Last Monday the head of the United Nations agency that manages the World Heritage List called for better protection and preservation of the hundreds of sites around the globe that are currently inscribed on the list.
A committee meeting this week in Paris at the headquarters of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will decide whether 37 natural or cultural sites will join the existing 911 properties on the World Heritage List deemed to be of “outstanding universal value”.
But UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova warned that “as the number of World Heritage sites grows, so does their vulnerability. We must sharpen our focus on risk preparedness and long-term management at World Heritage sites.”
Thirty-four sites worldwide are currently on the List of World Heritage in Danger, including the Everglades National Park in the United States, whose aquatic ecosystem has become degraded, and the Rainforests of Atsinanana in Madagascar, because of threats from illegal logging and the hunting of endangered lemurs.
Ms. Bokova stressed that sites on the World Heritage List are “a reminder of all that unites humanity. It is a reminder also of the ties, between culture, nature and societies. World Heritage sites can be tremendous vectors for dialogue, reconciliation, development and knowledge.”
The preservation of heritage sites is gaining increasing attention because it has been recognised and acknowledged that this is vital in the preservation of history and crucial to the growing global tourism industry.
However, on the challenges facing many countries, particularly developing ones, is finding the funds to carry out restorative work. Consequently, many historical buildings have been lost in many countries. This is addition to those lost due to natural disasters and useless wars.
Our country because of colonial history is blessed with some the most unique old style architecture, particularly those wooden structures-one of which is the St George’s Cathedral regarded as the tallest wooden structure in the world.
Of course there are many more magnificent structures in the capital city of Georgetown as well as in the rural communities. In the city we have Castellani House, the Ministry of Agriculture building, Parliament building and City Hall among others. As regards the latter it is a fine gesture by the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development to provide massive financial support towards its restoration because it is indeed one of our foremost historical buildings.
Permanent Secretary within the Local Government Ministry, Mr. Nigel Dharamlall told this newspaper  that the money for the restoration forms part of the Ministry’s efforts to mobilise resources for the municipality.
He confirmed that the edifice is looked upon as a heritage site and the restoration is necessary.
According to him, the remainder of the $20M will be made available as the works progress.
City Hall was constructed in 1889 and its architecture, described as Danube Gothic, is of timber, largely due to its stylised tower, with wrought iron crenelations at the very apex.
Town Clerk Yonnette Pluck said, of the $20M, $5M has already been handed over by the Ministry and the Council is, currently, developing a municipal website to provide information to the public.
Mayor Hamilton Green, who was also at the media forum, said it is going to be a slow, tedious process to restore one of the prime buildings in Georgetown.
“And this will require technical competence and patience. The idea is to restore City Hall to its character, its beauty and its historical significance,” she stated.
This is a clear signal of the government’s commitment to preserving our national treasures and it would be hoped that as the financial resources become increasingly available financial support would be provided for the restoration of other historical buildings and sites.