Dear Editor,
It is quite exciting to see the new archive taking shape on Homestretch Avenue; the responsible authorities should be commended for their initiatives and we wish a successful completion of this structure. In this regard, we wish to raise the following questions:
1. Will standard archival specifications be incorporated in this new building?
2. Will it be equipped with the requisite technology for the preservation of aging material?
We would like to once more draw attention to the fact that at least one of our CARICOM Member Coun-tries – Suriname, under the stewardship of Messrs. Maurits Hassan Khan and Sandew Hira from the University of Suriname already have an online databases containing freed slaves, as well as the East Indian Indentured Immigrants (link http://www.nationaalarchief. nl/suriname/and http://www. nationaalarchief.nl/vrij-in-suriname). Efforts are being made by the Jamaica Archives to preserve the records of the slaves brought to the island. They are also in the process of microfilming all their collections particularly the most fragile ones, including the records of East Indians Indentured immigrants (Jamaica link: http://www.-heritagedocs.org/docs/jamaica.htm#protector. In Trinidad initiatives were taken by a private individual, Richard Cheddie, to compile a list of ships that transported East Indian immigrants to the island,(link: http://www-.rootsweb.com/~ttowgw/archives/indianships.htm ). The initiatives of these CARICOM countries/individuals are in keeping with the serious efforts, both locally and globally, to immortalize records and data from archives worldwide.
Numerous records are missing from our national collections in Guyana. In this regard, we are beseeching the government, relevant institutions and cultural organizations to act immediately to preserve relics of our history and our national “treasure”.
It is prudent to note at this time that offers from the Government of Netherlands and the New York-based non-profit organization -Indent-ureship Database Project (IDP) Inc to digitalize these records and assist in the introduction of technology-based preservation techniques have met with no response from the relevant Government Min-istry in Guyana, to date. It will be a great accomplishment if the Government of Guyana can act responsibly with regard to this project (and IDP proposal) and ensure that this important aspect of our history is preserved the future generations. We would welcome all concerted efforts from concerned individuals and organisations in making this project a reality. It is distressing that these records remain threatened and at risk of total destruction and loss. A classic example is the weather beaten records, which can be seen as you walk the stairs of the GPO building, languishing in total abandon. Some of these records include birth, marriages, and death certificates and land allotment to Indian Immigrants in British Guiana, to list a few. These must be removed and stored securely at the archives instead of being left to deteriorate by the elements, both man and nature.
IDP Inc. met with Government Ministers and functionaries – Ms. Gail Teixeira, the former Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports; The former Minister of government Mr. Reepu Daman Persaud; Dr. James Rose of the University of Guyana, Chairman of the National Archives Committee and the National Trust of Guyana, Members from the Indian Arrival Committee and the Indian Commemoration Trust and the Curator of the Castellani House, and the Rajkumarie Cultural Center in NY, in an effort to create a partnership to digitalize and improve the national archives with the help of modern archival technology. Messrs. Yesu Persaud, of DDL and Deonarine Singh of DIDCO have demonstrated an eagerness to work with the government to preserve these records, as well as to make the information and data easily and readily available to the public for academic research etc. IDP has also been in contact with some of these Guyanese-based institutions and individuals in an effort to create a partnership to move this project forward.
IDP and its partners in the Netherlands and Suriname are prepared to work with all interested parties. At this juncture the interested groups and the Government of Guyana need to meet in order to define the scope and intent of this project (a proposal prepared by IDP was submitted to the former Minister of Culture – Gail Teixeira). Perhaps members of our political establishment can follow in the footsteps of their Surinamese counterparts in charting the political course to ensure that this project comes to fruition. Our strained political relationship with Suriname should not prevent us from working with people like Messrs Hassan Khan and Sandew Hira who have blazed the trail in cooperation with the University of Suriname to digitalize the records at the Surinamese archives.
These two men are readily available to provide technical assistance to digitize the records at the Guyana National Archive. Interested parties can contact us at indendureship@-gmail.com; we hope that the Government of Guyana can see the urgency to safeguard these historical records and look forward to a fruitful and creative partnership. Our future generations deserved nothing less!
Yours faithfully,
Varuna S. Singh
Secretary
IDP, NY INC.
