MINISTER of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony has said his ministry is looking at an August unveiling of the 1823 Monument on Carifesta Avenue, Georgetown.

The edifice is being erected in memory of those who lost their lives during the slave rebellion of that year and the minister told the media, Tuesday, that the Guyana-born sculptor of it, Mr. Ivor Thom is currently in Guyana and will be putting the final touches to the memorial.
Anthony indicated that the site, right now, is not complete, just some of the landscaping has been done and the pedestal put down and the finishing will take another two to three weeks.
Pointing out that August, this year, will be 190 years since the 1823 uprising, the minister assured that, once those things have been accomplished and the actual body of the structure is placed on site, it would be unveiled to the public around that period.
What is now at the location includes a parking lot and an area where persons can dwell in the vicinity. A white surrounding picket fence has already been built as well as the base of the monument.
There had been much dithering over what might be the most appropriate place for the nine feet high bronze image, with some persons and organisations lamenting that they were not consulted and others expressing the view that the Independence Park, formerly known as Parade Ground, in Middle Street, also in the city, would have been a more suitable location.
Anthony also took the opportunity during his interaction with the media on Tuesday to remind Guyanese about the importance of preserving and respecting national monuments and to desist from defacing them.