History
The Umana Yana is situated on Main Street next to the Le Meridien Pegasus Hotel, it is now a permanent and much admired part of Georgetown's scenery, and is in constant use as an exhibition and conference centre. The structure is high and is made from thatched allibanna and manicole palm leaves, and wallaba posts lashed together with , turu and nibbi vines. No nails were used. It was erected by a team of about sixty Wai-Wai Amerindians, one of the nine indigenous tribes of Guyana. Fashioned like the Wai-Wai benabs or shelters which are found deep in Guyana's interior, it occupies an area of 460 square metres, making it the largest structure of its kind in Guyana. On April 7, 2001, the Umana Yana, along with the African Liberation Monument, was gazetted as one of Guyana's National Monuments. "Umana Yana" is a Wai-Wai word meaning "Meeting place of the people". Renovated in 2010, on September 9, 2014 the Umana Yana was gutted by fire and destroyed. The government planned to rebuild the national landmark as soon as possible, with better ventilation and to correct electrical issues which are suspected in the earlier fire.African Liberation Monument
On 26 August 1974, PresidentReferences
External links