Two elaborate paintings of scenes around Georgetown done by an artist during the British colonial era have been added to the list of historical artifacts displayed at the National Trust.
PNCR MP Tony Vieira, who is also owner of the Vieira Communications Tele-vision Network, handed over the paintings to Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony, at the Trust’s Carmichael Street location.
A Government Informa-tion Agency (GINA) press release said Chairman of the Trust Dr James Rose and Deputy Chairman Patrick Williams also attended the brief ceremony. Vieira told the group that he found the paintings in the Georgetown Mayor and City Council hall and decided to send them to the US to be restored.
One of the paintings depicts Parliament Buildings viewed from across the Brickdam road. It also depicts scenes of the Stabroek Market Square and other prominent locations. The other painting depicts Georgetown from the Demerara River. In the painting the scene is referred to as Fort William Frederick, as Georgetown was known at that time.
Anthony said he considered Vieira’s donation a generous and encouraging gesture which would enhance the work of the Trust to preserve Guyana’s rich heritage.
In 1999 government declared as national monuments Fort Kyk-Over-Al, Fort Nassau, Red House, St George’s Cathedral, the 1763 Monument, the Non-Aligned Monument, Umana Yana and the African Liberation Monu-ment. Through the Trust’s rigorous efforts the Court of Policy Hall at Fort Island in the Essequibo River became a heritage museum.
Following its establishment in 1972, the Trust became the main organisation for heritage conservation and preservation under the National Trust Act.
