PM lauds National Trust for preserving Guyana’s rich heritage

The National Trust of Guyana (NTG) as part of its 40th anniversary celebrations (from 1972 to present) on Monday launched a heritage exhibition at the Guyana National Museum. The exhibition is highlighting the work of the trust over the years and is being held under the theme “A Reflection of Our Heritage”.

The exhibition is designed to refresh and enlighten Guyanese of the importance of ensuring the survival of the country’s rich heritage for both present and future generations.
It showcases exhibits ranging from the history and development of stamps, agricultural, industrial and socio-cultural heritage, history, growth and development of Georgetown, New Amsterdam, Essequibo and other rural and urban landscapes, cosmopolitan populace, transport and commerce and the development of several heritage sites.
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) release, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, performing the functions of president in his brief remarks commended the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry under which the NTG falls to sensitise Guyanese on their richness and uniqueness of their culture and heritage.
Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony said the NTG has contributed significantly over the years to the preservation and conservation of Guyana’s heritage.
The minister singled out the sterling contribution of Director of Culture Dr James Rose for his astute leadership which led to the realisation of many successes at the NTG. This organisation has been placing tremendous focus on the preservation of built heritage; paying particular attention to the period of Dutch colonialisation and preserving structures such as Fort Kyk-Over-All, Fort Zeelandia and Fort Nassau.
“The work that we have done there, would have allowed Guyanese to now enjoy these different sites and to perhaps relive what it was like many years ago. With the installation of the Dutch Heritage Museum at Fort Island has added another dimension and allows us to get a peek into that period of our history,” Minister Anthony said.
Work is currently being done at Hogg Island to restore a Dutch sugar mill; and efforts continue to be made to preserve Amerindian heritage.
The minister explained that when the British came to Guyana, they thought that El Dorado was located in the Rupununi where they built a fort called New Guinea. He threw out a challenge to the NTG to work to develop and preserve this site.
Lennox Hernandez, who is the new chairman of NTG, replacing Dr James Rose, recalled that Guyana was one of the earliest countries to ratify the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, which he said clearly shows that there was an early desire to preserve Guyana’s heritage.
The NTG was established subsequent to the passage of the National Trust Act of 1972 in Parliament, which made provisions for the preservation of monuments, sites, places and objects of historic interests or national importance.