By Ravin Singh

THE foundation and floor of the historic Umana Yana, which is currently being rebuilt, have been completed and are currently in their curing stages, Advisor in the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry, Mervyn Williams, has said.

Speaking with Guyana Chronicle yesterday, Williams said that part of the project is overseen by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.
The Ministry of Public infrastructure is, on December 31, expected to hand over the project to the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry, which will then begin erection of the structure.

All materials which are needed from indigenous settlements have been sourced, except those which are available only at Masakenari, a village in the Deep South Rupununi.

“Materials from Moraikobai have been obtained through the efforts of Colin Andrews, who is the former toshao; and also, the materials which were needed from St Cuthbert’s Mission, Toshao Lennox Shoman assisted the Ministry in this regard,” the ministerial advisor said.

He also explained that additional materials which need to be sourced from Masakenari will be transported to Georgetown when they are ready for use.

Toshao Paul Chikema, who will be responsible for this aspect of the project, has visited the site and has indicated that the team is ready to commence work. Boasting that all works are currently on schedule, Williams said the design of the structure remains the same. The design will mirror the previous structure, but will have increased space between the floor and roof. This, the advisor said, is to allow for freer passage of the incoming Atlantic breeze.

Also, expertise from the Public Infrastructure Ministry will be sought, as the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry mulls having the facility powered by solar energy.

According to Williams, this reconstruction of the shed is a major undertaking by the ministry, given that the building represents the historical, current, and projected cultural contributions of the Indigenous people to Guyana.

“It is the wish of the President, the Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs and his team that we have this benab reconstructed, and that is what we are working towards,” Williams said, adding that the completion is slated to coincide with Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary.

Constructed by the Wai Wais in 1972, the 55-foot Umana Yana had been a conical, palm-thatched hut (benab) erected as a VIP lounge and recreation centre for the Non-Aligned Foreign Ministers Conference in Guyana in August of that year. The landmark structure served as the venue for a number of historical and cultural events for over four decades. In December last year, Culture, Youth and Sport Minister at the time, Dr Frank Anthony, announced that the PPP/C government would have pumped $50 million into the 2015 budget for reconstruction of the Umana Yana, which he had said would be housed at a different location.