Remember when The Golden Arrowhead flew high at D’Urban Park? Remember the pride many Guyanese felt when 50th Independence anniversary activities were held there? Remember the flag-raising ceremonies in the following years and how some people began to miss the National Park or thought the flag-raising ceremony location should have never been changed? Or when it was decided that the Mashramani route would close at D’Urban Park instead of the National Park? It was new, the route was shorter, but it was met with criticism as people were missing the old way of things. Nevertheless, thousands cheered in the stands even though the thousands in the stands made some of us nervous as we wondered about the sturdiness of the stands. Thankfully there were no unfortunate incidences. D’Urban Park was becoming a hub of national activities, and we would have imagined that many private events would also be hosted there, but those dreams were short-lived.
Conceived under the previous administration, it was a venue thought necessary to host activities for the 50th Independence anniversary in 2016 and the dream was for it to later become a ‘Green Zone Recreational Park’. But it was a venue that many thought was too hurriedly built. Some questioned if it was a waste of money. Today one can deduce that perhaps it was.
Still, the space had potential. The dream for D’Urban Park was beautiful, but what was created did not live up to the dream. It was not the finest looking and much work needed to be done to beautify it, strengthen and polish the stands to make it another treasure where recreational and national activities could regularly take place. Perhaps if the time had been spent to make D’Urban Park the dream it could have been, the space could have stood up regardless of the year or the government in power and would not be the embarrassment it is today.
I have fond memories of D’Urban Park for the short time events were held there. I recall especially the last Mashramani activities that were held there in 2020 before the heavy cloud of COVID hung over our country. I was part of a theatre committee that hosted an activity at D’Urban Park where we staged a few plays and had a few other performances. The event was a success. It was packed, entertaining and we received great reviews. There were also other activities during that time. But now, what is happening?
There are those who regularly use D’Urban Park for recreational activities, but the decay of the place where national and other events were once held is conspicuous. Though left in ruins some who utilize the space include driving schools that take their students there to practice. People of course exercise and play sports there. But one can also spot rags hung on some stands blowing in the wind where vagrants have made home. The stands are dilapidated and of course there is garbage. There are also whispers about some who park their vehicles near D’Urban Park especially in the nights. Similar activities to what occur along the seawall which some fondly call “Breezy Hotel’ are said to take place in the vicinity.
It is embarrassing, but perhaps only embarrassing for those who once thought that this space had potential and could become another treasured public space like the National Park. Compared to the National Park D’Urban Park is in shambles. Left to ruins perhaps because it was conceived by the previous administration, there were accusations of corruption around its creation, perhaps because it was a rushed project or perhaps some believe we do not need another space since the National Park has stood the test of time.
The National Park is generally well maintained. It is a space that every Guyanese can be proud of. During my regular walks there I see the staff cleaning and weeding and continuously making the efforts to keep it clean. Of course, after certain events the garbage would still gather in some areas but in the National Park it is never left for days. The National Park is where many Guyanese do their daily exercise, schools make use of the space for sports, private and national events are often held there, and it is obvious that time was taken to carefully create that space which was opened on February 5th, 1966.
Generally, the National Park is considered a safe space where not only Guyanese make use of it but foreigners as well. The manatees in the ponds are also an added attraction and the ponies often seen around the park. Recently I was informed that there will soon be a gym in the park which is currently under construction.
The same way we upkeep the National Park was perhaps the same dream once held for D’Urban Park but maybe by only a small group of people. Unfortunately, with vagrants making home in the stands, overgrown bushes and the stands left to rot, the space seems to have been abandoned. Will there ever be a restoration of the space where we see national and private events being held their again? Perhaps that depends on whose ruling shadow is cast over the country.
Last year there was a report where Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill said that D’Urban Park would not be left as an eyesore and that there were plans to develop it as a part of a greater plan to modernize Guyana. For now, D’Urban Park is an eyesore, and we wait.
It is upsetting that according to reports over 1 billion dollars was spent to create D’Urban Park only for it to be left to rot and a home for vagrants less than a decade later. One might say that it is a tragic part of the petty politics that governs our country. We can dream about a day where it does not matter who starts what or who built what, but that we can continue to build and strengthen as a collective in the best interests of our country.
