Umana Yana repairs 50% complete

GUYANA - Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr Frank Anthony on Friday toured the Umana Yana located at High Street and Battery Road, Kingston, to oversee the rehabilitation works being done on the benab, and he said his ministry is pleased with the work, GINA said in a release.

A $16 million contract was awarded to the Captain of Gunn’s Strip, Paul Chekema and his team by the ministry to rehabilitate the benab.

Minister Anthony also commended Chekema and his team for their professionalism and commitment to their work.

Permanent Secretary Alfred King said that the Umana Yana has been a favourite for tourists and because it is a national monument, the ministry undertook its preservation.

Chekema said that the repairs commenced on July 28 instead of July 16 because of the delay in sourcing materials due to heavy rainfall. Despite the late start the rehabilitation work is still expected to be completed by the deadline as 35 persons are working on it.

Fifty per cent of the work is completed and it will take approximately 500,000 troolie leaves to rehabilitate the roof of the structure.

The Umana Yana was initially constructed by Chief Elka and more than 60 Wai Wais in 1972. The construction took 80 days and was completed at a cost of $26,000.

Source: Stabroek News

Wai Wais get $16M contract to repair Umana Yana

GUYANA - Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr Frank Anthony on Wednesday signed a $16M contract which was awarded to the Captain of Gunn’s Strip Paul Chekema for the rehabilitation of the Umana Yana.

The repairs are set to start July 16 and are expected to be completed within one month, a press release from the Government Information agency (GINA) said. It said too the benab will be closed to the public from July 16 to August for the duration of the works.

The Umana Yana was first built by residents of Gunn’s Strip, the most distant Wai Wai Village located in the South Rupununi in Region Nine. Their descendants have committed to continue the tradition of preserving the benab which is also a national monument. Chekema noted that holes have been found in the benab’s roof and some of the supporting beams appear to be rotten.

The funds will be used to procure troolie leaves and other materials for the repairs from St Cuthbert’s Mission. The ministry will be working with the St Cuthbert’s community to obtain the materials which will be transported to Georgetown before July 16.

Thirty persons from Gunn’s Strip are expected to work at the site. Anthony said the ministry will provide accommodation for the workers for the duration of the project. The ministry said the project will allow income to return to the community and the amount is expected to boost the economy in the mainly farming community.

According to GINA the Umana Yana was first built by Chief Elka and a team comprising more than 60 Wai Wais in 1972. The construction took 80 days and was completed at a cost of $26,000. The first meeting of the Non-Aligned Nations was held at the Umana Yana that same year.

Source: Stabroek News