In recognition of the 250th anniversary of the Berbice slave uprising, the National Trust of Guyana yesterday opened an information centre at the 1763 Monument site, where the public can access knowledge on slavery and the uprising.
The centre, which was declared open by Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony, is just behind the monument that was sculpted by the late Phillip Moore.
According to Chief Executive Officer of the National Trust Nirvana Persaud, construction of the centre commenced in 2011 and ended in 2012; it was designed by Design & Construction Services.
She said the centre aims to provide the community and populace with easy access to more information about Guyana’s rich and diverse heritage.
“Information of this nature is especially important to our people since it gives recognition to our history, the impact it has on the presence and the guidance it can provide for the future,” she told those gathered to witness the opening of the centre.
Dr Anthony in his address spoke about the activities planned to observe the 250th slave uprising anniversary. He urged that the book written by Sunday Stabroek Editor Anna Benjamin on the uprising be read as it is very easy to read and school children should take advantage of the literature.
The book was recently published by the ministry and copies are available in school libraries and at the National Library.
It is hoped that persons would visit the centre and learn more about the uprising, as many do not know much except that there is a monument. “But 1763 is not just Cuffy monument, there are many things that happened and therefore we need to understand what happened. What are the consequences, what was the impact of 1763, I think that is very important…,” the minister said.
Meanwhile, he said, the ministry has recognised that more needs to be done to improve the site of the monument and the centre is one of the moves to do so.
He said that in the past, people disrespected the monument by dumping garbage there, at times even in the fountain. For years, the fountain was not working because persons would steal the fittings for the pump that operated it, and as a result 24-hour security has been installed at the site.
“The reason I am saying this is because it is our site. It is a national monument. It is this country’s pride and if we as citizens of this country cannot protect a national asset then something really is wrong with us,” the minister stated.
The minister said that while the fountain is up and running the lights have not been reinstalled and this will be done later in the year and the entire area around the monument site will also be enhanced.
The Information Centre will be manned by the Museum of African Heritage.
