Martyrs Monument

By 1948, most sugar workers in Guyana were giving support to the Guyana Industrial Workers
Union (GIWU). On 22 April 1948, cane cutters, backed by the union, went on strike demanding
the abolishment of the existing "cut and load" system in the fields. This reaping system which
forced cane cutters had to load the sugar punts with the cane they cut, was not popular among
cane cutters. It was introduced in 1945, and from time to time workers had gone on strike to
demand that it should be changed. As part of the demands of the 1948 strike, the cane cutters
called for the replacement of "cut and load" with a "cut and drop" system by which the cane
cutters should cut the cane, but other workers would load the cut cane into the punts for shipment
to the factory.

The Hubert Critchlow Monument

The Hubert Critchlow Monument on the lawns of the compound of Parliament Building was
unveiled on December 2, 1964 by the then Premier, Cheddi Jagan. It is a tribute to Hubert
Nathaniel Critchlow, the father of the Trade Union movement in Guyana. The bronze sculpture
of the late trade unionist by Edward Burrowes is mounted on a two-metre high pedestal.

The Chateau Margot Chimney

This Chimney stands at the front of the village from which its name is derived-Chateau Margot
on the East Coast Demerara-some eight miles from the capital city. The chimney was constructed
of red bricks on a huge concrete base by a brick layer named Anlemo Gordon, who hailed from
Buxton, East Coast Demerara; and despite its functions during the time of sugar operations, the
chimney served as a beacon to ships approaching Port Georgetown even after the sugar factory
was demolished. Still standing today, this site represents an aspect of our nations industrial
heritage, thus signifying a very important historical milestone.

The Hubert Critchlow Monument

The Chateau Margot Chimney

Martyrs Monument