Guyana Where and What 2023-2024 for website_compressed

Guyana’s 10 Administrative Regions
State House
Formerly known as Government
House, is now the official residence
of the President of Guyana, located
in Main Street, between New
Market and Middle Streets. The
building was formerly the official
residence of the Governors of
British Guyana and served as their
office and entertainment centre.
Since Independence, Guyana’s first
President, Mr. Arthur Chung, resided
there. When Mr. LFS Burnham became
the Country’s Executive President
he continued to occupy the present
Castellani House on Vlissengen Road.
However, when Dr. Cheddi Jagan was
elected President in 1992, he occupied
it and this has been carried on by all
succeeding Presidents. It was erected
in 1854 during the administration
of Governor Henry Barkly with
continuous additions. The building’s
interior is beautifully decorated.
Exquisitely-carved pieces of furniture,
survivors of the Elizabethan era, lend
to its grandeur. Moreover, past and
present are combined with a mixture
of contemporary and indigenous
pieces.
St. Andrew’s Kirk
This site is believed to be the first
landmark of European civilization -
the old brandwagt, which stood here
91
as early as 1748 and served as a signal
station for incoming and outgoing
ships. The church is the oldest building
in the city as well as the oldest church
in Guyana.
The corner stone was laid in 1811
during the Dutch rule with the hope of
erecting a first-class building. Because
of lack of funds a skeletal was built
in 1813 and opened for service, but
due to debt it was seized and sold to
members of the Dutch Constituency.
It was later resold to a large Scottish
community and by 1819, the church
was completed and re-opened for
worship. The building underwent a
massive renovation scheme almost a
century later, for the centenary laying
of the Dutch Reformed Church but at
least the original section remains.
St. George’s Cathedral
This magnificent place of worship
was considered one of the tallest
wooden structures in the world, and
the second tallest wooden church, at
a height of 43.5 metres (132 feet). The
present building is, in fact the fourth
St. George’s. The first was completed
in 1811 and located northeast of
the present site, where the present
St. George’s School is situated.
The second built in the 1840’s to
accommodate the growing church,
was quickly dismantled in 1877,