–as repairs proving too costly

THE Mayor and City Council (M&CC) on Tuesday announced that the G$8.2M that had been given them by the US Embassy as a grant to help fix the alarm on the Stabroek Market clock has had to be forfeited.

The announcement was made by way of a press statement issued by Public Relations Officer Debra Lewis, stating that the decision to give back the money to their benefactor was unanimously agreed at Monday’s statutory meeting.

According to Lewis, the grant had been secured through the auspices of former US Ambassador to Guyana Perry Holloway, since back in 2016, the very year Guyana celebrated its Golden Jubilee, as well as 50 years of diplomatic ties with the US.

At the time of the announcement, Ambassador Holloway had been quoted as saying that, the embassy was willing to work with the M&CC on getting the clock back up and running, and that after discussing the matter with his affiliates in the US, the sum of US$41,000, the equivalent of G$8.2M, was approved for the cause through the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation.

The first sum of money that was given the City Treasurer’s Department was a cheque for US$10,000, the equivalent of G$2M at today’s going rate, following which the Council had advertised via the print media for qualified contractors to submit tenders.

Of all the contractors who had responded at the time, one Carlyle Benjamin was shortlisted, since his proposal was deemed the most suitable. The US Embassy had also communicated to the council that they were exploring other options to have the iconic heritage item restored, one of which was having world renowned Smithsonian Institute in the US effect the repairs.

But, that idea soon had to be shelved, because the cost to restore the clock was proving to be quite exorbitant; hence the decision to return the money, and only after lengthy discussions were held with embassy representatives.

What is not being said, however, is that the upshot of it all, could very well mean that that’s the last we’ve heard of the iconic ‘Big Market clock,’ as it may never chime again.