THE Ministry of Tourism Industry and Commerce in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and the National Trust of Guyana, will soon kick start plans for the restoration of the Dutch forts located on the Essequibo River.

This was disclosed by Tourism Industry and Commerce Minister, Oneidge Walrond during a media familiarisation tour of two of the three forts over the weekend.

Minister Walrond told reporters that in the early part of 2022, the ministry will be collaborating to plan a series of visits to the historical sites and identify the works needed to be done to restore them.

“The Minister Charles Ramson and I, we are going to very early next year along with National Trust, we are planning visits to all of the forts. We realise that there is such keen interest in our history,” Minister Walrond said adding: “As we step out, we already saw the kinds of restoration works that has to be done and we are going to be looking at that very early in the year.”

THE DUTCH FORTS
As is told by the many history books, the Dutch came to Guyana in search of the golden city of El Dorado; however, they found no such city in existence.

Despite not finding the gold they wished, they were not too keen on returning to their mother land empty-handed. They decided stay and establish settlements and traded in various parts of the country, mainly in the Essequibo and Berbice regions.

They began trading with the Amerindians, Guyana’s first people. As trading expanded, the first and oldest – Fort Kyk-Over-Al, was built to protect Dutch settlements.

FORT KYK-OVER-AL
This fort was constructed in 1613 at the intersection of the Essequibo, Cuyuni and Mazaruni rivers.
This fort, many moons ago, served as the centre for the Dutch administration of the Essequibo County, but now only the ruins of a door frame is left standing overlooking the mighty rivers.

FORT ZEELANDIA
This fort is located at the mouth of the mighty Essequibo River on Fort Island. The island also houses the Court of Policy or Dutch Church.
Fort Zeelandia was constructed in 1744 to protect the interests of the Dutch West India Company from European rivals such as the English and French and served as a stronghold against internal forces such as rebellious slaves.

Fort Nassau
Built in 1627, this fort was the capital of the Dutch colony of Berbice. It was built with wood and enclosed with palisades, an irregular rectangular redoubt and a barrack house. To date only the foundation of the above structures remain.