Republic Park ‘castle’ mysteriously demolished

Mar 27, 2011 News

By Leonard Gildarie

Police are investigating the illegal and mysterious demolition of a famous “castle” in Republic Park, East Bank Demerara, during the past days.
The angry owners who were in the process of returning to Guyana to rebuild the landmarks have also signaled their intentions to take the matter to court for damages.

Caretaker, Harriet Francis, indicating the damage to the property in Republic Park.

There are two castles in the area owned by London-based Guyanese, Joseph Lucius Cole, but had been locked up for years. Cole, who owned two hairdressing salons there before retiring, had been planning to return to Guyana but died in 2007.
Described as the “King Cole Castle”, the two majestic buildings had long been described by some residents who said it was a haven for thieves. Several of its exotic fixtures had been vandalized.
However, some time over the last few days a piece of heavy equipment was reportedly used to demolish several of the walls. Workmen were also reportedly seen using sledgehammers to knock out the walls. A section of the fence had also been broken.
According to Harriet Francis, a Republic Park resident who had been left in charge of the two “castles”, the family did not authorize the demolition and a few members are expecting to fly in shortly.
“I spoke to them and they are talking to their lawyers.”
Chairman of the Eccles/Ramsburg Neighborhood Democratic Council, Saeed Khan, who is in charge of the area for the Local Government, distanced himself from what he saw as an illegal act.
“This has nothing to do with the NDC and I think it is a matter for the police. This is private property.”
According to Francis, Cole and the NDC have been locked in a battle for a piece of reserve on which he, Cole, had erected a building.
The Chairman, who visited the scene, explained that it is indeed true that the reserve had been the subject of a court matter and that Cole had agreed to “take care” of the reserve piece. Under an agreement struck with the court, the NDC had decided to repossess the piece of reserve.
“Yes, we have been clearing the land on the reserve but this demolition has nothing to with us.”

The damaged castle.

Francis noted that the family had no problem that that reserve.
“As a matter of fact, Mr. Cole had put up some stuff on the reserve opposite him. These were removed because they were illegal. I can understand that. But how you explain someone entering a private property and knocking down walls?”
Neighbours were tightlipped but one did talk. However, he refused permission to have his name published.  “This is not right. They used a hymac that was digging the trench nearby, to enter the yard and to knock the walls down.”
Kaieteur News was told that a number of residents were planning to hold a barbecue in the area today and were involved in a cleaning up activity.
According to Francis, someone called her earlier this week and enquired whether she was the caretaker and whether the property was up for sale.
One resident said that the government had allocated a piece of land to an insurance company. This company in turn plotted out the land and was selling it at between $4 million and $6 million a plot.
The hymac, owned by the Ministry of Agriculture, was clearing the drain in Republic Park to allow that land to drain. Two women, who live in the neighbourhood, summoned the piece of machinery to cross the drain and to knock down the fence.
Workmen then proceeded to demolish the building.
Calls to two of the women identified were met with recorded messages.