“Preservation Over Pageantry”: Opposition Leader Mohamed Slams Government Over Fort Island “Recklessness”
By: Marvin Cato | HGP Nightly News|
FORT ISLAND, ESSEQUIBO RIVER — Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed has called for an immediate halt to preparatory works for Guyana’s 60th Independence Diamond Jubilee at Fort Island, warning that the government’s “extravagant” plans threaten to cause irreversible structural damage to one of the nation’s most significant heritage sites. During a site visit to the historic location on Thursday, Mohamed slammed the administration for what he termed a “grandiosity of nonsense” that prioritizes photo opportunities over the preservation of national history.
The controversy surrounds the government’s decision to host the Diamond Jubilee Flag Raising Ceremony at the site of Fort Zeelandia, a brick fortification built in 1749 by enslaved labor and gazetted as a National Monument in 1999.
“Burying History Under Sand”
Standing amidst ongoing excavation and clearing works, Mohamed expressed alarm at the transformation of the island’s landscape.
- Environmental Destruction: The Opposition Leader pointed to the significant removal of mangroves, arguing that the clearing of the site for “extravagant photoshoots” contradicts the government’s claims of environmental stewardship.
- Landscape Alteration: Mohamed noted that the once “lush green grounds” his team admired in August 2025 have been buried under loads of sand to accommodate a “hive of activity.”
- Structural Integrity: The primary concern raised by Mohamed is the physical threat to the 270-year-old fort. He argued that trafficking hundreds of people and heavy equipment, including large screens, onto the fragile grounds will create vibrations that could weaken the brick structure.
A Call for Strategic Relocation
While Mohamed clarified that he is not opposed to the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, he believes the current venue choice is a “lack of foresight.”
- Tourism vs. Event Hosting: Mohamed posited that the focus should be on developing Fort Island as a sustainable tourist attraction rather than a one-time “grandiose celebration.”
- National Heritage: “Fort Zeelandia is a reminder of our history… we cannot celebrate our diamond jubilee while destroying the soil that holds our history,” Mohamed stated.
- The Proposal: The Opposition is formally calling on President Ali to reconsider the venue for the flag-raising ceremony, suggesting that the state is currently “leading the destruction of a protected area.”
A Test of National Stewardship
For Azruddin Mohamed, the issue at Fort Island is a microcosm of a larger problem: the prioritization of “cosmetic attempts” at heritage preservation. As the nation prepares for its 60th Independence Anniversary, the debate over Fort Island highlights the tension between celebrating national progress and protecting the physical remnants of the past. The Opposition Leader’s warning serves as a reminder that once the echoes of the ceremony fade, the damage to Guyana’s 270-year-old heritage may be permanent.
