MINISTER of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, has said that after attempts to solicit suggestions from members of the public regarding the site for the construction of the 1823 monument were not fruitful, a subcommittee was constituted to determine an appropriate site for the monument.

The minister said this in response to questions asked by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament, Christopher Jones on Monday at the 32nd sitting of the National Assembly of the first session of the tenth parliament of Guyana.
Making reference to an August 1, 2000, occasion at the Parade Ground, when an announcement was made that a monument would be erected there to honour those slaves slaughtered in 1823, Jones asked the minister what occasioned the change in location, and who were the persons or organisations consulted.
The minister said that several attempts were made for public consultations with regard to choosing a site noting that the most recent was in March, 2012, when a press release was issued, asking for suggestions, but no submissions were received.
He related that the subcommittee, which was then appointed to determine an appropriate location, went out to look at various sites and set out a number of parameters that they were looking for.
Minister Anthony said that these parameters included adequate land space, the visibility of the monument, accessibility to the monument, and relevance and connection to the 1823 Rebellion.
According to him, the sites considered included Success, Chateau Margot, Le Ressouvenir, Elizabeth Hall, Bachelor’s Adventure, Melanie Damishana, Ann’s Grove, Good Hope, Parade Ground, the National Park and the Sea Wall site.
The Parade Ground was considered, but this would cause an infringement on the playing field there.
The minister said that after all these factors were taken into consideration, the subcommittee then recommended that the monument be constructed at Vlissengen Road and Carifesta Avenue, a location which is very prominent.
“We felt that by having it at the seawall site, it has a direct connection. Anybody passing to go up the East Coast or coming down from the East Coast will have to pass that monument, and there is adequate land space,” Minister Anthony asserted.
Noting that construction of the monument has already commenced, the minister said that in April 2011, a competition was launched for the design of the monument, and of the five entries received, Mr. Ivor Thom’s entry was chosen, and he is the person who will design the monument.