The Sea Wall is a 280-mile wall that runs along much of Guyana’s coastline in the capital city of Georgetown. In the coastal areas of Guyana, exists settlements which are below sea level at high.
Origin of the seawall
The Seawall
The seawall was built by the Dutch settlers in the 1880s. This massive slab of concrete wall is constructed along the foreshore of Guyana and stands as part of the battle against the mighty Atlantic Ocean which towers an alarming 7 feet above Guyana.
Kierfield and Sandy Point estates were completely washed away by 1804. After the Camp house was washed away due to a flood in the Kingston ward of Georgetown, the construction of the sea wall began in 1855. The camp house was the former residence for governors of the colony. However, it appears that accretion in the early 1840s was followed by erosion in the late 1840s. It was in 1855, the great Kingston Flood took place when the sea-dam, an earthen wall, was breached. As a result of this catastrophe, the sea wall between Fort William Frederick and the Round House begun in 1858. Built principally by convict labor with granite from the Penal Settlement at Mazaruni (now Mazaruni Prison), it was completed in 1892.
The first section was completed by 1860 which ran from Fort Groyne to Round House. It then continued from Camp Street to Kitty in 1874 and by 1882 the sea wall extended to reach as far as Unity Village. The importance of the seawalls was due to the constant erosion of land by the sea, as the foreshore is subject to these.
Many parts of the sea coast experienced cyclical periods of erosion as well as flooding during high tides. This was observed by early colonists in the beginning of Dutch colonization of Guyana. Moreover, the problems of erosion and flooding were not taken seriously due to the fact that settlements were located mainly on river banks and not along the coast.
But as settlements extended along the coast in the late eighteenth century, flooding of low-lying lands during high tides became a matter of concern. Also, during the periods when there was an accumulation of silt which built up the coastal plain, drainage canals were silted up and water accumulated during the rainy season was difficult to remove.
Flickr Image | Georgetown Seawall Bandstand – Guyana | by Tom Peddle
In memory of Queen Victoria the seawall bandstand was built in 1903 with funds subscribed by the public. The shelter north of the bandstand, called the Koh-i-noor Shelter, was erected in 1903.
A hangout spot of peace and tranquility
Family time at the seawall
The seawall is a popular term used to imply “hottest new hangout spot in Georgetown”. This is true if one takes a stroll any Sunday evening especially at the junction of Sheriff Street and Rupert Craig Highway. The hive of activities are recreated each weekend which also alter the seawall’s legacy. This is so since the seawall has its rich heritage but has grown in popularity as one of Guyana’s famous landmarks. It has become a favorite place for afternoon walks, listening to music, for lovers and for a priceless work out. The seawall as it stands depicting a mural from seemingly every entity in Guyana is also transformed into Guyana’s largest and finest marketing and advertising site. As such, those businesses reach a wider audience as many persons spend time on the seawall.
A recreational facility
The Seawall | Image Source – https://moc.gov.gy
On Sundays the seawall is usually calm and inviting for an early morning splash in the Atlantic. After which the same seems to just join in the traditional lazy day of stillness but as the cooler dusk forces the light of day further west, it brings with it a fete. If one takes an afternoon stroll they can witness the appealing view of what it looks like in the afternoon. Participants include old friends, new friends and soon to be friends who come together on the seawall to spend their leisure time. Everyone who is anyone, thin ones, thick ones, tall ones, short ones, fat ones, chubby ones, slender ones and even the not so young ones all line the wall with one aim in mind which is “to leave the cares of the world behind and have a good time”. The boom boxes will leave you short of none of the latest hits.
The Georgetown Seawall
The variety of attractions is enough to keep one interestingly entertained. There are folks who pass by with their pets and by the time you raise your hand to wave and say hi to a friend, the squeals of CBRs(motorbikes) all jazzed-up might grab your attention and captivate you with an unexpected stunt show. On display would be some of the shiniest rides with the latest and flashiest “mags”. Whilst relaxing on the wall, the cool Atlantic breeze may direct you to either a bar be cue stall or hotdog and popcorn stall where you can purchase an amazing meal. Adding to that, there are cook-up rice, fried fish with plantain chips, chicken, black/white pudding, souse and beverage carts everywhere. The darkness of the road is illuminated by street lights along with frequent flashes of motor vehicle head lamps which add to the festive atmosphere. The crowd starts to diminish around midnight and the excitement and entertainment of the seawalls becomes dull.
The sound of the rolling waves on the seawall is appealing and the feeling of the cool breeze on your skin is quite invigorating. One of Georgetown’s great assets is its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, even though this is a bit dimmed by the colour of the water that washes our shores.
Article References
- http://exploreguyana.org/seawall/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_Wall,_Guyana
- http://guyanachronicle.com/2018/04/03/the-georgetown-seawalls-and-development
- http://www.guyana.org/features/guyanastory/chapter69.html
