THE Minister of Public Infrastructure, as well as his junior Minister within that ministry, yesterday met with United States Ambassador to Guyana Perry Holloway for a tour of the Georgetown Lighthouse with the hope of partnering for the restoration of the historical landmark.The tour was a part of the U.S.’s commitment to the preservation of historical sites in Guyana, under the U.S. Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation.

During the tour, Ambassador Holloway, accompanied by the ministers up the lighthouse’s 138 steps, expressed pleasure with the landmark and marvelled at its ingenuity and resilience. He also had all of his questions answered by Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) Harbour Master Michael Tennant and MARAD Director General Claudette Rogers, who were also present.

Ministers Patterson and Ferguson shared that they were “quite pleased” with the Ambassador’s interest in restoring the Georgetown Lighthouse and said that they were excited to see where the partnership would head.

The Ministers had initially met with Ambassador Holloway last week where proposed designs for the upgrade of the lighthouse were discussed.
Ambassador Holloway also indicated that the U.S. Government is also looking at other historical sites in Guyana for possible preservation and restoration.

The 31 metre (103 feet) high lighthouse was originally built as a wooden structure in 1817 by the Dutch, at its current site on Water Street. It was later replaced by the use of bricks by British engineers and commissioned in 1830.