Restoration of City Hall unlikely for 50th Jubilee

Jan 25, 2016 News

Restorations work on City Hall, one of the country’s historic buildings, is not likely to start in time for Guyana’s 50th Jubilee Anniversary. This is according to Georgetown Mayor, Hamilton Green.
Mayor Green explained that there have been setbacks with the commencement of the works. He revealed that the European Union (EU) which has provided a grant to fund the works is yet to identify a team of consultants to do an assessment of what needs to be done on City Hall’s building. Thereafter, he said, documents will be prepared for tender.
However, the Mayor is optimistic that the problem will be straightened out soon and the project will be completed by the end of this year. The building which houses the offices of the Mayor, the City Council and the City Engineer has significantly deteriorated over the years. So far, minor repair works are being done on the buildings covering the City Constabulary and Engineer’s Departments.

Mayor, Hamilton Green

City hall

In May, 2015, the Fire Chief had warned that the 126 year-old building is unsafe and constitutes a serious fire hazard. This was after a fire prevention inspection of the building. It was found that there were many loose and hanging electrical wires in various parts of the building, while various sections of the edifice had deteriorated.
City Hall officials have spoken extensively about necessary repairs for the building which has been identified as one of the most beautiful colonial structures in the Caribbean. From time to time the Council had sought the public’s assistance in raising funds to aid in returning the building to its pre-independence glory.
City Hall, standing 29 metres high, is described as one of the most handsome and picturesque buildings in Georgetown. It was designed by architect Reverend Ignatius Scholes in 1887. The building was officially opened on July 1, 1889 by Governor-Viscount Gormanston.
It is a nineteenth-century Gothic Revival building located on the corner of Regent Street and Avenue of the Republic.