Social Cohesion Minister, Dr George Norton has revived discussions to have a 50-foot totem pole erected near the Umana Yana, and stated that the process must be expedited.
A release from the Ministry noted that talks regarding the initiative began in 2015, and were founded on discussions related to the preservation of the country’s indigenous culture. However, at the time, the discussions were being led by Minister Nicolette Henry and Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock.
Award winning Guyanese sculptor Winslow Craig was commissioned to construct the 50-foot pole, to be made from bulletwood log, and which was to be erected in the compound of the Umana Yana in September 2017, during the Amerindian Heritage observances. The project was also meant to commemorate Guyana’s 50th independence.
Norton, acknowledging the resources that went into the project, the release said, “expressed that the final aspect to bring this project to completion is long overdue”.
It was reported that recently, Norton, over a period of two-days, met with stakeholders to discuss the erection of the artifact. A follow-up meeting is to be held next month to determine a deadline for the project’s completion.
