Heritage is irreplaceable

May 03, 2026 Letters

Dear Editor,

It is with extremely deep concern that the Guyana Heritage Society learnt of the recent cutting of protective mangroves and bulldozing, as well as preparation for helicopters to land, around the fragile 1749 site of Fort Zeelandia, a gazetted national monument located on Fort Island in the Essequibo River, in preparation for our 60th Independence flag-raising ceremony- a big event to be held on a small island.

While, according to press reports, one reason cited for holding the event there, “that hosting the ceremony on the island carries profound meaning and serves as a powerful reaffirmation that Essequibo is, and will remain, an integral part of Guyana” is absolutely fine theoretically, the practical ramifications and dangers of holding such an event on an old and fragile historic site seem to have been overlooked.

Were experts and the authorities responsible for our national monuments and mangroves consulted before the site preparation began, or even at the time when the site was first being considered as the flag-raising location?

Dr. Allyson Stoll, a noted Guyanese academic, historian and heritage preservation expert, explained the significance of the damage in a recent Facebook post. She related that Fort Zeelandia- a gazetted National Monument- has stood on Fort Island since 1749, built by Winkels [highly skilled artisan slaves].

The fort, she further says, survived neglect, erosion, flooding, looting, and more neglect; the mangroves and vegetation took more than 25 years to grow, as witnessed by her, lending a protective barrier and preventing further erosion of the ramparts and bastions there, and that, formerly, the brickwork stood in the river.

She also warned against the consequences of heavy machinery on the mud ramparts. Added to this are the obvious effects of crowds on the site, (hopefully not taking ‘souvenirs’), vibrations affecting the buildings, and loss of vegetation from bulldozing, such as grass which stops the ground from being washed away. Surely Guyana has way too few historical heritage buildings left, for us as a country not to be taking their preservation ultra-seriously.

It was nonetheless heartening to see that citizens are in favour of heritage preservation, judging from the many highly upset and concerned citizens’ voices worried about damage to the fort. Since the Guyana Heritage Society would like to be a part of the national conversation (and not the national shouting match), we hope their and our voices will be heard and concerns attended to.

IF it is not too late to shift the venue in favour of preserving the very few heritage sites we have left, (the excuse that money has already been spent on the event will not bring the fort back- better money lost than the fort), then hopefully remedial works will be carried out immediately after the event, including restoration of the invaluable mangroves which have so far protected Fort Zeelandia from disappearing into the rising sea. The Guyana Heritage Society recommends that heritage conservation principles are utilised -in the actual practice- when executing any works at all whatsoever at or even near such sites, including the protection of the centuries-old materials used by the incomparably skilled workers of those times, with both work and materials lasting to this day, as a testament to both.

We also recommend that technical consideration and input be mandatorily made into the interaction of such old materials with new and often incompatible materials which will affect the integrity of such sites. We further take this opportunity to advocate strongly for the continued preservation and continuous and scrupulous monitoring over the coming years of that brave Chateau Margot chimney that still stood when everything else crumbled around it, (even though the iconic view from the Public Road has been lost), but were somewhat relieved to hear that the mall developers are keen on the site’s preservation.

We finally recommend that -from now on- all our heritage sites (as well as intangible heritage) receive an extremely special focus from the authorities as they deserve, and as our independent nation deserves; that help for their preservation and protection and respect for them as national treasures be forthcoming. Heritage is irreplaceable…

The Guyana Heritage Society

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Essequibo river, Fort Zeelandia, Guyana Heritage Society, Heritage, Letters

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