THE Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development (MLGRD) on Friday announced that major clean-up works have commenced at Le Repentir Cemetery in Georgetown, renewing care to one of this nation’s most historic burial sites.
According to the ministry, for centuries, the cemetery has served as the final resting place for thousands of people. The overgrown, and sadly, poorly cared for conditions have made it difficult for family members and friends to visit their deceased loved ones, the ministry said, noting that it is trying to change this situation.
Teams of contractors are working assiduously across the cemetery as the ministry undertakes a major clean-up effort, clearing the vegetation, opening up spaces, and making access to grave sites easier and safer for families.
Additionally, the ministry said that for those persons visiting the burial site to remember their deceased loved ones, a clean and accessible cemetery means being able to pay respects with greater dignity.
Subject Minister Priya Manickchand has made accessibility and safety to the cemetery an essential part of the project and has stressed that contractors must have the work completed quickly, properly and with the utmost consideration for the people who will utilise that space.
At the centre of this project is restoring access, dignity, and care to one of the nation’s most historic places of rest, ensuring that the people buried there, as well as those who go to remember them, are treated with respect.
Just over a year ago, the Daily Chronicle had reported that after years of decay and public outcry, rehabilitation works were to commence as part of the government’s broader capital-city enhancement agenda.
These plans to restore the cemetery were first announced in February 2024, by Vice-president Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, signalling the government’s intention to restore the site under a wider push to modernise infrastructure across the capital city.
Over the years, citizens have witnessed the degradation of the many acres of land, which resulted in tombs falling into canals, cracking, or breaking.
At the time, this publication reported that a motion calling for the cemetery’s rehabilitation was later presented in the National Assembly by opposition MP Volda Lawrence. While the motion was passed, it was notably amended by the government, which made it clear that plans for the upgrades were already in progress.
It was also reported that the motion had called on the government to upgrade the historic facility and implement a plan for its maintenance, including drainage infrastructure.
Le Repentir Cemetary isn’t the only cemetery being restored. In August, Minister Manickchand announced the rehabilitation of the Bourda Burial Ground on Regent Street, stating that it is all part of the beautification and restoration of Guyana, and our public spaces.
The restoration and rehabilitation of these sites are among a number of initiatives being tackled by the ministry to improve public spaces, while also preserving sites of historical, cultural and community significance.
