Guyana Where and What 2023-2024 for website_compressed

Guyana’s 10 Administrative Regions
of the Demerara Harbour Bridge
began on 29 May 1976. Construction
assistance was provided by the British
Government. Toll is paid at the Eastern
entrance. A new bridge is being
designed to be built soon.
To get to the West Coast of Demerara,
Bartica and Essequibo River and
Islands by road means crossing the
Demerara Harbour Bridge.
The Indian Monument Site
This monument, located at the corner
of Church and Camp Street is a very
historic Monument. It commemorates
the first indentured Indians who
arrived in then British Guiana on 5th
May 1838.
In August, 1987 a very influential group
headed by Yesu Persaud formed the
150th Anniversary Committee to plan
the celebrations to mark the 150th
anniversary of the Arrival of Indians in
Guyana, which was celebrated on 5th
May 1988.
During the celebrations, the visiting
Vice President of India, Dr. Shankar
Dayal Sharma, was approached for
assistance to build a Monument to
commemorate the arrival of East
Indians in Guyana. He honoured that
commitment. The then Mayor, Mr.
Compton Young, was approached
and gave the committee the site.
Nearly 1000 loads of sand and dirt
98
were used to fill up the site. A national
competition was held for the design,
and one that looked like the “Whitby”
was chosen. Local architect, Mr. Albert
Rodrigues, working with an Indian
counterpart, mapped out a plan of
what the garden should look like and
of the infrastructure work for the ship.
The ship was built in India, and the
architect and ship builder came to
Guyana to help in the setting up of the
Monument. The Indian Anniversary
Committee later converted into a Trust
- The Indian Commemoration Trust.
Today the Monument Garden is very
beautifully kept and is maintained
voluntarily with help from the
business community.
Fund-raising activities are also held
from time to time. Every year activities
are planned and celebrated at the
Garden on May 5 to commemorate
Indian Arrival Day. Activities are
also held for special occasions such
as Diwali, Phagwah and Eid at the
Monument Garden.
In May 2013, a new stage was built to
facilitate concerts and cultural events,
and to celebrate the 175th anniversary
of the arrival of Indians to Guyana, a
replica of the “Kolkota” monument
was unveiled at the Monument
Gardens on May 5. A second replica
was set up at Plantation Highbury in
Berbice (where the first indentured