stop the vandals from destroying it and had said it was “a slap in the face to Berbicians.” Their only hope was for the preservation of a small portion which has not yet been heavily vandalised.

Some residents had suggested that government “pull down the other parts of the building completely in a better manner and use the site for something else.” Sections of the building were originally to be transformed into a nursing school and dormitory but vandals stole the zinc sheets and other items.

At that time, Minister Ramsammy, when contacted, had said he was unaware that the materials were being removed and said the ministry needed more money for its completion.

During a recent press conference in Berbice, Minister within the Ministry of Health, Dr Bheri Ramsaran said it was “regrettable” that vandals were damaging the building. He said the ministry was “looking forward to the positive” and “would continue to strengthen that new hospital” until decisions are made regarding the old building.
History
The building is a timber architectural masterpiece that was designed by world renowned architect Cesar Castellani. It was officially opened in 1884.

A brief history of the hospital states that an extension, which started from the western end of the building in 1925 and was completed in 1926, served as the tuberculosis ward on the bottom flat and a maternity ward on the top flat.

The x-ray department was established in 1928 and an x-ray machine was purchased and installed. The other x-ray department was opened in December 1966.

The nurses’ dining room was built and a small laboratory was erected in 1932. Further additions were done to the building in 1950. There was no adequate water supply and rainwater had to be collected and stored in large tanks and then pumped into the wards. The water system was improved in 1952 when an artesian well was sunk.