RESTORATIVE works have commenced on one of Guyana’s epic monuments, the Independence Arch on Brickdam, paving the way for the hosting of the traditional Independence anniversary flag-raising ceremony at that venue on Tuesday, May 26.This is in keeping with the wishes of Guyana’s newly sworn in President, Brigadier (Ret’d) David Granger, who has emphasised that the celebration of Independence should start with cleanliness; ie with ensuring that our city is clean.

President Granger has expressed concern that the Independence Arch has been overgrown with bushes and strewn with rubbish. The Arch is a gift to Guyana from the Demerara Bauxite Company on our attainment of Independence in May 1966, and it once stood resplendent at the head of Brickdam and to the west of the Square of the Revolution.

President Granger said: “I want people to understand that the National Monument — the Independence Monument — is going to be cleaned up. Some people don’t know what the Independence Monument looks like because it’s obscured with rubbish and trees and vegetation. Vagrants go there at nights. We can’t treat our symbols of independence — symbols of nationhood — like that.” The President was at the time speaking on his first interview with host Basil Bradshaw on the Wake Up Guyana show yesterday.

Noting that the monument is symbolic, the President expressed satisfaction with the response he has been getting for the restoration initiative, adding, “I am pleased to have the support of colleagues, of public servants, of volunteers, of business persons who are prepared to help us, so that we build this feeling of nationhood, of ‘Guyaneseness’,” (a term he coined).

The Head of State said everything that represents our nation – our flag, our national anthem or patriotic songs – will all be in the forefront of his Administration.

“We must let Guyanese know that this is our nation and these are its symbols,” the President declared. To this end, soon after the President was sworn in over the weekend, a committee, dubbed “The Committee for the Restoration of the Beauty of Georgetown and Preparations for the Independence celebration”, was set up to attend to this contingency. That committee is headed by Colonel (Ret’d) Laurie London, with Mr. Bobby Vieira as second in command. Mr. Lennox Canterbury is focal point person representing the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, which has responsibility for all monuments.

Works commenced on Sunday, and the monument is in process of being cleaned; the overhanging trees and bush are being cut; nearby drains are being dug and desilted; and work is continuing apace.

Mr. Bobby Vieira has said that the President’s call for the restoring of the Monument and site has to do with the whole notion of bringing back beauty to the city of Georgetown and preserving our national monuments, beginning with the arch. He shared the view expressed by the President that, pathetically, many Guyanese are not even familiar with, or know, that the monument even exists.

Mr. Vieira has disclosed that the traditional flag-raising ceremony, normally held on the night of May 25th, will not be held at the National Park, but will instead be held at the Independence Arch.

Said Vieira: “On the morning of May 26, there will be a small ceremony here (at the Independence Arch); and at 8:00 hrs, the President will lay a number of wreaths in memory of those persons who contributed to Guyana’s struggle for Independence. Following that, there will be the traditional hoisting of the Golden Arrowhead to commemorate and signal another year of the Independence of our nation.”

The programme will also be spiced with national songs, accompanied by the Police Force Band and a small Guard of Honour mounted by the Guyana Defence Force.

“That is the desire of the President, as he starts his Presidency,” Vieira disclosed.

Later that day, all roads would lead to the National Stadium at Providence for the Inauguration of His Excellency, President David Granger. The time of the inauguration is to be announced later.

Vieira added that the entire façade at the monument is being redone by BK International Limited, who has volunteered to clean up the entire city; and Cummings Electrical will be responsible for powering and illuminating the national monument area.

The gift from the Demerara Bauxite Company comprised two arches; but the second, erected at the gateway to Ruimveldt, had to be removed at a time when expansion works were being conducted on the roadway, transforming it from a two-lane road to a four-lane carriageway.

The next project to be undertaken by the committee will be planning for the 50th anniversary of Independence in May 2016, and organisers hope to bring 50,000 Guyanese home next year for that occasion, Vieira said.