Fort Island to become major tourist destination

Fort Island to become major tourist destination – Govt.

May 31, 2026 News

…Opposition Leader alleges ‘desecration’ of heritage site

(Kaieteur News) – While the Ministries of Tourism Industry and Commerce and the Culture, Youth and Sport has dubbed the hosting of Guyana’s 60^th Independence celebration at Fort Zeelandia as successful, Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed believes the government has “desecrated” the Dutch heritage site.

Mohamed in a video from the island on Friday said there were piles of uncollected garbage and abandoned rental equipment left behind four days after the Diamond Jubilee celebrations which included a cultural performance and flag-raising activity.

Fort Island to become major tourist destination – Govt.

Screengrab of garbage strewn by the monument.

Standing amidst the litter, the Opposition Leader described the heavily publicised State event as a “colossal disaster” and an egregious waste of taxpayers’ funds.

“They desecrated this place and left it, left all the garbage, everything scattered all over the entire place,” Mohamed charged, claiming that the site had been well-maintained during previous visits.

“This place should have been cleaned up as soon as this ceremony was completed at 1 a.m. or 2 a.m. We are already heading into the fourth day. Why is it taking them so long?” he questioned.

The broadcast detailed post-event debris, including discarded plastic bottles, food containers, cardboard boxes, and beer bottles. The Opposition Leader highlighted several instances where miniature copies of the Golden Arrowhead, Guyana’s national flag, were found scattered on the ground and mixed into the refuse. Additionally, five large commercial generator sets and rows of leased artificial green grass mats remained stranded on the historical grounds.

“Taxpayers’ money has to pay for the rental for all this equipment lying here,” Mohamed noted, adding that a newly constructed helicopter pad, which allegedly cost “tens of millions,” was utilised just once for the President’s arrival.

Local residents also voiced their frustrations during the walkthrough, complaining of a heavy stench from rotting food waste and alleging that the heavy infrastructure setup had severely damaged a local farmer’s drainage system. The Opposition laid blame directly on Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Charles Ramson Jr., Minister of Education Sonia Parag, and the Minister of Local Government Priya Manickchand for failing to implement a post-event sanitation plan, predicting that local residents would ultimately be left to clean up the mess.

Paintings and trestles used for the flag-raising activities left at Fort Island.

However, it should be noted that the Guyana Festival events held at the National Stadium all comprised of post-event sanitation workers.

The Ministry of Tourism countered Mohamed’s contention by announcing multi-million-dollar plans to transform the historic location into a premier eco-tourism hub.

In a press release that avoided direct mention of the cleanup delays, the government in a joint statement titled “GREAT NEWS! Fort Island to Become Major Tourism Destination announced that the high turnout has accelerated long-term development strategies for the area.

“Following the recent Diamond Jubilee Independence Celebrations which was held at Fort Island for the first time, the event saw thousands in attendance indicating the potential of the tourism destination and encouraging more people to reconnect with its story and significance,” the government statement read.

According to the Tourism Ministry, the event successfully catalysed interest from the private sector, with multiple local and international investors signaling explicit intent to construct eco-lodges on the island. The proposed upgrades aim to permanently improve maritime access, enhance the overall visitor experience, and integrate the island deeply into the national tourism route while strictly preserving its 18th-century heritage.

The ministry emphasised that the development framework is structured to empower the isolated community directly, enabling residents to build sustainable revenue streams by providing meals, hospitality services, and logistical supplies to an expanding influx of travelers.

“Together, these efforts are helping to preserve rich cultural heritage while ensuring Fort Island remains accessible, relevant, and engaging for visitors,” the Ministry concluded, promising further updates as infrastructural work progresses.

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Azruddin Mohamed, Dutch heritage site, Fort Island, Fort Zeelandia, tourist destination

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