The erection of the Cummings Lodge Arch might have caused a great deal of controversial attention, but its commissioning today was one that epitomises the friendship between two Anglophone Caribbean states – Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago.
This was the disclosure of President David Granger at a commissioning ceremony yesterday. The arch marks the eastern boundary of the City.
A gift from Ansa McAl to Guyana! Mr. Norman Sabga shakes hands with President David Granger as he formally hands over the arch to the Government and People of Guyana, while Minister of Public Infrastructure, Mr. David Patterson and Ansa McAl’s Country Manager, Ms. Beverley Harper look on.
He pointed out that the commemorative arch, which was donated by the Ansa McAl Group of Companies for Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary sends a signal of a vibrant Caribbean economy and is a tribute to corporate investment.
President Granger said that what is good for Ansa McAl is good for Guyana and for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and added that the erection of the arch is an exemplification of the strong public-private partnership between the country and company.
The Head of State added that the arch is now a permanent and precious landmark of the national capital. Ansa McAl’s Managing Director, Ms. Beverley Harper said that President Granger’s view of a strong Caribbean economy was shared by the company’s late Chairman Emeritus, Dr. Anthony Sabga, who she described as a visionary that was particularly interested in Guyana.
The commemorative arch at Cummings Lodge in recognition of the 50th anniversary of Guyana’s Independence. The arch was donated by the Ansa McAl Group of Companies.
The President said that as Guyana transitions into a ‘green’ state, the city will be making greater use of renewable energy from sources such as solar and wind power and to this end, he was pleased to learn that the arch will be illuminated at nights using solar LED lights. He noted, too, that people living in the Cummings Lodge area, expect to enjoy a happy existence, with opportunities for strengthening family life, economic development and the protection of the environment.
Minister of Public Infrastructure, Mr. David Patterson, in his remarks recalled that it was in July 2016 at the birthday celebration of Ms. Harper, that he initially made the pitch for Ansa McAl to partner with the Government to have the arch erected. “No one can deny that 50 years of Independence was a significant milestone but our need for public-private partnerships does not end with our Golden Jubilee. Today, Ansa McAl has stepped up and publicly demonstrated its commitment to Guyana and its people. This new arch is practical as it is beautiful,” he said.