THE rehabilitation works to the 1763 Monument site at the Square of the Revolution, south of the Botanical Gardens in Georgetown, scheduled for this year, have been completed.

This is according to Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony who, last Thursday, provided the National Assembly with a written response to a question by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament (MP), Christopher Jones.
In his question, Jones reminded the minister of a pronouncement he had made in his 2012 Budget Speech in which he said, “We will continue the rehabilitation of the 1763 Monument site, the restoration of the fountain and lights to enhance the beauty of this site,” and asked whether this work had been completed.
The minister related that the Information Centre for the monument site has been completed, along with the construction of a guard hut and sanitary facilities. In addition, he said that the rehabilitation of the fountain and the installation of a new pump were done, as well as some maintenance work on the pedestal of the monument, including the sealing of some cracks.
Moreover, Anthony stated that there was also an overall cleaning exercise of the monument and landscaping of its gardens. He also indicated that new park benches were constructed and the picket fence and ropes were replaced.
According to him, future works to be done in the rehabilitation of the monument site will include the installation of lights.

Berbice Slave Uprising
Meanwhile, in another question addressed to the Culture Minister, Jones noted that 2013 marks the 250th anniversary of the Berbice Slave Uprising and asked what plans are in place to celebrate this milestone, as the minister had also indicated in his 2012 Budget Speech.
In his written response, Anthony outlined a number of activities which were planned and implemented as part of the commemoration of this anniversary. Among these, was the UNESCO Historic Slavery Exhibition which was declared open, in collaboration with the British Slavery Museum, Liverpool, United Kingdom, at the National Museum by President Donald Ramotar in March this year.
The minister also highlighted a Historic Pictorial Exhibition, which was prepared in collaboration with the Dutch Archives by Dr. Lodewijk Wagenaar from the University of Amsterdam and mounted at the Guyana National Museum.
He also noted that a digital map of the 1763 Revolutionary Layout was successfully created, and the demarcation and construction of Heritage Markers at the 1763 historical sites is approximately 30 percent completed.
In addition, there is also a 1763 Anniversary Lecture Series and a countrywide lecture tour. Anthony advised that to date, seven of 12 lectures have been completed.
He also stated that work is in progress on the Commemorative Coin; a collaboration between the ministry and the Bank of Guyana, and the Commemorative Stamp; a collaboration between the ministry and the Post Office.
Meantime, the minister advised that a Commemorative Committee has been formed for the 250th Anniversary of the Berbice Slave Rebellion and this committee is being chaired by Director of Culture, Dr. James Rose.
The committee is also made up of representatives from the ER Burrowes School of Art, the National Archives of Guyana, Guyana Institute of Historical Research, the University of Guyana Library, the National Trust of Guyana, the Museum of African Heritage and the National Cultural Centre, among others.