Georgetown: Through the efforts of the National Trust of Guyana, City Hall has been successfully selected for listing on its 2014-2016 World Monuments Watch List as a site at risk globally.
This enlistment aims to raise awareness at both international and global level in an effort to promote and possibly aid in the safeguarding and long-term survival of this unique wooden historic structure.
The National Trust of Guyana, under the auspices of The Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport with support from the World Monument Fund (WMF) held a Watch Day Forum aimed at raising awareness of City Hall for protection and promotion of this historic building.
The WMF is a private, international, non-profit organisation dedicated to the prevention of historic architecture and cultural sites around the world through fieldwork, advocacy, grant marking and education.
The prestigious list offers recognition of the world’s most endangered sites. WMF will aid in its promotion as much as possible through international linkages and public awareness through various mediums. Guyana is expected to raise local awareness among its stakeholders to ensure restoration of this site during and beyond the two-year listing period.
Speaking at the event which was held at the Umana Yana, Minister of Culture, Dr. Frank Anthony stated that he was pleased that City Hall was selected out of the 248 applications which were submitted to WMF. This is the first such listing for Guyana on this list.
Minister Anthony noted that City Hall was not even supposed to be selected, noting that this historic site should have been maintained.
However, the site will be known globally, and will eventually have a positive effect on Guyana’s tourism sector. Minister Anthony further noted that if this historic site disappears it is not only Guyana losing a valuable monument, but the entire world.
This year would mark 125 years since City Hall came into operation and over the years this building would have provided a number of services to the people of the city and, the country. Minister Anthony explained that this building had deteriorated and last year the TVA consultants came to Guyana and did a report and from that report a number of recommendations were made as it pertains to saving the building.
In this regard, this year Government announced its intention to invest $200M to start the restoration work on the building. The National Trust will be spearheading the restoration of the building and Minister Anthony urged stakeholders to lend their support to the organisation in order to ensure this historic site is safeguarded.
City Hall was designed by Father Ignatius Scholes. He was born in London and was elected an associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1856. On December 23, 1887, under a tent, his Excellency Governor Sir Henry Turner Irving laid the foundation stone for City Hall. A mere 18 months later on July 1, 1889, under heavy rainfall before a gathering of 400 influential people, the new offices of the council were declared open.
Guest Lecturer Lennox Hernandez who gave an overview of the rich history and architect of City Hall including benefits of its preservation, said that a determined effort to restore the building should be made as it is part of Guyana’s heritage.
He said that greater emphasis needs to be placed on the protection and maintenance of the country’s historic site and a national commitment is the key to doing so.
The architecture of City Hall is of the Gothic Revival style with features of the British Victorian era. It shows expert craftsmanship in the manipulation of wood including the decorative use of iron at verandas and stairways. Its architecture distinguishes it from all others in the country and regional neighbours. Historically, it is a source of 125 years of heritage and is at present being used as the office to carry out the duties of Mayor and City Council.
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