[www.inewsguyana.com] – The National Trust of Guyana, an agency under the auspices of the Culture Ministry which is responsible for the preservation and promotion of the nation’s heritage, launched the ‘New Amsterdam Heritage Trail’ a booklet which features 39 historical sites in New Amsterdam, Berbice.
The 45-page booklet consists of historical descriptions of past and present sites with accompanying images, and a guide map which is laid out in a trail like format offering an easy route for anyone wishing to tour the country’s oldest town, New Amsterdam.
The National Trust’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Nirvana Persaud noted that the launch was a major achievement is keeping with the agency’s mandate in documenting the country’s vast heritage resources and making them available to the public.
She said that the origin of the publication goes back more than three years, and is somewhat similar to an existing publication titled ‘Georgetown Heritage Trail’ but is different in design.
The aim of the publication is to guide visitors, researchers, children and the general public about the history and development of the historic town of New Amsterdam and the various heritage sites that have formed its townscape.
Further, Persaud said that the publication is expected to awaken ad re-awaken interest in safeguarding and promoting the sites and historic properties.
She said that it is a great disappointment that four of the sites were erased, in particular the old New Amsterdam Hospital.
“While we certainly acknowledge that these services have been replaced as in the case of having a new hospital, we are certainly sad over the outstanding wooden heritage buildings we have lost due to poor maintenance, inadequate reuse plan to save the structures and subsequent acts of vandalism,” Persaud explained.
The pocket book, 2000 copies of which were printed, is easy for users to carry and offers space for personal notes and observation. Meanwhile, Regional Chairman, David Armogan noted that the event was very important, in that it was the launch of part of Guyana’s history.
He spoke of the importance of documenting that history and heritage so that locals and visitors can have access. [Extracted and modified from GINA]
