Walter Roth Museum officially re-commissioned Amerindian artifacts among exhibits
Guyana Chronicle
September 28, 2003
GINA - THE Walter Roth Museum was Friday officially re-commissioned with a ceremony at the Museum's compound, 61 Main Street, North Cummingsburg, Georgetown.
The ceremony featured dances by the Amerindian Sand Creek Dance Group, an Akawaian chant by Linguistics Lecturer, Dr. Desrey Fox, and the reading of a brief history of the museum by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Mr. Keith Booker.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Gail Teixeira delivered the feature address, after which the ribbon was cut, the plaque was unveiled, and the public and press were invited to tour the museum.
Numerous Amerindian artifacts were on display and visitors were able to savour a few Amerindian delicacies, including the famous 'Piwari' drink and 'quinches'.
Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues, in brief remarks, commended the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport for completing the rehabilitation of the museum, at a cost of some $20.2M.
She said she was happy that a large part of the museum contained Amerindian artifacts and that the museum's re-commissioning occurred during Amerindian Heritage Month.
The Minister further urged all Guyanese to “visit the museum since this is one way in which we can connect with our history”.
Minister Teixeira, in her address, commended the Amerindians for preserving their cultural practices for so many years as she noted that “if they did not preserve their heritage, their artifacts... practices and traditions, there would be no museum ....for us to see”.
She also paid homage to the late Dr. Walter Roth and his predecessors for their contributions to the museum.
Also at the ceremony were Prime Minister Samuel Hinds who is performing the duties of President, Former President, Ms. Janet Jagan, United States Ambassador to Guyana, Roland Bullen, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Ganga Persaud as well as the contestants for the Amerindian Heritage Pageant, which was held last night at the National Cultural Centre.
The Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology – a non profit institution created to collect, exhibit and conserve artifacts relating to Guyana’s ancient culture, to conduct anthropological research and disseminate this knowledge - was founded in 1974 with collections of the late Dr. Denis Williams and was opened to the public in 1982. It is the first museum of Anthropology in the English-speaking Caribbean.
In 1996, the museum was closed for rehabilitation work.
The museum is named in honour of the late Walter Edmund Roth, a noted anthropologist, administrator and surgeon.
The wooden building is noted for its colonial architecture and will be officially opened to the public on October 1. Visiting hours will be 08:30 hrs-16:00 hrs Monday to Thursday and 08:30 - 15:00 hrs on Fridays.