During a recent visit to St Cuthbert’s Mission, we asked residents how the destruction of the Umana Yana by fire had affected them. Much of the materials used in its construction and subsequent repair had been gathered at St Cuthbert’s.
Their comments follow:
Luke Simon, Toshao of St Cuthbert’s Mission – ‘When I heard the news it struck me to hear it was destroyed by fire. All Amerindians celebrate our culture and customs there. It was a blow to all Amerindians in the country as a whole. It was the largest monument and icon to us as a people. As a young boy growing up I knew St Cuthbert’s played a major role in the construction. Our menfolk provided most of the materials – the frames and the troolie and dalabeni leaves. Now seeing that it was a Wai Wai type of benab they were skilled in the planting and tying of the leaves but our men were involved in the early stages of the construction.’
Rosezena Baird, self-employed – ‘It hurts me to know that it was there for very long and then it suddenly burns down. It’s a little suspicious. I think it’s all about politics.’
Kevin Shivram, fisherman – ‘They are not supposed to put anything electrical there, lots of times in Guyana electrical things cause fires. It looks fishy, especially in we month [Amerindian Heritage Month]. Everybody feel real bad.’
Nolan Chung, assistant librarian – ‘I guess it’s sad because it’s a cultural building – it is our culture. I see it as something very tragic.’
Sheik Clenkian, secondary school student – ‘I feel hurt because I used to go there and perform dances, it was our cultural site.’
Kishan Daniels, gold miner – ‘I glad if they [the government] could build it back. That’s an Amerindian thing, convenient to everybody. Everybody could go to the city and see it. Replace it and build a next one.’
Gretel Daniels, housewife – ‘I feel so bad it was burnt down, how the fire came? We feel bad about it and all I could do was ask how it happened. It should be built right here [in St Cuthbert’s Mission] because it is Amerindian heritage. It is nice here, it can be celebrated here.’
Edris DeFreitas, seamstress – ‘I feel so sorry because that’s where everything is. When I heard that message I thought we could’ve done the launching there. There we could’ve gone to celebrate Steven Campbell heritage day. I couldn’t judge but I questioned how it happened. It’s where our culture lies and there is where Amerindians from all over [Guyana] came and celebrated. We must get back our Umana Yana.’
Donna Ibrahim, communication service officer – ‘I felt really sad about the Umana Yana. We should get it back. Right now that we have the largest benab in the country.’
Phillipa White, cosmetologist – ‘I was surprised, it made me feel bad. I think that structure was in a good spot and it just looked good there. I felt sad.
They should put back the Umana Yana right where it was, it is a monument and should be built back right there.’
