THE Government of Guyana is likely to commence restoration works on City Hall, undoubtedly one of the most magnificent and iconic structure in the country, and the region as a whole.
According to Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall, rehabilitation works are expected to commence this year. The minister highlighted that preliminary studies into the restoration project have already been completed which allowed for the commencement of the restoration works. This project, he said, is part of a broader commitment by the PPP/C Government to restore the City of Georgetown to its former glory as the ‘Garden City’. In fact, a sum of $100 million has already been allocated for the restoration of the City Hall building. An inter-ministerial committee was set up by President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali to oversee the works, in light of the heritage value of the building.
And even though the responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of the structure is the responsibility of the City Council, the President has decided that it would be better for government to commence the restoration drive due to administrative and financial mismanagement by the Council.
The restoration of the City Hall, as pointed out by the minister, is no ordinary project and its complete restoration will require a fair amount of time to ensure that the correct procedures are followed and works are done in keeping with the right specifications to reflect its current architectural design.
This is indeed good news. The structure, which is now in an advanced state of decay due to neglect by the Mayor and City Council, had been crying out for attention for several decades but to no avail. The Council never considered it a priority to do any repairs to the building, despite all the evidence of structural decadence staring it in the face. Even routine maintenance was completely ignored with callous indifference.
Built in the late 19th century in the Gothic Revival style, the building was constructed using local timber, cast iron columns and a hammer-beam roof. It is a major tourist attraction and considered to be one of the best examples of British Victorian design in the Caribbean. The building was completed in June 1889 and was officially declared open by Governor Viscount Gormanston on July 1, 1889.
In 2014, the structure was included on the 2014 World Monuments Watch because of its advanced state of deterioration and an apparent lack of awareness by the City Council regarding its historical significance. Sadly, it still remains a monument of shame and a testimony to the mismanagement and incompetence on the part of the Mayor and Councillors of the City.
The PPP/C administration, to its credit, had earlier initiated the restoration process by agreeing to cover a part of the costs associated with the preservation work. This was followed, in May 2015, by an injection of financial resources for the development of a conservation plan by the European Union.
A restoration fund was set up by the Mayor and City Council but there is little information by the Council as to the current status of the fund other than the same old cry of the Council not being in a position to meet its operational expenses, both current and capital.
The current government must be commended for coming to the rescue of the City Hall and, for that matter, the citizens of Georgetown.
