The Guyana Marine Turtle Conservation Society (GMTCS) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the National Parks Commission for the construction of a turtle conservation museum in the Botanical Gardens.
The turning of the sod to mark the construction of the building took place on Wednesday.
According to the MOU, the building to house the museum will be located in the area opposite the Jenman Building, that is the administrative quarters of the Gardens, north of the access road and beside the `Arapaima Pond’.
Secretary of the GMTCS Annette Arjoon told Stabroek News that the foundation of the project will be constructed with donations made by BEV Enterprises, the Bank of Nova Scotia and Mings Products and Services Ltd. which will provide a pre-fabricated shell for the building.
The building will be 20 ft by 20 ft with an option for an extension. While the focus will be on turtle conservation the facility will be used to promote conservation in general, Arjoon said.
Flora and Fauna of the United Kingdom has donated 2,000 pounds sterling towards the project. That organisation’s local representative Shyam Nokta said the organisation was interested mainly in protected areas and collaborates with the Environmental Protection Agency and the GMTCS. It also has an MOU with the GMTCS with regard to education and awareness.
According to Arjoon, funding has also been sought from the World Wildlife Fund and the organisation has indicated its willingness to assist.
It is expected that the project will be completed by March 31. The Botanical Gardens was selected as the site for the museum, Arjoon said, because of the number of visitors to the area - averaging some 10,000 each month.
The manager of the Guyana Zoological Park, Peter Khadoo, told this newspaper that the museum will enhance the facilities in the gardens and add to its own education and awareness programmes. Giving an update on the facilities in the park, he said that the new canteen facilities and souvenir shop in the park will be officially opened on Friday. The souvenir shop currently sells souvenirs and other products from the International Iwokrama Centre for Conservation and Development, Conservation International and the GMTCS.