Dear Editor,
The media report that the Mayor and City Council plans to create a Presidential Park on the Merriman Mall is a beautiful concept, given that it is reported the intention is to reflect a unity theme. There is, however, a concern.
Guyana is 50 years old as an independent nation. In this period there have been nine presidents ‒ Arthur Chung, Forbes Burnham, Desmond Hoyte, Cheddi Jagan, Samuel Hinds, Janet Jagan, Bharrat Jagdeo, Donald Ramotar and David Granger. The diversity can be seen upfront in terms of ethnicity, gender and political affiliation. Digging deeper further diversity can be seen in relation to academic record, age, accomplishment, family status, etc. More importantly, to a nation still evolving and having to work through race, gender and political divisions, the first-mentioned characteristics of diversity are important.
Imagine changing the president every 5 years, with a bust being placed in recognition of each of these persons, and it can be envisaged what this area will look like 20 to 50 years down the line. After a while the area, in addition to becoming cluttered, would also open itself to ridicule. It is more feasible and effective (in relation to costs and aesthetics) to look at creating a presidential monument which carries the symbols of race, gender, etc. At a strategic place on this monument space should be dedicated to identify each president by name and the period they served.
To recognise the contributions of the presidents on the same unity theme in a more constructive way, and to have our history accurately recorded, it would be better to establish a national presidential museum with designated areas dedicated to the work of each president and maintained by the National Trust, or whoever else might be responsible for it.
There will be no weighing in on whether the decision had the input from the wider society and in-depth ventilation by the council.
The council also has to consider even as it engages in this project whether it is honouring its liabilities to contractors and suppliers of goods and services. And it is reasonable to speculate that creditors may be concerned about the council’s priorities as they are denied their money to manage and develop their businesses and pay their employees.
No one will fault the council for engaging in acts of beautification and environmental health, but it has to be mindful that it is not perceived as engaging in projects that are not well thought out, or cost effective.
Merriman Mall is named in honour of a mayor of Georgetown. It may be prudent to have some symbol on this mall in recognition of Mayor Claude Merriman, indicating the period he served and some achievement of his tenure.
Yours faithfully,
Minette Bacchus
