Erik Oswald, Vice President, Americas, ExxonMobil Exploration Company and Jeff Simons, lead country manager of Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited, an affiliate of ExxonMobil, today presented The National Protected Areas Commission with a gift of $20 million (USD$100,000), to advance revitalisation of the historic Botanical Gardens in honour of Guyana’s 50th Anniversary of Independence.
The gift will include the following revitalisation efforts:
- Creation of botanical labelling and signage – A catalogue of key plant species in the Botanical Gardens has been completed and will be used to prepare mounted labels on tree/plant specimens in the Gardens. A brochure and map will be produced to facilitate self-guided “plant walks” around the Gardens
- Creation of a waterfall feature at the front entrance – Waterfall to commemorate the 50th anniversary and showcase Guyana’s many natural waterfalls. The signage will include a map of Guyana marking the locations of Guyana’s array of waterfalls and their significance to indigenous cultures and Guyana’s history
- Rehabilitation of the Victoria Pond – the Victoria Pond currently features the Gardens’ collection of the rare Victoria amazonica, the national flower. The pond
ExxonMobil officials and Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Raphael Trotman at the event today at the Botanical Gardens in Georgetown will be enlarged, deepened and landscaped to better promote the Victoria amazonica with additional signage regarding its discovery and unique biology
- Installation of outdoor lights – Lights will be installed in the gardens and along the road leading to the parking lot, extending visitor hours beyond sundown. It is anticipated the gardens will be used for evening receptions; security lighting will be installed at strategic points for after-hours security
- Educational component – field trips will be offered to local public schools in the surrounding area to take advantage of the gardens and lean about Guyana’s natural environment.
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And the thank you begins!
This is only the beginning, if the oil in Guyana is so hard to get then why are they giving gifts? This government better be careful when receiving “gifts” as they will surely want something in return. Guyana will see only a small percent of this oil that they (America) will eventually take out of our country.
The prison, parliament building and the cemetary should b located outside Georgetown. Because of the location of the prison, Camp Street, a main artery through the city has been blocked for over a decade. Prisioners ought 2 b kept in secure quarters at police stations until they r transferred 2 a maximum security prison. Many streets r also blocked whenever there is a sitting of parliament; detrimentally affecting the business sector. Parliament and other government buildings ought 2 b located in a complex on the East Coast and the existing parliament building converted into a museum. Also, from many angles, not the brightest idea to have a huge unkempt cemetery in the centre of our capital. Graves should b relocated to a convenient place, perhaps in Timerhi? Surely these r the right things to do without delay and are doable by our new government.
And so it started in the direction we will go…Next, we will have “military advisors”..a totally failed state within reach….
Well ,better late than nevah’ !……….let us get out of this third world mentality of not being able to appreciate care for our ”heritage”.
no matter what you do Exxon Mobil you will not get oil. read the 1966 treaty