Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development has pledged a sum of $20M for the restoration of City Hall building restoration project.
Permanent Secretary (PS) within the ministry, Mr. Nigel Dharamlall has disclosed that of this amount, $5M was handed over last week Monday. He made the disclosure last week Tuesday when the ministry handed over tools and equipment to representatives of the ten administrative regions.
The PS said the money for the restoration forms part of the Ministry’s efforts to mobilise resources for the municipality as the building is one of Guyana’s heritage site.
According to Dharamlall, the balance of the $20M will be handed over as works on the building progress.
Officials at City Hall could not be contacted for a comment on the restoration project but Councillor Ranwell Jordan, in an invited comment said he was not up-to-date with information pertaining to the project.
What he could say was that the City Engineer was supposed to have prepared a ‘revised plan’. However, Jordan said he was not aware if the plan has been submitted.
The Georgetown City Hall was completed in 1889 and its architecture is described as Danube Gothic in timber, largely due to its stylised tower, with wrought-iron crenelations at the very apex.
The building is open to the public, and the once-handsome concert hall, on the third floor, is a curious sight to behold. (TELESHA PERSAUD)