Though the vandalism at the old New Amsterdam Hospital has decreased following the mending of a damaged fence, residents are still fearful that the dilapidated building which poses a fire hazard could collapse at any time.
According to them vagrants now enter the compound by scaling the fence and “would curse and smoke in the building and if a fire should break out it would spread quickly.”
They had said that some persons were using the building as a hideout and the police had admitted to this newspaper that stolen items had been recovered. The residents are calling on the authorities to “preserve the building and to ensure that the vagrants are kept away from it.”
A nearby resident said, “If government has no plans to repair the building they should pull it down. But of course that would be a sad situation because it is a masterpiece.”
This newspaper had published an article highlighting the section of the fence that the junkies had ripped apart to access the building so they could remove zinc sheets, sinks, cupboards and electrical and pipe fittings.
Residents had told Stabroek News that the vandals entered the compound freely through the broken fence close to the gate at the Main Street entrance –– “as if they own it… Late at nights we would be disturbed by the loud pounding and hammering…”
Pastor Wilbert Daniels, a former staff member who lives close to the hospital had related to this newspaper that he was sad to see the vandals destroying the hospital.
Recently, Daniels related that the situation has been “stabilized” and that he was “not seeing any movements of people at the hospital.”
He said the building does not have lights but he would sometimes hear persons pelting at the windows – most of which have already been broken.
There were also reports that the vandals have removed materials such as plyboard and sliding doors that were used to convert sections of the building into a nursing school and dormitory. But after the publication of the article no more items have been removed.
The Ministry of Health had promised to “transform” a part of the building into a nursing school and dormitory after operations were shifted to the new location in November 2004.
Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, when contacted had said that the project had commenced. The ministry was “still working on it” but needed more money for its completion.
The minister had not received any report that the materials were removed and was also unaware that zinc sheets and other items were being stolen.
He had not heard of persons entering the premises and said that it was being protected by security guards. But residents had observed that guards were not placed at the back of the building where the vandals entered.
Historical site
The building is “a timber architectural masterpiece that was designed by world renowned architect, Cesar Castellani in 1881 and officially opened in 1884.”
Daniels who is advocating the preservation of the building commented that “if government decides to pull it down they need to consult with the people. They should have consultation and discussion with the wider society.”
He said that if the building stands as a monument it should not be left empty but the space should be utilized for the establishment of a library and a [medical] museum.
“They should fabricate some of the items they have at the museum in town and can even display antique items such as hot water bottles, blood pressure kits and old uniforms. We do not have anything like this in Berbice; everything is in Georgetown… It is my desire to see it restored.”
He also suggested that persons viewing the items could be charged a fee for the maintenance of the building, noting that “people in other countries value their historical sites…”
Noting that the exercise would be costly, Daniels pointed out that another option is for government to “get persons to utilize sections of the building and their mere presence can act as a form of security and keep away the vagrants.”
A letter writer to this newspaper had said that “…efforts should be made by the government of Guyana to contact the International Centre for the Study of Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property, which usually finances preservations of buildings that qualify.”
A brief history of the hospital states that an extension which started from the western end of the building in 1925 and was completed in 1926, served as the tuberculosis ward on the bottom flat and a maternity ward on the top flat.
The x-ray department was established in 1928 and an x-ray machine was purchased and installed. The other x-ray department was opened in December 1966.
The nurses’ dining room was built and a small laboratory was erected in 1932. Further additions were done to the building in 1950. There was no adequate water supply and rainwater had to be collected and stored in large tanks and then pumped into the wards. The water system was improved in 1952 when an artesian well was sunk.
New hospital
President Bharrat Jagdeo officially opened the ‘new’ New Amsterdam Hospital – located obliquely opposite the NA Psychiatric Hospital – on February 20, 2005.
The new building, funded by a US$13M grant from the Japanese Government and built by the Kitano Con-struction Company is equipped with modern facilities.
