President calls newly opened Parliament square “educational tourism “

Georgetown : President Donald Ramotar formally declared Parliament Square last evening with a simple ceremony.

The President said that the site can serve as one aspect of what he termed “Educational Tourism” due to its setting in the heart of historical occurrences in Georgetown, particularly as it is located at the head of the oldest street in the capital, Brickdam.

Housing Minister Irfaan Ali in brief remarks expressed the wish that the recreational facility’s ambience would transcend the halls of nearby Parliament and by extension the hall of the political thinking of the country. He said the project stemmed from several proposals put forward during the first annual Building Expo and will be part of the Brickdam Renewal Plan. This will cater for planting trees,  paving  and making it a very secure street, scenic and with an air of freshness and beauty.

Giving an overview of the multi-million dollar project, Mr. Rawle Edinboro of the CH&PA said that the park’s location was chosen for its historical setting and constructed on the site of the dismantled Statistical Bureau building. He said it is an attempt to counter balance the loss of green space within Georgetown, complement surrounding historical structures and add vitality to a unique recreational tourism place of value. The map of Guyana is outlined in the centre and covered with grass. It is fenced and manned by security personnel, is raised to prevent flooding, wheel chair accessible, has seating accommodation, lighting and a fountain.

The square will be used for family recreation, poetry nights, and steel pan competition among other activities.