Works halt at Indian Arrival Monument at Palmyra as structure collapses

Hours after several workers complained of not receiving payments for work they would have completed since early February 2017 at the Indian Arrival Monument Site at Palmyra on the Corentyne, a portion of the structure that was being built to hold the monument came crashing down.

News Room understands that at the time the monument collapsed, workers were on site conducting works, but luckily nobody sustained injuries.

When contacted yesterday, a male Marlon Cumberbatch who claimed that he was the contractor but later said he was instead the supervisor for the construction company denied that the structure had collapsed. However, during a visit to the location this morning (Wednesday, April 26, 2017), it was revealed that the structure had indeed collapsed and officials were on site inspecting the damages.

The incident occurred at about 16: 00 hours on Tuesday, April 25, 2017.

Cumberbatch who refused to disclose the name of the construction company he is working with and that is responsible for the construction of the monument site and the installation of the monument, told reporters earlier today that the company will be dissolved after the Indian Arrival Monument is completed and that the name of the company was not necessary.

Additionally, he could not say what caused the structure to collapse but indicated that officials are expected to visit the area to determine what led to the incident.

In March 2017, Prime Minister, Moses Nagamoottoo along with the Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, V. Mahalingam unveiled a signboard depicting the artist impression of the monument. The Prime Minister had also revealed that $97M was allocated to do ground work at the Palmyra site while the sculpture cost the Indian counterpart some US$150,000.

News Room understands that the monument which is dedicated to the arrival of East Indians should have initially been placed at Highbury on the East Bank of Berbice where the first batch of indentured Indian immigrants came, but because of the distance and accessibility, Palmyra was chosen.