Dear Editor,
The Sunday Stabroek editorial of March 31, 2013 titled: `City changes’ is instructive and coming on the heels of a Parliamentary push to restore the City; it is timely.
The author deserves our highest commendation.
The question of preserving our distinctive architectural heritage must loom large, if we are truly serious about the restoration of our Capital.
With others, over the years, pleadings have gone unheeded. When Ms. Carmen Jarvis made the brave and patriotic effort to have Georgetown qualify as a ‘Heritage City’ by UNESCO, some folks only gave lip service.
We pleaded to allow the Heritage Society, the National Trust or M&CC to have the legal authority and resources to put a halt to this destructive, maybe desecration of our Capital.
So, we have CH&PA ignoring even the ideas and dictates inherent in zoning. We have Brickdam now with more offices than homes – anyone with the right connection can put up anything in Queenstown, Kingston, and the other traditional residential areas.
This is exacerbated by the wanton obliteration of fine buildings and other historic structures in our City.
Many of us shed a tear when the hammer fell on St. Barnabas Church, and there are so many others.
Thank God the Catholics are rebuilding Sacred Heart Church on Main Street maintaining the original architecture.
At a meeting last Monday with four Government Ministers present to discuss the Restoration of Georgetown, a high official stated that we needed change -true, but what and how?
The shadow Minister for Local Government, Mr. Ronald Bulkan put the discussion on track when he urged that there should be no diminution of Municipal Authority, already tottering from within and without.
Change yes, may I respectfully and humbly offer this, we all who govern, the powers that be need accept that we are caretakers, not owners of Guyana and the City.
This is not my wisdom but came out of a highly respected administration while discussing the said Stabroek News Editorial.
Let us all behave as caring, dutiful and loving caretakers, and not owners of the City and State.
This metamorphosis is essential if the restoration is to be a huge success.
Yours faithfully,
Hamilton Green, J.P.
