There is the need to decentralize the process of preserving the heritage of communities and CEO of the National Trust of Guyana Nirvana Persaud put the onus to do this on local authorities and citizens, at the launching of Heritage Week.
She called for stakeholders to be involved as it is paramount for the preservation of the heritage. Recognising that the task is a big one, she implored everyone to get involved.
“Heritage is the bedrock of cultural and social identity of our people. No society can survive without defining its cultural identity. Without our legacy and memory of it, how do we know who we are, where we have come from and most importantly, where are we going?” Persaud questioned,
The National Trust of Guyana launched Heritage Week on Monday with an exhibition under the theme ‘Promoting Heritage, Fos-tering National Pride.’ It marked 15 years of hosting such an exhibition to celebrate Guyana’s diverse heritage through various mediums in an effort to encourage its preservation and promotion.
A public lecture on National Trust and Guyana’s heritage, particularly the role technical students and the community at large can play in sustaining Guyana’s heritage is set for next Tuesday at the Vocational Training Centre.
Persaud said that hosting this year’s event at the Vocational Training Centre was a means of reaching out to students in the technical area, especially in the light of their training and skill sets, which are important in conserving historical buildings.
Speaking to the group of students, Minister within the Ministry of Education Nicolette Henry told them that the exhibition, “Not only encapsulates the diversity in our heritage and showcases what we ought to be proud of today, but encourages us to appreciate its rich national legacy so that our present and future generation can learn from it…”
She further encouraged the enthused young people to embrace culture and pass it on to future generation.
She suggested that once we can identify the tangible evidence we would be better be able to appreciate our identity, culture and legacy.
Persaud said the National Trust has done exhibitions in regions 2, 4, 6 and 10 but this year will focus on Region 5. However, this does not bar other regions from holding similar exhibitions. She was happy to announce that once a facility is provided by the local authority, the Trust would aid in the production of an exhibition. She urged persons who have heritage objects or knowledge of sites to share them with the National Trust and local authorities so that the said authorities can start documentation of what exists at the local level.
The exhibition is organized thematically utilizing historical images, texts, objects and models for improved visitor experience and sensitization. The exhibition runs for the next two weeks at the Mahaicony Technical and Vocation Training Centre where it was launched. The National Trust of Guyana celebrated its 43rd anniversary yesterday.
