Dear Editor,
I read with great interest of the revamping of the old railway site in Georgetown “Railway Courtyard transformed into family-oriented public space” in Stabroek News, 4 December, 2025. I also learned that “this landmark urban renewal project seamlessly blends history, culture, wellness and tourism into a single family-oriented public space.”
According to Stabroek News “80,000 archival works examined by historian Dr David Dabydeen and a team working in the British Archives, form the basis of the installation.” A quick search of the internet shows how important this site is to Guyana and that it is the first railway system in South America. What was the purpose of the examination at the Archives when it seems that most of the buildings have already been demolished and moved? The site has been paved over and a fountain with horses installed. Is the old railway shed in the photo to be demolished too? What is left physically of the “historical connections” of this railway? What will we tell tourists about it? And what exactly is the relevance of the horse statues to the Culture of Guyana? Could we have commissioned a local artist to produce some appropriate work of art that is more in keeping with our culture and history?
This railway embankment was a garden area maybe up to the 1980s and this history can be relayed through this new project. There could be a shade house growing some wiri-wiri peppers and so on to make us stop and remember all the people who made a living as gardeners here. What about a small pond for children to sail model boats as I have seen in many parks outside of Guyana? I don’t know if the powers that be have discussed this project with anyone but it is an extensive space with a lot of history and consultation on how it is to be used should have taken place or should take place before we demolish and pave with alacrity!
Editor, I wonder if this urban renewal project has been thought out carefully. Are the project planners catering for flooding in this area? Where will visitors park their many vehicles? With plans for a courtyard going all the way to Sheriff Street I expect that all the houses along upper Lamaha Street will have to be demolished too for this project. Could someone clarify?
We seem to be putting the cart before the horse.