Georgetown: A mini totem pole that was unveiled on Friday, to commemorate Guyana’s Golden Jubilee Anniversary will travel across the country so that every Guyanese will have the chance to celebrate with the symbol of unity.
Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples' Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe at the unveiling ceremony at Castellani House, said that the mini totem pole is a symbol of Guyanese unity.
“This piece of art will travel the length and breadth of Guyana, in the same way that an Olympic torch does, so that every Guyanese will have the opportunity to celebrate regionally and nationally as one people, one nation with this symbol of unity,” Garrido-Lowe explained. She pointed out that each of the 10 administrative regions is represented on the pole.
The idea of a totem pole was conceptualised by Vice President and Minister of IndigenousPeoples’Affairs, Sydney Allicock and spearheaded by Minister within the Ministry of Education, Department of Youth and Sport, Nicolette Henry.
Minister Henry said the pole is very important as it seeks to promote the first peoples’ culture. She said stories are not just told in words, but in seemingly simple objects as well.
“This renaissance year 2016, must bring us closer to the goal of realising our mandate to remake Guyana the most beautiful, the most bountiful and greenest country in the Caribbean,” Henry said
“Let us come together to ensure that 2016 will be Guyana’s glorious year of national renaissance. Let us together grasp the opportunity that this year provides for us to recapture the spirit of independence and to secure a good life for generations to come,” she urged.
Meanwhile, Minister Allicock reminded that Guyana’s celebrations of 50 years as an independent nation is a significant milestone which all Guyanese, one way or the other, should celebrate.
Allicock added that the Ministry of IndigenousPeoples’Affairs thought it would be very fitting to have a symbol of indigenous origins that can travel the country and remind everyone that “though we may be geographically separated, we are one country.”
Foster Simon carved the totem pole, while Winslow Craig and Oswald Hussain are some of the other persons who helped in sculpting and conceptualising its design. Telephone company, Digicel also supported the endeavour.
Consultations that started in December 2015 saw residents, Regional Educational Officers (REOs), councillors and toshaos from all 10 regions providing their input in the design of the pole.
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