The recently launched restoration fund for the historic City Hall has been receiving donations since its launch.
Some two weeks ago, the mayor and city councillors of Georgetown launched the restoration fund for the complete rehabilitation of the landmark which sits at the corner of Regent Street and Avenue of the Republic.
The restoration and rehabilitation of the City Hall building has been under discussion for a long time at the level of the council and it was suggested in 2018 that a special committee be formed to supervise its restoration. In 2019 a sub-committee was set up to oversee the City Hall’s restoration fund.
When Stabroek News contacted Town Clerk Sherry Jerrick, she disclosed that the committee controlling the restoration fund included members of the council’s administration as well as stakeholders within the business community. Representatives of agencies sitting on the committee include, the Private Sector Commission, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the National Trust, and the Guyana Tourism Authority.
Jerrick noted that a number of other stakeholders have expressed an interest but are yet to officially join the committee. Those on the committee will oversee the management of the fund. The Town Clerk informed that an account for the fund has been opened at the Demerara Bank and they are in the process of setting up other accounts at a number of other commercial banks.
Though she could not say exactly how much money has been accumulated within the fund since its launch, Jerrick noted that they have been receiving donations since the launch some two weeks ago. She added that they will continue to call on members of the business community and public to donate to the fund, “so that we can have this historic edifice restored and conserved, because a part of the process involves conservation.”
The Council estimates that the complete restoration of the building would cost about US$5 million.
