President David Granger yesterday stood by his government’s decision to move the Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology saying that it was not one that was “whimsical” but one that was administratively important and maintaining that all efforts would be taken to ensure that the collections are not damaged during the move to a location that will be brought to international standards.
“This is not a whimsical move it is because there are organizational changes. We are setting up a Department of the Environment and certain changes are needed. So we have to find space and we have come to the conclusion that bringing those two museums together is going to improve access to the exhibits,” President Granger said yesterday when asked if his government would re-visit the decision.
The President announced that more than likely the Department of Protocol will be working in the building and such there would be no damage to the heritage or to the aesthetic significance of the building,
“We did not see it as a problem. We saw it as an improvement in providing access to the Walter Roth Museum. There is not going to be any damage or any diminution of the collections there,” the President maintained.
Since the government’s announcement. Director of the Museum Jennifer Wishart, in a letter to this newspaper, had indicated that the museum’s collections are very fragile and in fact in 1980 when collections were moved from the National Museum to Walter Roth there was considerable damage and loss of artifacts.
Wishart, who is the co-founder of the museum along with the late Denis Williams, also said that after the death of Williams when the collections in his home were removed there was significant damage and some had to be dumped as a result of identification and also mixture of collections, as the storage facilities there then, were inadequate.
She pointed out that Guyana does not have the expertise required for the removal of such delicate and very ancient artifacts dating back to some 7,200 years ago.
“I therefore appeal to the authorities concerned to please reconsider this move. I have learnt over the years that in order to change something we need to build something. Let us preserve what we have and built on it,” Wishart said in her letter.
However, the President, who is a historian himself, said the government would ensure that none of the collections are damaged. He pointed out that the distance to which the collections are being moved is about 400 metres.
“But every measure has been put in place to ensure that the destination is up international standards and we will move it carefully over those 400 metres. It is not tumbling out, you know. It is an improvement I don’t see that there is a big problem in making such an important administrative decision,” the President said.
He stated that if it was one that could have been avoided the government would have done that but personnel from two departments inside of the Ministry of the Presidency need to be deployed because of changes that would have taken place.
He said his government will ensure that the premises that will be prepared will be up to international standards.
“It is an administrative decision which was made necessary because of organizational changes in the government,” the President said.
Asked about the concerns that the building where the museum is now housed, which is a heritage building, will sustain damage should be used for an office, the President said there will be no damage to the building.
“The building I live in is a heritage building. The building the Prime Minister lives in is a heritage building. But there is nothing wrong with the Prime Minister or the President living in heritage buildings or working from heritage buildings,” the Head of State said.
Meantime, PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee yesterday at a press conference said that his party has been informed that recently ranks of the Guyana Defence Force visited the museum and told staff that President Granger has requested the use of the building and that they will have to vacate the building and relocate to the National Museum.
This information has been confirmed by a source at the museum who indicated that staffers were told they would have to move by the end of this year.
Last Friday, one day after Minister of State Joseph Harmon indicated that the government was considering to move the museum, a statement from the Ministry of the President confirmed the impending move.
It was stated that works would be carried out on the National Museum “to ensure that both facilities meet international standards.”
The Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology was founded in 1974 to collect, exhibit and conserve artifacts relating to the ancient cultures of Guyana, to conduct anthropological research and disseminate knowledge of the Indigenous Peoples of Guyana through its in-house and outreach programmes.
It was officially opened to the public in February of 1982.
