The Indian Commemoration Trust (ITC) turned another chapter in developing the Monument Gardens at Camp and Church streets at a sod-turning ceremony yesterday.
The major focus in the renovation of the garden is a semi-international stage set into classical Indian-Guyanese architecture. The cost is pegged at $2 million and is being funded by unnamed contributors.
Despite a downpour of rain the ceremony carried on with remarks from a spirited Dr Yesu Persaud, President of the ITC, exclaiming, “the renovation is just the beginning of the Indian celebration, and I hope to see the grand things Guyanese will create.” He encouraged not only persons of Indian heritage but persons of all ethnicity to remember their ancestors and where their heritage lies. He added that everyone should join in the effort to build a Guyana which all citizens can be proud of.
“We hope to instil a sense of history in all Guyanese,” said Minister of Culture Dr Frank Anthony in an address at the ceremony. He related that Guyana was a fortunate country to have different cultures and the history of the country belonged to the people. He said he hoped the efforts of ITC will contribute to the maturing of Guyanese culture.
He said next year’s Indian Arrival celebration will be even more significant and the ministry was working to put together a programme for the celebration.
Persaud hinted that the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) will be contributing a replica of the indentured labourers leaving India to ITC. The replica of the monument will be housed at the garden.
The Monument Garden is the site of the monument representing the arrival of the first East Indians to British Guiana in 1838. In recent years, the area just outside the garden has been overrun with garbage that is illegally dumped there, by unknown persons. Vagrants also frequent the area; some of them light fires and cook on the pavement and some have been seen climbing over the high walls and invading the garden. Observers have noted that these are issues the ITC will also have to address to restore the aesthetics of the garden.
