By Mario Joseph
A fire yesterday destroyed the Umana Yana, the historic thatched-roof benab that served as a leading centre for cultural events in the city.
The Kingston building, which was built by Amerindians in 1972, was ravaged within a matter of minutes despite attempts by the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) to save it.
The fire, suspected to be electrical, began sometime between 3:25pm and 3:29pm. No one was hurt but Stabroek News learnt that a cleaner and a caretaker, who were not named, were taken to the Georgetown Hospital afterward. Alfred King, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Culture,
later said that the staff ran out of the building after the fire started. He suggested that for reasons that could possibly be asthma concerns or hyperventilation, they were taken to the hospital. Other eyewitnesses include two Guyana Police Force Constables who were guarding the building at the time the fire started.
The neighbouring buildings, which are some distance away, were not threatened.
As bystanders who flocked the vicinity of the benab looked on, firefighters doused the building, which caused the structure to collapse. Persons driving by stopped their cars to take pictures and observe the happenings. After half an hour or so, traffic was redirected from the site to ease the congestion.
The fire service received a phone call at 3:29pm informing it of the fire, according to the officer-in-charge of operations Compton Sparman, who said three fire tenders were subsequently dispatched to the scene. He added that upon arrival, the firefighters observed that the entire structure was engulfed in flames but did their utmost to contain the blaze.
Rebuilding
The structure was originally built by the Wai Wais in 1972 for the meeting of Non-Aligned Movement foreign ministers in Guyana. The construction took some 80 days and cost about $26,000. In 2010, it was refurbished by 39 Amerindians of the Wai Wai tribe at a cost of $16M and included the team painstakingly affixing over 500,000 troolie palm leaves, held together by vines gathered from St Cuthbert’s Mission. The name, Umana Yana, is of Amerindian origin and means the meeting place and the structure served as a venue for many events over the years.
Minister of Culture Dr Frank Anthony said the misfortune was particularly sad in light of it happening during Amerindian Heritage month.
He thanked the GFS for responding within minutes of being called but noted that the nature of the building resulted in it being incinerated quickly.
Anthony stated that he was happy that no one was injured and that his ministry would be working along with the GFS to determine the cause of the fire, although he noted that the preliminary information suggested that it was electrical.
He went on to say that the his ministry may have to include the reconstruction in next year’s budget because it is an important heritage building and it would like to see it re-erected as soon as possible.
Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai called the occurrence a disaster, while adding that the Umana Yana was a significant historical landmark of Amerindian architecture and is of more significance for the country as a whole. “Nowhere in the country could you find such a prestigious benab made by tradesmen of the Wai Wai tribe,” she said. “I am going to support the call for the restoration as soon as possible because Guyana would not be complete without it,” she added.
Nigel Dharamlall, Permanent Secretary in the Amerindian Affairs Ministry, explained that the fire upset plans for the commemoration of Guyana’s first Amerindian Parliamentarian, Stephen Campbell, which was scheduled for today at the venue.
He said he has already spoken to some Wai Wai tribe members who are ready to do the reconstruction work.
Historic origin
Meanwhile, former Minister of Foreign Affairs Rashleigh Jackson, who was Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs when the building was constructed, told Stabroek News that he was saddened by the news that the historic structure was destroyed.
Outlining the historical genesis of the building, Jackson informed that it was the then Foreign Minister Sir Shridath Ramphal who conceptualised that a building, built and designed by Guyana’s first peoples, be the lounge for the 1972 Non-Aligned Foreign Ministers conference. “A series of buildings were also built for that meeting; you had the now Red House being used as a Press Centre and others in that area for various events… the Pegasus was where guests stayed,” he related.
“Sir Shridath had the idea of such a structure and when it was approved it was that the Umana Yana be a replica of one that the Wai Wai’s had at Konashen… and so it was,” he added. The building initially had open sides and it was not until some years ago that it was enclosed.
Jackson said that the Wai Wai people of the village of Konashen in the Deep South Rupununi were approached to execute the construction of the building. About 60 to 80 villagers travelled to city and were housed at the local Red Cross office during their stay in the city.
According to Jackson’s recollection of the events, other foreign ministers were impressed with the structure, which showed the building skills of the Amerindians.
These views were echoed by one of two designers of the structure, architect David Klautky. “The Wai Wai people did an exceptional job when they were done and I took my fancy mathematics to ensure the building’s accuracy. Everything was perfect…they are excellent builders,” he fondly recalled yesterday.
Klautky explained that he worked alongside the now deceased project designer and engineer George Henry on the 55-feet-tall structure.
He said that materials for the structure came from the Arawak reservation of St. Cuthbert’s Mission and the people from that community also assisted and afterward were retained for any rehabilitative works needed from then on.
Klautky said that while it is his hope that the building is rebuilt soon he is not optimistic that it will. “I am not sure this building will be rebuilt swiftly, if ever, because with the kind of politicising everything has I just don’t know,” he said. “Everyone now is looking to be an icon or create their own iconic buildings,” he further opined.
Last evening, the People’s National Congress Reform said it is saddened at the destruction of the Umana Yana.
It called on the Ministry of Home Affairs to immediately launch an investigation into the destruction of the Guyanese landmark.
The PNCR said it has a proud association with the landmark, which was “commissioned by our Founder Leader Forbes Burnham in 1972 “.
It added “Everything must be done to ensure that this historic and iconic landmark is rebuilt as soon as possible.”
