Dear Editor,
Why look overseas for “model open-air crematoriums” when a good model exists already at Blairmont Estate in West Berbice.
A few days ago two respectable Guyanese drew attention to the poor facilities available at Guyana’s open air crematoriums with particular reference to Babu John (Christopher Ram on April 1 and Vishnu Bisram on April 3). In advocating improvements Mr Bisram wrote: “Trinidad and Mauritius cater for the needs of funeral attendees and could be role models for Guyana”.
I have also seen open-air crematoriums outside Guyana, and with all due respect and a sense of nationalistic pride, I can say that the Blairmont Crematorium and Memorial Garden, situated south of the Blairmont Estate sugar factory, on the west bank of the Berbice River compares, if not surpasses, the best in terms of the ‘garden’ ambience as well as the range and quality of services provided for the mourning families and the funeral attendees. For example:
The two pyres are surrounded by a Viewing Pavilion comfortably seating at least 200 persons as well as many tall trees under which some attendees currently choose to stand; we will soon install benches under these trees.
Attached to the Viewing Pavilion is a Memorial Room where patrons can hang framed photos of the cremated persons as a memorial spot to which they can return occasionally, eg, for death anniversaries, father and mother’s days, etc, to light candles/agarbati and pray, sing or reminisce.
Under the Viewing Pavilion is another room that can be used as a meeting/comfort room for the family members; it can also be used for any final preparation of the corpse before the cremation.
Also under the pavilion are five flush toilets, one for VIP’s, two for women, two for men plus three urinals and three wash basins with running water. Additionally, there is a well-stocked refreshment centre.
All the above are within a one-acre plot of nicely landscaped land covered with manicured lawns, beautiful flowering plants and palm trees. Currently under construction is another innovative concrete structure intended to accommodate token amounts of the ash from the pyre which patrons who wish to do so can deposit and have engraved the names and DOB/DOD of the cremated persons as a perpetual memorial spot, like the Memorial Room mentioned above.
Adjacent to the Crematorium and Memorial Garden site is an all-weather concreted car park big enough for at least fifty cars.
The Blairmont Crematorium and Memorial Garden is a West Berbice community project spearheaded by a committee of local residents under the leadership of yours truly, and legally registered with the government as a Friendly Society (#1325) with Demerara Bank Ltd as its banker. All funding is raised through voluntary corporate and individual donations with official and public acknowledgements including on the wall of the Memorial Room.
The general public is hereby invited to visit and see for themselves by contacting the on-site caretaker (tel 652-4500) or myself at nowrangp@yahoo.com or tel 615-9802.
Yours faithfully,
Nowrang Persaud