THE six bronze statues for the Indian Arrival Monument that were gifted by the Indian Government to Guyana were on Wednesday installed at their permanent location in Palmyra, East Berbice, Corentyne.

The US $150,000, 12 feet tall bronze edifices depicting three men, two women and a child in their everyday lives were transported from Georgetown on Tuesday and placed atop a concrete base by the contractors late on Wednesday afternoon.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, senior engineer attached to Loch Engineering, Elroy Haynes, who has the supervision services for the project, said works are moving apace and anticipates completion before the scheduled December opening. “Works overall are about 80% completed, with works on the actual monument about 90% completed. Most of the major works are completed and everything is on schedule. It’s just mostly minor works that are left and we are confident it will be finished on schedule,” he related.
The bronze statues were in the country since 2017, however, the previous base that was constructed to mount the approximately 17 tons statues collapsed while under construction sometime in April last year. That design was made under the previous administration and after it collapsed, the Indian Government offered to send an engineer, sculptor and the architect to ensure its completion.

The Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, undertook the project and awarded 8 Lots which include the construction of the monument base and podium, the walkway around the monument, internal drains, access roads into and around the compound, fencing, visitors’ gallery and security hut, as well as landscaping and supervision services.

Works commenced on August 14, 2018 with an expected completion date before December 2018. Some works are slated for completion as early as October 31, 2018. Due to ongoing works, the protective wrapping used during shipping will be removed later.