-city landmark provided enough “evidence” of strong indigenous presence in Guyana

JUST over a week after the Umana Yana, a national heritage site, was gutted by fire of electrical origin, Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai has joined the pledge to rebuild the 42-year-old structure which provided “evidence” of the continued existence of Guyana’s first people.
Commenting on the importance of Amerindian heritage sites to the presence of Guyana’s first people, the Amerindian Affairs Minister noted that “such a landmark in the city provides enough evidence” of the strong indigenous presence in Guyana.
During the Amerindian heritage celebrations in the village of Karrau, Region 7 (Cuyuni Mazaruni), the minister expressed, in the presence of President Donald Ramotar, other Cabinet Members and residents, a commitment to “collaborate with [Culture] Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony to ensure that the Umana Yana building is restored.”
A fire on September 9th destroyed the Umana Yana, the historic thatched-roof benab that served as a leading centre for cultural events in the city. In about 15 minutes, the fire destroyed the thatched allibanna and manicole palm leaves roof which stretched some 55 feet into the air.
Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony gave a commitment to have the estimates for the rebuilding of the structure included in the budgetary estimates for 2015.
The Culture Minister had said that he must seek the advice of the Wai Wai people as the initial structure was built from manpower and construction expertise provided by the Wai Wai nation.
Minister Sukhai following the comments of Dr. Anthony had, in her address, registered the commitment of her Government to continue working rigorously in preserving a rich indigenous culture. “Their development is one that will remain on the agenda of the People’s Progressive Party Civic Government.”
To this end, she commended Toshao James Cornelius and councillors of Karrau for their eagerness to host the 2014 Amerindian Heritage Village. The Amerindian Affairs Minister urged those involved to “continue to assist your brothers and sisters throughout the various Amerindian communities to promote and to highlight the rich and diverse culture which we have.”
Minister Sukhai summed up her sentiments by expressing the reaffirmed commitment of her Government to “keep the mechanism in place that will allow Amerindian heritage [and] culture to remain one that forms part of this country’s rich cultural diversity.”
The benab was originally built by more than 60 Wai Wais in 1972 to facilitate the first Non-Aligned Movement meeting.

(By Derwayne Wills)