AS THE Mayor and City Council continues working to restore the beauty of Georgetown, emphasis is being placed on restoring Le Repentir Cemetery, according to Debra Lewis, M&CC Public Relations Officer.She said the council has deployed workers to the area to remove the overgrowth of bush, weeds and long grass. Currently, works are in progress at the Muslim section of the burial ground.

The cemetery has specific sections for various religious organisations, and these include: Muslims, Hindus, Roman Catholics, Anglicans, Chinese, Baha’is and Presbyterians.

The council is cognisant that, over the years, much emphasis was not placed on the management of the cemetery, and this had led to the area being overrun by bush.

“Traditionally, cemetery management only involves the allocation of land for burial, the digging and filling of graves, and the maintenance of the grounds and landscaping. However, Cemetery Restoration Programme (2016-2017) would include the regular cleaning and clearing of weeds, repairing the bridges and office of the sexton, repaving of the main roads, and implementation of a citizens’ programme which will allow citizens to work with the municipality to help preserve the cemetery,” Lewis noted.

Town Clerk Royston King said the burial place of loved ones would be given priority. He further noted a proposal to use chemicals to treat the quick growth of weeds, but he said this cannot be accepted.

“The council is not only responsible for the removal of overgrowth and desilting of drains in the cemetery, but we have a responsibility to ensure that we do not interfere with ecology of the environment,” King said.

Under the Municipal and District Council Act 28:01, the council has the responsibility for establishing, maintaining and controlling burial grounds and crematoriums. In addition, the Office of the Sexton has burial registers which contain the names of persons buried, the dates of burials, and the locations of the places of burial within the cemetery. Burial registers often serve as an important resource for genealogy.

Le Repentir Cemetery
Le Repentir Cemetery was first established in March, 1861. Subsequently, a road was constructed through the cemetery to link La Penitence with Lodge, Wortmanville and Werk-en-Rust.

The first person interred at Le Repentir Cemetery was Antonio Gonzales, 45, on March 15, 1861. He was from Madeira.