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Where are the archives and archivist?

Apr 30, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor,
Over the last three weeks, I was exposed to the full brunt of the incompetence and indolence of the Royston King Administration of the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown.
Working on a project to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Guyana’s Independence, I attempted on no less than eight occasions over the last three weeks to access the Municipal Archives of the Georgetown City Council without fail but was unsuccessful in doing so, having been provided with some frivolous excuse by those present why I could not access the records there.
Once I was told that the Archivist is on sick leave. The next time a Constable told me he did not know what archives I am talking about existing at that location. Another time I was told the air conditioning systems were not working. And yet another time I was told that I had to get special permission from Royston King to enter. However, finally I was quietly told by someone there that the archives were left abandoned since last year May and  no longer functional. What a shame! How could a ‘supposed history buff’ like Hamilton Green have allowed this travesty to occur under his watch?
Remember a number of years ago when the M&CC decided it needed the space where the archives were housed and unceremoniously shunted the collection off to the ‘House Service Department’ in Water Street? Conditions there could not have been worse for the storage of documents; while there was no direct sunlight to do damage, there was no circulation of air either and the roof was leaking badly. They were dumped higgeldy-piggeldy on a windowless mezzanine floor of the building, to which the hot air rose, and where the humidity levels were inimical to the preservation of paper. It was these records primarily which the M&CC then transferred to a special area in the City Police training complex.
Royston King, with whom the idea supposedly originated; along with Debra Lewis, who was placed in charge of the project; were given substantial sums from the city’s budget to have this special twenty-four hour air-conditioned facility constructed staffed and launched with much pomp and fanfare, touting it as a resource for students, researchers from around the world and all of Guyana. Now that has all gone down the drain again, what a colossal waste of time and money. Maybe the President of Guyana who is well known for his background in history should intervene and rescue such a treasure trove of historical records. Rather than wasting money on a number of frivolous projects, this is a far more worthwhile undertaking for the city to pursue for our Golden Jubilee.
 Deodarie Putulall

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